Our 4-Day U.S. Immersion &
Market Entry Program for
German Startups

On-site in New York City, Boston or Philadelphia

STEP USA
Cohorts

Participating Startups

Number of STEP
USA Alumni

U.S. Company
Foundations

VC Investment
Received

Why You Should Participate

Take Part in one of our 4-Day intensive STEP USA Programs and experience the fast-growing East Coast Tech Scene.
Tap into our Community of Industry Experts, Mentors, Venture capital Contacts, and accomplished Entrepreneurs.

Venture Capital

Present your startup to carefully selected venture capital investors and business angels from your industry at our STEP USA Pitch Night. Learn how to effectively fundraise venture capital in the U.S.

Mentorship

Take a deep dive into American legal requirements. Learn about intercultural differences, how to hire U.S. employees, customer acquisition, sales strategies, and branding, and enjoy individual hands-on pitch training.

Network

Lay the groundwork for a personal business network in the U.S. You will be introduced to U.S. companies and participate in top-notch networking events. Get in touch with leaders in your industry.

Market Entry

Gain valuable knowledge about the U.S. legal requirements and learn the ins and outs of starting a U.S. business. Our legal and consulting team supports you with market insights and legal services.

WHAT OUR STEP USA ALUMNI SAY ABOUT US

“It was a week full of profound insights, valuable connections, and pure inspiration in the heart of New York City.”

Our Highlights in NYC:
Deep Dive into the US Market: From legal frameworks and investor relations to expansion strategies – we learned what it takes to succeed in the USA.
Historic Pitch: An unforgettable moment: We had the honour of pitching our smart feedback system, “tap.rating,” at the 7 World Trade Center in front of investors, partners, and innovators!
Pure Networking: We forged valuable contacts and delved deep into US business culture.
Incredible Organisation and Support: From a warm atmosphere and excellent care to the magnificent location on Wall Street with a view of the Brooklyn Bridge – everything was perfect.

Alexander Hammerschmidt

Managing Director bei dev.house GmbH

“An incredible launchpad for our U.S. market journey.”

“Thanks to the STEP Female Founders Program, we were able to gain invaluable insights and establish first key connections that have truly shaped LipoCheck’s preparation and entry into the U.S. market.

The four-day bootcamp in New York was intense in the best way: incredibly well-organized and filled with expert knowledge and real-life founder experiences. Yes, the agenda was packed – but everything was so relevant and energizing that time flew by.

We walked away with a clear roadmap and a supportive network that still sticks with us. This program has become a key milestone in our international growth, and I highly recommend it to any female founder thinking about expanding to the U.S.

Thank you to the whole STEP USA team for creating such a empowering experience!”

Helena Rapprich

Co-Founder & CEO, LipoCheck GmbH

“Insights from top-notch professionals across various fields were invaluable”

The Step USA program opened doors to the American market in ways I never imagined. The insights from top-notch professionals across various fields were invaluable, and pitching in New York provided direct, real-time feedback from the market. The atmosphere was incredibly supportive and inspiring.”

Claudia Heim

CEO, DigiWhat

“Das STEP-USA-Program  war ein Eye-Opener für uns!”

“Das STEP-USA-Program  war ein Eye-Opener für uns! Wir hatten die USA vorher nicht direkt auf dem Schirm, jetzt aber sind wir davon überzeugt, dass dieser Markt eine Menge Potenzial für uns bieten wird, sobald wir ready sind. Wir wissen jetzt auch, dass wir mit der AHK-NY einen starken Partner haben, um diese Aufgabe zu stemmen! Thank you!”

Hannes Postel

CEO, Keywood GmbH

“STEP-USA is the Door to the American Market”

“The STEP-USA program is the door to the American market and investors for German startups and SMEs, which otherwise just doesn’t exist.”

Dr. Tilman Sauter

Co-Founder, fior Familie GmbH

“Access to valuable VC resources, mentorship, and networks”

“The STEP USA program has truly been instrumental in empowering us to embark on our journey of exploring our US market entry. This 4-day startup bootcamp provided us with unparalleled access to valuable VC resources, mentorship, and networks that have been pivotal in navigating the complexities of the US market landscape. Through workshops, seminars, and one-on-one guidance, we gained profound insights into market trends, regulatory requirements, cultural nuances, and business practices essential for success in the US. We are deeply grateful for the support and encouragement provided by the GACC New York and its team. Highly recommendable!”

Peter Simon

VYTAL Global GmbH

“Thank you!”

„We found ourselves in the situation of starting a subsidiary in the U.S. and the STEP USA program. There is an excellent team behind this U.S. market immersion program! They supported us in finding the right story for American investors. Furthermore, we were able to clarify legal issues and the GACC New York connected us with the great New York startup network right from the start.

They take the time and heart to sift through your individual story and shape it so that it fits to the U.S. market. In addition, the GACC New York also assists in the company founding process, making it a total package that helps to accelerate our venture. Thank you!”

Andreas Meyer & Julian Neu

Founders, mateligent iDEAS GmbH

“I wholeheartedly endorse the STEP USA program”

As CEO of Evergreen, a digital sustainable asset manager, I am immensely grateful for having participated in the STEP USA program. The program provided a comprehensive and enriching platform for learning, networking, and understanding the intricacies of establishing a business in the USA, specifically from a German company’s perspective.

The breadth and depth of the program was remarkable, with invaluable insights into legal aspects, marketing strategies, and labor market dynamics in the US.

The networking opportunities were also exceptional. Engaging with a diverse range of professionals and entrepreneurs provided us with new perspectives and facilitated connections that continue to be beneficial for our business.

The STEP USA program is undoubtedly an excellent initiative for any German company looking to expand its operations to the US. It’s a unique blend of practical knowledge, professional networking, and essential support services.

I wholeheartedly endorse the STEP USA program for its commitment to fostering successful international businesses, and I look forward to seeing its continued impact on the international business landscape.

 

Iven Kurz

CEO, Evergreen GmbH

“Very inspiring!”

“Participating in the STEP USA program was worthwhile for me in two ways: It not only provided important information on legal and organizational aspects of starting a business in the USA, it also gave a wonderful impression of the spirit that drives business people in New York and the U.S. — very inspiring!”

Stefan Harries

Managing Director, FRIENDSHIP SYSTEMS AG
Lennardt Hachmeister

“Tech in the city – 4 days of startup vibes in NYC”

“I joined the STEP program after an intense 3 months stay in San Francisco and was amazed by the insights we received into the NYC startup ecosystem. By this I could compare the east coast with the west coast perfectly and gained priceless insights and networks for fund raising and market launch in the USA. I would recommend everyone this program who is interested in US market for first insights, market launch or fund raising. Thanks to the whole GACC and VentureOut team for the great organisation!”

Lennardt Hachmeister

Co-Founder & CEO, iotis GmbH
Philipp_Close Testimonial

“I couldn’t recommend it any higher.”

“Step USA is a 4-day educational program where I was able to learn a lot about entering the U.S. market, and also many best practices for my startup in general. I couldn’t recommend it any higher.”

Philipp Stoffers

CEO, Hepacura UG

“Getting insights that will drive our U.S. market entry!”

“You can read a lot of books and join classes on how to enter the U.S. market. For me, the best source for getting an understanding on how to successfully do business with American customers is connect to the right networks. The STEP USA program did exactly that for us. Thank you for 4 extremely valuable and fun days in New York!” 

Marcus Stein

CEO, watttron GmbH

“The Step USA Program in New York was absolutely relevant and extremely rewarding.”

“The Step USA Program in New York was absolutely relevant and extremely rewarding. The fast-paced and dense schedule with the social events provided the perfect framework to get to know the New York startup ecosystem and the American way of life. The whole trip was highly motivating, and I can only recommend taking part in it! Dear GACC-Team thank you very much for making us feel so welcome!”

Felix Weger

CEO, Packwise GmbH

“The learnings of our 4 days in New York are super helpful going forward!”

“If you are a startup considering the U.S. market, the STEP USA program is definitely the right way to go. It helped us tremendously! Not only did we gain exact business insights on our market entry, it also gave us the opportunity to build up an excellent network in a very short period of time. We saved a lot of time and money by gaining a realistic impression on-site. The GACC NY has super strong partners and the organization of the STEP USA program was perfect. The learnings of our 4 days in New York are super helpful going forward!”

Lennard Schäfer

COO, Enduco GmbH

“The STEP USA program was a blast!”

“As a German startup approaching the US market, the STEP USA program was extremely valuable for us. The 4-day program in New York gave us detailed insights in the American VC market as well as U.S. law and helped us to define our go-to-market strategy.

Moreover, we were able to make excellent connections to mentors, venture capital investors, and customers. We even made new friends. The GACC NY team did a tremendous job organizing this entire event, it was well-structured and filled with relevant content.

Absolutely recommendable!”

Nicolas Neubauer

Managing Partner, Lhotse Analytics GmbH

“I recommend STEP USA to everyone who is interested in doing business in the U.S.”

“STEP USA is a 4-day startup program designed to help startups enter the U.S. market. It is remarkably outstanding as the team provides insights into the markets, makes valuable connections tailored to the startup’s industry, and puts you really into the position to understand how to enter the American market the best way – all of that within just 4 business days! Having been on quite a lot of these programs, I recommend STEP USA to
everyone who is interested in doing business in the U.S.”

Daniel Putsche

CEO, 021 Software GmbH

Upcoming STEP USA Programs

JUN
22

STEP USA New York Program
Open to all startups

Jun 22 – Jun 25, 2026

New York City

Register Now

SEP
21

STEP USA New York Program
Open to all startups

Sep 21 – Sep 24, 2026

New York City

Register Now

NOV
16

STEP USA University Program
Open to early-stage
university startups

Feb 02 – Feb 05, 2026

New York City

Register Now

Some of our STEP USA Alumni

STEP USA SUCCESS STORIES