Article

Attention Exporters: Find the Right Market Match with the U.S. Commercial Service

September 8, 2025

Ryan Hollowell is a Senior Commercial Officer with the U.S. Commercial Service in Costa Rica

Mr. Young Kim knows a good market opportunity when he sees one; he just needed some help to make it happen, and our U.S. Commercial Service (CS) office here in Costa Rica was happy to assist. Mr. Kim is the CEO of Digital Harvest, a Camas, Washington-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) provider. He connected with our Costa Rica office through our CS colleagues in Portland, Oregon, who had provided him with export counseling and market research that identified Costa Rica as a market to pursue. Mr. Kim was now looking for an in-country partner best suited to selling his unique predictive technology for the sugarcane market—proprietary software using remote sensing, satellite imagery, and biophysical modeling to help farmers and mills worldwide more accurately predict and enhance sugarcane yields.

While exporting can offer numerous advantages for U.S. companies, such as increased profit potential and diversified risk, it does have some challenges. For small- and medium-sized businesses like Mr. Kim’s, one common export challenge is finding a suitable foreign partner without expending a large amount of time and resources. In reaching out to the U.S. Commercial Service, Mr. Kim made a smart move: Our global network of trade professionals across the United States and in 80 markets provides export counseling and a range of customized services, including business matchmaking resources aimed at facilitating a successful partner search and potentially cutting time to market.

After an initial consultation, we found that a great option for Mr. Kim was the CS International Partner Search + Virtual Introductions, a customized service that provides U.S. companies with a list of up to five pre-screened partners/distributors that have expressed an interest in the client’s goods/services.

How does the service work? CS on-the-ground industry experts have widespread local connections, and they identify and reach out to potential matching firms, as our office did for Mr. Kim. The client’s information is sent to the identified foreign firms, and a report containing a profile of interested businesses is provided to the CS client. We then arrange virtual introductions via conference calls with potential partners.

We always advise patience for our CS clients after business matchmaking meetings, as business deals often take time to come to fruition. Plus, we encourage them to follow up with prospects by visiting or returning to the market. In Costa Rica, as in many other countries, personal relationships are an important key to doing business. So, to our clients, we say, “When are you coming back?” 

Through the virtual meetings and his subsequent discussions, Mr. Kim gained key insights in evaluating the potential partners best suited for the successful use of his technology to achieve the targeted results, and his engagement with the U.S. Commercial Service has already yielded results: 

“Exports are driving our business growth, and through the signing of a lucrative contract with a major sugar mill in Costa Rica, we’ve expanded our company’s international presence,” Mr. Kim said. “The consistent support of the U.S. Commercial Service has been great for us, and the success in Costa Rica goes a long way for our company – and we see it as a springboard for pursuing other markets in the region.” 

 

Tailored to Your Business Needs: Customized Business Matchmaking 
 

While Mr. Kim utilized the International Partner Search + Virtual Introductions, there are several other business matchmaking options for CS clients, all with the same goal of helping CS clients save valuable time and resources in the partnering process. 

  • The International Partner Search is similar to the virtual version, minus the virtual introductions; U.S. companies will receive a list of potential partners and can arrange the meetings at their convenience.
  • The Gold Key Service is a customized, in-person, face-to-face matchmaking service that schedules U.S. companies traveling to a foreign market with up to five pre-screened potential partners tailored to the needs of the CS client. The meetings are typically held at the U.S. embassy and are fully supported by local staff, who also provide interpretation as needed.  
  • Another option is to participate in Trade Shows and Events, where U.S. exporters can expand their global sales through CS matchmaking and counseling. The Virtual B2B Matchmaking service connects U.S. exhibitors and event participants with potential foreign buyers and partners through online platforms.
  • Trade missions, traveling to targeted countries and led by the U.S. Department of Commerce, focus on key and trending industry opportunities. These missions maximize contact with prospective distributors, sales representatives, or partners. Face-to-face meetings, especially when facilitated by U.S. government officials, can make a good impression with foreign buyers.
  • We also have a separate service, the International Company Profile, where we provide an in-depth or basic background check on a specific foreign company to help determine its suitability as a potential business partner.

Ready to pursue your next partnering opportunity? Reach out to your nearest CS office today or visit our Trade.gov website for more information on how we can assist your company.  

As for Digital Harvest, Mr. Kim appreciates the time and resources he saved by leveraging U.S. Commercial Service business matchmaking services to deliver results: 

“The consistent support of the U.S. Commercial Service has been great for us! The periodic information we receive from CS Portland is valuable and helps us strategize our market development. This International Partner Search in Costa Rica was exceptional, and the office in San Jose, Costa Rica, exceeded expectations by organizing great meetings in-country. This success in Costa Rica goes a long way for our company, and we look forward to many more success stories with the U.S. Commercial Service!”  

- Young Kim, CEO, Digital Harvest