The American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) organized an online event that provided more information about the risks and specifics to pay attention to when setting up business operations in the U.S. as well as the required visas, helping and supporting Croatian companies in expanding their business internationally.

For several years now, the Launchpad USA program has been successfully helping Finnish and Estonian companies enter the U.S. market. AmCham Croatia has been part of the program since 2017, offering its members access to the same guidance, infrastructure, and information as Finnish companies. Some Croatian companies have already participated in the program and worked through it on their positioning on the American market.

The Launchpad USA program is aimed at small and medium-sized businesses, and participation in it provides access to information crucial for starting a business in the United States, such as: how and where to set up a company, open a bank account and obtain other financial services, contract and hire in the USA, obtain work permits, resolve logistics issues and insure goods and services, etc.

The program supports the continued business success of member companies just entering the U.S. market or seeking to expand their U.S. business and provides practical support tailored to their needs, with the aim of helping them create a winning business formula.

“The Launchpad USA program primarily caters to small and medium-sized businesses that have the potential and ambition to expand their business into the U.S. market, but are not familiar with business conditions and do not have manpower to take this important step. AmCham Croatia is proud to be part of a program that provides practical support to export-oriented Croatian companies looking to expand their business to one of the biggest markets worldwide.”, said Andrea Doko Jelušić, Executive Director of AmCham Croatia.

At today's event, Mike Klyszeiko, Director of Launchpad USA, shared advice and recommendations based on the experience of companies that have successfully started business in the United States. Amy Lorenzen, Consular Section Chief at the U.S. Embassy in Croatia, gave an insight into the visa policy of the United States with special emphasis on the types of business visas and the conditions for obtaining them. Josip Bišćan, Managing Partner, Infinum, spoke about the experiences and challenges that a young tech company could be faced with when entering the U.S. market.