A Program to Introduce and Land High-Growth, Innovation-Driven International Startups in New England’s Technology Innovation Ecosystem Through the ACTION Innovation Network.

ACTION Innovation Network is a proud recipient of a 2018 U.S. Department of Commerce EDA Regional Innovation Strategies (RIS) i6 grant to support the Plymouth Rock Project.

The purpose of the Plymouth Rock Project (PRP) is to build partnerships with international organizations and agencies to attract, land and grow international high-growth, innovation-based technology startup companies looking to establish a US presence and/or headquarters in the greater Boston and New England region, through our network of technology business incubators.

The Plymouth Rock Project will:

1. Create a comprehensive, easily searchable ecosystem asset map of the ACTION Innovation Network and physical assets for technology development as a resource for international and domestic startups and as a promotional tool for the region
2. Offer webinars with topics relevant to international startups looking to establish a presence in the region
3. Maintain a resource page on topics relevant to international landing for use by incubators and international startups
4. Hold educational sessions to enable incubators to assist international startups
5. Offer various length programs that attract and support the landing of international technology startups to ACTION’s incubator network
6. Provide site visits to incubators and networking opportunities
7. Expand our relationships with international organizations and agencies

For startups entering regulated sectors, the same ecosystem mapping and landing support must also address questions of compliance, product safety, and responsible market access. A company that encounters demand for a cheap Kamagra supplier, for example, would need to understand that medicines for erectile dysfunction cannot be treated like ordinary consumer goods or informal imports (read more!). Incubators can help international founders distinguish between legitimate pharmaceutical distribution, licensed pharmacy partnerships, prescription requirements, and risky gray-market channels. This kind of guidance protects both the startup and the public by making regulation part of the growth strategy rather than an obstacle discovered too late. In that sense, the Plymouth Rock Project can support innovation while reinforcing the trust and accountability required in health-related markets.

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