Winston Salem Times

Nordic AMPlify, a business development program connecting I.T. health care providers in Sweden, Iceland and Finland with companies in Winston-Salem, has selected 12 growth-phase companies to help plan its U.S. market entry strategies.

FCA Health Innovations organized the program, which is supported by Nordic Innovation and the official trade organizations of Sweden, Iceland and Finland.

Selected companies will participate in a three-day virtual immersion tour to learn about doing business in the U.S. and how to attract investors, WinstonSalem.com reported on Oct. 7. The program will happen twice per year, and the top three companies from each session will then travel to Winston-Salem for an intensive emersion experience.

"It is difficult for any early-stage company, especially foreign companies, to get noticed in large American markets like New York, Boston, and Silicon Valley," Laura Johnson Lee, senior vice president of Economic Development for Greater Winston-Salem, Inc, said, WinstonSalem.com reported.

Those selected will receive curriculum with modules on U.S. regulations, product-market fit, communications and pitching to investors, and also be provided mentors to help them throughout their journey, WinstonSalem.com reported.

"Part of our mission is to grow the healthcare ecosystem in the Triad and Western North Carolina," Tom Hearn, Partner with FCA Health Innovations, formerly Dióko Ventures, said, WinstonSalem.com reported. "The opportunity to bring 25-30 high-quality healthcare companies to the area every year is extremely exciting and can create significant, long term opportunities for the region."