SMART Community Review (SCR) SMART Community Exchange 2018 Program | Page 10

SMART
Beginning the Project
We work very closely with individuals and teams for the first
several weeks to better understand the business model and
opportunities. This is an important time for our team and your
leadership team to get to know one another and to determine
our scope of work.
Community Exchange
TARGET MARKET EVALUATION PROGRAM
We are dedicated to work with companies that are ready for
US and international expansion and have a high opportunity
of success in entering the US and international market. Our
commitment to any company entering the Phase 1 program is
that the results of the research and competitive analysis will
be a valuable tool that can be used by the company for future
growth and development in any country, regardless of their
decision or our recommendation to enter the US and
international marketplace.
Our Process
The companies, projects, and initiatives we build often take
up to 36-months to mature. Our process is designed not only
to confirm that your business has great potential, but provide
your company with a detailed action plan to prepare your
company for expansion to the US and international
marketplace. Our decision to engage with a company is
made in less than three weeks from when we receive the
original business plan.
Introduction and Information Submission
We receive many proposals annually. Most of our clients
come from preferred referrals from industry leaders we have
worked with in the past. A business plan, project or initiative
has a much better chance of being considered if it is referred.
Business plans sent with an introduction are likely to enter
our program quicker. Before we make any calls or schedule a
meeting we require a comprehensive Business, Project or
Initiative ‘Plan’.
Due Diligence
If your company, project or initiative is approved to enter the
program, we will draw on our collective experience and
network of experts and advisors to discuss key issues,
teams, challenges and opportunities. We will set up a project
plan for the market research and competitive analysis done in
Phase 1 and assign the best qualified team members to work
on your project. Our principals and key advisors oversee the
project from start to finish and are hands on in the evaluation
of the data and the marketing analysis and recommendations
for the final reports.
Contract Process
If the evaluation and initial introduction is approved, we will
submit a contract with timelines. At this point we will have
completed most of our due diligence and can focus on
concluding our business terms and any remaining legal
documentation. We can then begin the next steps in building
your company, project or initiative. Each phase will be
completed within the time schedule outlined in the official
proposal (timelines vary by company category and stage of
business development).
Future Funding Opportunities
Funding for expansion is usually expedited when a company
has completed a full market research, competitive analysis,
revision and updated business and marketing plans, initial
pilot projects and selected a US and international
management team.
Market Research and Competitive Analysis Program
The US Marketplace is very different than other international
markets. There is tremendous opportunity for new companies
in the United States but there is also a very competitive
marketplace in the US. It is important for companies
considering entering/expanding the US and international
marketplace to engage with a US and international market
expert, since the rules of engagement are different in each
region and it is critical to have a good understanding of the
rules, when evaluating a market readiness, entry, or
expansion. It is also important to choose a firm with strong
relationships with preferred service providers for critical soft
landing services. We have over 30 years of experience in
high level marketing, business development and sales. Due
to our experience, we will often recommend non-traditional
market entry programs to give companies a great opportunity
of success in their early stages of operations. It is probable
our market research will result in different ideas, target
markets, unique selling positions and new business models
from previous studies you have done. We suggest you have
an open mind and willingness to explore new ideas and make
changes to your existing business and marketing plans.
Our market research and competitive analysis will
include research in the following core areas:
• What is your focus on the core-value proposition to targeted
customers or partners?
• How big is the total market for your product or service?
• Who makes up this market and what are its demographics/
psychographics?
• What problem does your product or service solve?
• More specifically, what "pain" will it alleviate or eliminate for
your target market? • What does your target market care
about most?
• What related concerns does your target market have?
• What sub-segment of the total market feels that pain most?
• How big is the ideal sub-segment of the total target
market?
• How do you place a value on the pain that your product or
service targets?
• What are the existing alternatives to your product or
service?
• What new entrants might compete with or even leapfrog
you in the future?
• How will your solution build a lasting competitive/
comparative/absolute advantage through intellectual
property, a unique management team, partnerships, etc.?
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