Two Northern Virginia companies are getting help from the state in exporting the services they provide outside the U.S.
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership accepted Northstar Express of Falls Church and ControlCase of McLean into its Accessing International Markets export development program.
The program takes in 20 companies annually and provides them with $5,000 in capital funds for export expenses, as well as seven experts in the field to give them advice on how to expand into international markets, program manager Elizabeth Morgan Brown said.
“Most people fall into exporting by accident, either through a lead from a friend, or meeting someone on an airplane trip; they think they’ve found the golden ticket,” Morgan Brown said.
“But then they end up making mistakes, and they’re costly ones, so they end up losing money on the exporting,” Brown said. “The goal of this program is to teach them the steps to take upfront.”
ControlCase creates software that aids in the regulation of credit card processing. The company plans to use the funding to expand into Japan.
“It helps you when you’re sitting next to a credible agency when talking to different potential business partners overseas,” ColdCase Director Afy Merchant said.
Northstar Express helps companies ship materials to trade shows throughout the U.S. Through the AIM program, it will expand its services to Canadian companies, CEO Rex Houlihan said.
Companies in the AIM program have to meet certain requirements, Morgan Brown said.
They must demonstrate that their economic growth will benefit the state, be larger than $1 million in annual revenue, have more than 10 employees and have been in business for at least two years, she said.
