The United States has consistently shown that robust support systems for small businesses drive economic growth and long-term prosperity. Through a recent International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), participants from around the world, including India, saw how U.S. institutions, from federal agencies to community organizations, help entrepreneurs turn ideas into successful companies and drive sustained prosperity. These exchanges also create value as participants carry back insights, build partnerships, and create new opportunities that can expand U.S. trade and investment.

Among the participants was Vijay Bawra, a start-up evangelist from Hyderabad, who joined the IVLP on “Advancing Economic Prosperity: Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development.” The program took him across several U.S. cities, where he observed how city, state, and federal entities each play defined roles in supporting business creation and growth.
For Vijay, who has 17 years of experience in engineering, business development, and open innovation, the visit showed why American small businesses remain drivers of prosperity. He returned with a deeper understanding of these systems and now applies those insights to guide Indian founders exploring the U.S. market. Through his work at SanchiConnect, he helps start-ups navigate global opportunities, informed by the lessons from American founders, mentors, and innovation leaders.
A system that works
Vijay says what stood out across his IVLP experience was how intentionally the United States designs its innovation system to drive domestic prosperity, job creation, and long-term competitiveness. “It is not one big program that does the magic. It is a long chain of well-connected pieces like universities, city economic offices, federal support, corporate accelerators, and strong private capital all doing their part without stepping on each other,” he explains.
He was particularly struck by the predictability built into this structure. “Whether it’s a university lab, a city innovation office, or a federal agency, everyone knows their role in moving an idea from concept to customer. That clarity fuels both speed and confidence,” he notes.
The IVLP participants saw how institutions like the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and SCORE reinforce that strength. SBA provides counseling, capital, and contracting support to small businesses, while SCORE connects experienced mentors with early-stage founders.
Conversations with U.S. founders also shaped Vijay’s understanding of entrepreneurial culture. “Their confidence didn’t come from loudness; it came from clarity. They can break their idea down to one simple sentence because they would have refined it repeatedly in tough rooms.” He also observed how a healthy relationship with risk supports the U.S. economy. “Failure is not a label there; it is data. Mentors push founders hard, not to discourage them, but to sharpen their thinking.”
Making market entry easier
Vijay observes a clear pattern among Indian founders looking toward the United States. They bring strong technical skills and build competitive products but often struggle to navigate the American system. “Things like compliance, hiring, go-to-market, incentives, or customer expectations feel unclear and overwhelming,” he explains. “Every founder I spoke to said some version of, ‘I wish someone had given me a roadmap.’”
What stood out during the IVLP was how open U.S. institutions are to engagement. Sessions introduced participants to loan programs, mentoring networks, export support, and market intelligence tools available to small businesses.
This clarity shaped Vijay’s current work, including a U.S. Market Access Playbook. “I now know which agencies to approach for what, how incentives differ across states, and what early mistakes cost Indian founders the most time and money,” he says. By helping founders understand the U.S. system more clearly, the outcome benefits both sides. Founders gain confidence in entering a new market, and the United States benefits from companies that can contribute more effectively to its innovation economy.
Shared gains, shared growth
One moment stood out during a meeting with a city economic development leader, who said, “We don’t just welcome global founders. We compete for them.” That sentence changed Vijay’s perspective. “It removed the mental barrier that many Indian start-ups carry: the feeling that the U.S. market is distant or difficult,” he says.
He also saw how actively U.S. organizations support foreign companies. “They aren’t ceremonial offices; they actively help businesses, including foreign companies, integrate into the U.S. market,” he says, pointing to practical guidance on incentives, mentorship, regulatory support, and local networks.
Vijay believes there are clear advantages in linking India and the United States in areas like deep tech, health, manufacturing, and mobility, noting that the United States offers scale, capital depth, and proven commercialization systems, while India contributes speed and talent. Bringing these strengths together, he says, can open new markets for American companies and reinforce supply chain resilience. “The economic impact will run in both directions with more high-skill jobs, stronger supply chains, and a steady pipeline of jointly built innovations.”