Investment Promotion Client Intake Questions

Investment Promotion Client Intake Questions

Client Profile Questions

• What is the primary industry focus of the company?

  • If known, what is the NAICS industry code?

• What products or services does the company offer?

• What is the company's business model (customers, channels of distribution, key partners)?

• Does the company have offices, manufacturing facilities, or other investments outside of their home country?

  • If so, in which other countries?

  • If in the United States, what is the size/nature/history of the U.S. facility or office?

• What are the company's annual sales?

• How many employees does the company have (country/worldwide)?

• Does the company export?

  • To which countries? Does it export to the United States? Does it have a geographic focus in the United States?

  • Does the company distribute directly abroad or does it use wholesaler/distributors? In the United States?

Investment Objective Questions

• What is the investment type (greenfield, M&A, expansion, retention)?

• What is the business objective of the investment decision (sales office, manufacturing, R&D, corporate HQ relocation, other(s))?

• Has the company already started an investment process in the United States?

  • If so, where, and what type of investment?

  • If not, is the company considering multiple countries and/or U.S. states for their investment? Can they disclose which countries and/or U.S. locations?

• What is the timeline of the investment?

• What is the motivation behind the investment decision?

• What are the goals of the investment?

• Is there an estimate of the total value of the investment and number of jobs that will be created and/or retained?

• Who is the primary decision maker?

• What are the location-selection factors associated with the investment decision?

Client Services Questions

• Is there a specific objective that SelectUSA/US&FCS can help the company achieve, or need that we can help address?

• Does the company have any questions about the U.S. system of government and regulations associated to its investment?

  • What Federal agency or office is the company interested in learning more from?

  • What previous interactions has the company had with the interagency related to their inquiry?

• Does the company require any support in engaging with a specific federal, state or municipal entity for the first time, or in an ongoing process?

• Does the company know about the different economic development partners and programs that can support their investment at the federal, state and municipal level?

• Does the company require any specific information regarding the U.S. market?

Research and Data Questions

• What are the key factors influencing the company’s decision of where to locate the investment?

• What is the client’s geographic scope for their investment?

• Are there any other data points in which the client has indicated interest?

For Entrepreneurs

• How has access to a mentorship network factored in your growth as an entrepreneur?

• What obstacles have you had to overcome to start a business or expand in the United States?

• What have you found has made your investment journey easier?

• Can you please provide a brief overview of your business?

• Where you are in your U.S. investment journey?

• What region is your business located?

• Can you share any obstacles you have faced in securing funding as an entrepreneur?

• What successes have you experienced in developing your network of supporters?

• What traits or attributes in a prospective investor? (e.g. a social impact mission, experience with your market or industry)

For VCs or Mentors

• Have you had a mentor who supported your career growth? If so, can you share more about how your mentorship relationship impacted your life?  

• Can you please share your top considerations when deciding to make an investment?

• What areas of the pitching/funding process do you find more challenging for female entrepreneurs?

• What areas of the pitching/funding process do you find more challenging for entrepreneurs?

• How are you working to alleviate or address roadblocks for startups and particularly women-led startups, seeking capital for their company’s growth?

• How are you working to alleviate or address roadblocks for companies and start-ups seeking capital for their company’s growth?

• Do you have any insights or best practices to share with female entrepreneurs to assist them with accessing sources of funding?

• Do you have any insights or best practices to share with entrepreneurs to assist them with accessing sources of funding?

• How does working with the U.S. Department of Commerce advance your goals?

• How can we better incorporate venture capitalists, accelerators, and other tech ecosystem partners in SelectUSA programming?

• What activities comprise your lead generation strategies?

• How do you approach lead generation and pipeline development?

General

• What do you hope to gain from your mentorship relationship? 

• What do you hope to gain from your participation in Select Global Women in Tech (SGWIT) or SelectUSA Tech?  

• What do you hope to gain from your participation in SelectUSA Investment Summit?

• What do you hope to gain from your participation in SelectUSA programming?

• How can the U.S. Department of Commerce help you and for other female founders to start a business or expand their business in the United States?

• How can the U.S. Department of Commerce support international female tech founders start a business or expand their business in the United States? 

• How can the U.S. Department of Commerce help tech companies and start-ups to start businesses or expand their businesses in the United States?

• What topics would you recommend SelectUSA cover in future Select Global Women in Tech programming?

• What topics would you recommend SelectUSA cover at a SelectUSA Investment Summit?

• What global trade events would you like to see SelectUSA present at?

• What trade shows or events are you considering in attending?

General – Tech

• How can the U.S. Department of Commerce help companies and startups looking to enter the U.S. technology ecosystem?

• What topics would you recommend SelectUSA cover in future SelectUSA Tech programming?

• How has attending the SelectUSA Investment Summit helped your business?

• Have you invested in a company that you met at the SelectUSA Investment Summit?

• Have you invested in a company that you met through SelectUSA or the U.S. Department of Commerce?