Win International Customers: A Roadmap for Deep Tech

Hi!

Welcome to Sparksense's Newsletter! Every month, I personally bring you insights to fuel your sales strategies, drive business growth, and succeed on your entrepreneurial journey. My focus is clear: to equip you with actionable takeaways. Anticipate valuable advice on prospecting, smart selling, and sealing deals that matter for Deep Tech Entrepreneurs!

This month, let’s talk about how to grow your sales globally. 

Deep Tech niche solutions address often global markets. The US and Europe offer strong potential. But the markets are different. How can you stage efficiently your international development? What tools can help you expand globally? Which export support programs are available? Let’s look how to grow your business worldwide.

Global expansion? The US and Europe play by different rules.

The U.S. and Europe present different challenges and uncertainty to expand internationally. Trade policies and tariffs significantly impact market dynamics. The proposed 25% U.S. tariffs on EU exports are expected to slow economic growth by around 0.5% of GDP in Central European economies, particularly those reliant on the German automotive sector. (Reuters).

The U.S. market continues to show strong growth with significant investments in tech according to J.P. Morgan Research in 2025. Meanwhile, European markets have demonstrated resilience, yet the ongoing political uncertainties have created challenges for sustained growth as Allianz Global Investors say. Investment activity in 2024 more than doubled. Loan market issuances in the U.S. and Europe reached $770 billion (PwC). This surge indicates an increase in available capital, which creates opportunities for startups to scale quickly.

But does it matter to your startup?

What is the right strategy for your global sales expansion?

It is critical to stage a lean international expansion to maximize growth. Here are the most common ways for Deep Tech companies to scale internationally: 

Exporting is the simplest and fastest way to expand, it requires minimal investment. Companies like Flybotix have successfully exported their drone technology to the U.S. and Asia, they leveraged local distributors for market entry.

Partnering with Local Agents or Distributors enables fast market entry. Boston Dynamics, for example, expanded Spot’s global reach through regional distributors,which reduced the need for direct local operations. While this approach accelerates sales, it also makes the company rely more on third parties for customer relationships.

Licensing allows companies to monetize Intellectual Property without the complexities of direct market operations. ARM Holdings, for example, licenses its semiconductor designs globally, and scaled its impact without manufacturing chips itself (Fabless).

For companies that seek deeper local integration, Joint Ventures (JVs) and Strategic Alliances offer faster growth. Google DeepMind’s JV with the NHS helped bring AI into UK healthcare, while NVIDIA’s alliances with Microsoft and Amazon expanded its AI chip market presence.

A more committed approach is to establish a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary, as Tesla did in China to gain full control over its operations. Alternatively, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) provide instant market access, as seen in Intel’s acquisition of Mobileye to strengthen its position in autonomous driving.

The right choice depends on your company’s product type and resources. For hardware, a local presence is key, while software companies can scale globally from anywhere. Start by choosing the approach that fits your business and market goals. Need guidance? Reach out for professional help to define the winning strategy for your Deep Tech startup. 

More hands on business development tips in our Startup Guide. 

Can your Startup benefit from an export program?

These programs provide financial support to help businesses expand internationally. Let’s look how real companies used these grants to scale beyond their home markets.

Many French startups apply for BPI Export’s Assurance Prospection support to cover expenses for market research, trade shows, and business development. This financial cushion allows them to test international markets with lower risk.

Germany-based Memetis sought funding to launch its micro-actuation technology. ZIM, Germany’s innovation grant allowed them to bring their product to international customers. 

Swedish startup Rebase aimed to scale quickly. Through STING’s Innovationscheckar, they accessed critical funding to refine their product for global markets. This support gave them the confidence and resources to expand strategically.

Generally, in Europe, Horizon Europe funds innovative and sustainable ventures. EUREKA Network connects startups with cross-border funding. The UK’s Tech Nation helps tech companies expand internationally, while Enterprise Ireland supports Irish startups with both funding and mentorship.

In North America, Canada’s Global Innovation Clusters provide resources for tech-driven growth. Export Development Canada (EDC) offers loans and insurance for companies selling abroad. The SBA Export Loan Program helps startups finance international expansion.

Similar programs exist worldwide. Asia-Pacific has Enterprise Singapore, Austrade EMDG, and K-Startup Challenge. Middle East & Africa offer Dubai Future Accelerator, TIA, and QSTP. Latin America supports startups through Startup Chile and Apex-Brasil.

Does the market really matters for your product? 

Many entrepreneurs would agree with Nataly Kelly: you should focus on your customer and make them successful, make them “the hero of the story”.

Center your business around customer success and prioritize their needs. This way, you will break down any geographical boundaries and open doors to global opportunities. Your customers see you as a partner in their journey—no matter where they are in the world.

Our clients share their expertise! Check out our latest Sales Talk podcast on How to Bootstrap your Startup to Exit and put customer at the core of your business.

Boost your global sales growth with EuroPages .

EuroPages is great B2B database to find partners, distributors, and clients in Europe.

• Access to 2.6M+ companies across industries

• Identify Manufacturers, Integrators, Distributors or End users

• Get detailed market insights by country

• Identify key decision-makers for faster deal-making

With EuroPages, you can tap into a vast network and make data-driven decisions to accelerate your growth in Europe.

Wise Integration works with Sparksense to scale internationally. 

With €15 million raised, how did it accelerate its international expansion?

• Secured strategic distribution partnerships, including a significant collaboration with Astute Group for EMEA for a wider reach in global markets.

• Launched Wise-integration Ltd., a Hong Kong-based subsidiary to support its Asia-based customers. 

• The launch of the Ottawa Design Center, closer to the U.S., position them as a leader in power conversion markets.

Tap into hidden market opportunities in … Semiconductor Innovation 

Are you struggling to gain traction or compete with industry giants? We help startups find hidden market opportunities by connecting them with second-tier players that hold untapped potential.

Do you want to have access to more decision makers? Let’s work together  to identify the Hidden Champions that need YOUR STARTUP’s solution.

Sparksense joins EPIC and heads to major industry events!

Some of our amazing clients—PhotonFirst, Spectricity, Q.ANT, Qblox—are already part of EPIC. Now, we’re excited to support even more innovative companies in this space, and help them to scale within the photonics industy.

Download Sparksense Report to Grow your Photonics Business in Europe and the US.

Want to know more about Sparksense? Discover our services and packages here. Additionally, we offer free valuable insights and strategies to boost your Sales. Download our comprehensive Business Development Guide ebook. Let’s talk to find out how we can help take your sales to the next level. Book a call with me today!

Thank you for reading! If you have any questions please feel free to email me directly.

Sincerely,

Hervé Flutto,

Managing Director and Founder of Sparksense

About Sparksense

With 150 global clients supported over the last 6 years, Sparksense is the trusted Sales Team for B2B Tech Startups. With a smarter outreach, Sparksense’s team of over 30+ advisors has ignited sales for hardware and software solutions across Europe, North America and Asia – thanks to its robust, proven business development skills and relevant market access to decision makers across key industries.

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