01
NOV 2026 — APR 2027
Build the program
Funding, country recruitment partnerships, education and technical delivery arrangements, and early buyer discovery.
A TEFA PROGRAM A WORLD OF POSSIBILITY
Enterprise ambition.
Global opportunity.
From Asian roots to American markets.
Preparing agri-food enterprises for what’s next.
THE PROPOSED JOURNEY
Learn in the U.S.
Build at home. Return ready.
Good businesses deserve
a world of opportunity.
Let’s build the bridge.
EXPLORE
01 /OPPORTUNITY, WITH PREPARATION
A pathway from
potential to
participation.
Great products can come from anywhere.
The right preparation helps them go further.
Gateway USA is a proposed enterprise-development and U.S. market-access program for established agri-food businesses from selected Muslim-majority countries and underserved Muslim communities across Asia.
Through practical learning, product preparation and structured commercial engagement, Tefa aims to help enterprises understand their gaps, strengthen their capabilities and pursue relevant U.S. opportunities.
Find your pathway ROOTED IN POTENTIAL. READY TO GROW.Local ambition.
Global horizons.
ENTERPRISE · PARTNERSHIP · GROWTHGlobal horizons.
06 / countries
Proposed geographic focus
12 / enterprises
Proposed first cohort, subject to funding
02 / residencies
14 days each. One connected journey.
90 / days
Commercial aftercare & follow-through
We are building the partner consortium and funding base. Fees, delivery partners and participation arrangements will be confirmed before acceptance.
02 /YOUR ROLE IN THE GATEWAY
One program.
Shared opportunity.
Progress happens when the right people
come together. Find where you fit.
Grow your enterprise.
A bigger market starts with a stronger business.
For established agri-food enterprises with a priority product, a committed leadership team and capacity to improve. Selection will consider readiness, commercial potential and development impact.
Express enterprise interest
BUILT ON CONNECTIONWHAT WE CAN BUILD TOGETHER
- Understand your product, operational and market-readiness gaps.
- Build a practical transformation and market-entry roadmap.
- Prepare for relevant buyer conversations and specialist reviews.
- Explore support through a future sponsored country cohort.
03 /ONE CONNECTED JOURNEY
Insight.
Action.
Opportunity.
Learn in the U.S. Build at home. Return ready. Every stage is designed to turn market insight into enterprise capability.
Approximately eight months from the first residency to the second, followed by 90-day aftercare.
Explore the curriculumPROPOSED U.S. BASE
Greater Boston, Massachusetts
Greater Boston, Massachusetts
02
MAY — AUG 2027
Select & prepare
A proposed first cohort of 12 enterprises, up to two per focus country, subject to readiness and funding. Diagnostics, product screening and virtual orientation.
03
11 — 24 SEP 2027 · PROVISIONAL
Learn, diagnose & design
The first U.S. residency: 14 calendar days, ten working days, practical learning and a transformation roadmap.
04
OCT 2027 — MAR 2028
Transform at home
Six months of practical implementation, monthly coaching, cohort learning and specialist support within agreed allocations.
05
1 — 14 APR 2028
Review commercial readiness
Assess improvement milestones, documentation, sample readiness and the fit of prospective buyer meetings.
06
22 APR — 5 MAY 2028 · PROVISIONAL
Engage & advance
The second U.S. residency: ten working days of targeted commercial engagement, negotiation preparation and follow-up planning within a 14-day visit.
07
6 MAY — 3 AUG 2028
90-day aftercare
Follow up on qualified opportunities, address next steps and report verified outcomes.
RESIDENCY 01 · PROVISIONAL
September 11–24, 2027
Learn the market. Build the plan.
RESIDENCY 02 · PROVISIONAL
April 22–May 5, 2028
Engage buyers. Advance opportunities.
ROOM TO EXPERIENCE MORE
Two 14-day visits.
10 working days each, with weekends for cultural activities and rest.
Planning dates only, subject to funding, partner availability, calendar checks and travel arrangements. Do not book travel until Tefa confirms participation and dates in writing.
THE PROPOSED CURRICULUM
A closer look at the journey.
Exact venues, faculty, hosts and
buyer attendance are not confirmed.
01MAY — AUGUST 2027 · AT HOMEPrepare before you travel
Prepare before you travel
| DAY / PERIOD | PROPOSED ACTIVITIES |
|---|---|
| Enterprise baseline | Assess leadership, operations, capacity, existing markets and development impact. |
| Priority product | Select one product and proposed U.S. customer/channel; identify technical questions. |
| Four virtual orientations | Prepare product and company profiles, learning objectives and supporting information. |
| Two diagnostic meetings | Develop a readiness baseline and initial improvement priorities. |
| Travel preparation | Confirm written terms, individual eligibility, insurance arrangements and approved bookings. |
Participation is confirmed only through a written offer. Do not book travel before written confirmation.
0211 — 24 SEPTEMBER 2027 · PROVISIONALResidency 1: learn, diagnose & design
Residency 1: learn, diagnose & design
| DAY / PERIOD | PROPOSED ACTIVITIES |
|---|---|
| Sept 11–12 · Weekend | Arrival, rest and light orientation. Optional local introduction. |
| Sept 13 · Monday | Leadership objectives, enterprise presentations and baseline review. |
| Sept 14 · Tuesday | U.S. customers, channels and competitor positioning. |
| Sept 15 · Wednesday | Product-specific technical requirements and specialist consultations. |
| Sept 16 · Thursday | Product positioning, packaging and structured market feedback. |
| Sept 17 · Friday | Costing, pricing, logistics and working-capital needs. |
| Sept 18–19 · Weekend | One organized cultural or regional excursion; optional touring and rest. |
| Sept 20 · Monday | Proposed industry visits and commercial immersion, subject to hosts. |
| Sept 21 · Tuesday | Quality, traceability, production capacity and operational planning. |
| Sept 22 · Wednesday | Financial readiness, growth requirements and enterprise resilience. |
| Sept 23 · Thursday | Transformation-plan studio with adviser feedback. |
| Sept 24 · Friday | Action-plan presentations, milestone agreements and departure after closing. |
Output: an enterprise transformation roadmap with responsibilities, milestones and a practical implementation budget.
03OCTOBER 2027 — MARCH 2028 · AT HOMESix months of enterprise transformation
Six months of enterprise transformation
| DAY / PERIOD | PROPOSED ACTIVITIES |
|---|---|
| October | Finalize action plans, responsibilities and implementation budgets. |
| November | Improve products, packaging and quality systems as required. |
| December | Address specialist-identified technical and documentation gaps. |
| January | Refine costs, production planning, logistics and financing needs. |
| February | Prepare the U.S. market-entry dossier, customer targeting and buyer materials. |
| March | Prepare suitable samples, practice presentations and review milestone completion. |
Proposed support: one individual coaching meeting and one cohort learning clinic per month, country-partner follow-up and specialist support within an agreed allocation. Enterprises implement and fund business improvements unless separately covered.
041 — 14 APRIL 2028 · AT HOMECommercial-readiness review
Commercial-readiness review
| DAY / PERIOD | PROPOSED ACTIVITIES |
|---|---|
| Readiness assessment | Review milestones, product information, samples, pricing, capacity and buyer fit. |
| Next steps | Unresolved gaps may require revised activities or deferred commercial meetings under participation terms disclosed before admission. |
Buyer engagement depends on mutual interest, readiness and product fit.
0522 APRIL — 5 MAY 2028 · PROVISIONALResidency 2: engage buyers & advance
Residency 2: engage buyers & advance
| DAY / PERIOD | PROPOSED ACTIVITIES |
|---|---|
| Apr 22–23 · Weekend | Arrival, settling in and meeting preparation. |
| Apr 24 · Monday | Progress review and commercial presentation practice. |
| Apr 25 · Tuesday | Curated buyer meetings based on mutual interest and readiness. |
| Apr 26 · Wednesday | Further buyer and distributor discussions; opportunity assessment. |
| Apr 27 · Thursday | Product evaluation and targeted channel or buyer-site visits. |
| Apr 28 · Friday | Negotiation preparation and commercial terms. |
| Apr 29–30 · Weekend | One organized cultural or regional excursion; optional touring and rest. |
| May 1 · Monday | Commercial follow-up meetings and targeted visits. |
| May 2 · Tuesday | Logistics, documentation and financing consultations. |
| May 3 · Wednesday | Individual transaction and partnership clinics. |
| May 4 · Thursday | Partnership forum and enterprise progress presentations. |
| May 5 · Friday | 90-day action plans, closing and departure after the program. |
Output: buyer feedback, documented qualified opportunities and an enterprise-specific commercial follow-up plan. Targeted visits outside Boston may replace scheduled activities when justified.
066 MAY — 3 AUGUST 2028 · AT HOME90-day commercial aftercare
90-day commercial aftercare
| DAY / PERIOD | PROPOSED ACTIVITIES |
|---|---|
| Three monthly check-ins | Enterprise check-ins, agreed specialist referrals and coordinated follow-up on qualified opportunities. |
| Measure progress | Track sample requests, negotiations and verified transactions separately. |
Sales, visas, financing and regulatory approval are not guaranteed.
04 /CONNECTED ACROSS ASIA
Different roots.
A shared horizon.
Country cohorts shaped by local partnerships,
enterprise readiness and funding.
01
Philippines
Bangsamoro & selected underserved Mindanao communities
PH02
Indonesia
Selected regions & agri-food enterprise clusters
ID03
Bangladesh
Selected regions & agri-food enterprise clusters
BD04
Pakistan
Selected regions & agri-food enterprise clusters
PK05
Kazakhstan
Selected regions & agri-food enterprise clusters
KZ06
Uzbekistan
Selected regions & agri-food enterprise clusters
UZThe proposed geographic focus informs outreach. Enterprise selection will assess business readiness, potential and impact; halal pathways will be explored where relevant to products and customers.
BOSTON ROOTS. GLOBAL CONNECTIONS.A place to learn.
GREATER BOSTON · PROPOSED BASE PHOTO: KING OF HEARTS / CC BY-SA 4.0 · CROPPED & TONEDA place to learn.
A world to connect.
Greater Boston is the proposed home for two purposeful U.S. residencies—bringing learning, enterprise transformation and commercial engagement together.
Be part of the conversation05 /ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS
Ready for your
next chapter?
We’re looking for established agri-food enterprises with a credible product, committed leadership and the ambition to improve.
Start a preliminary inquiryFROM LOCAL VALUE TO GLOBAL POSSIBILITYYour product.
A wider world.
IS THIS YOUR NEXT STEP?
Four things we’re looking for.
01
Established roots
An established agri-food enterprise operating in one of the six focus countries.
02
Committed leadership
A founder or authorized senior leader able to commit to both residencies and at-home implementation.
03
A product with potential
One priority product with commercial potential and capacity to improve.
04
A readiness to grow
Willingness to share accurate business information and complete a readiness assessment.
12enterprises
A focused first cohort.
Up to two per focus country, subject to selection and funding.
A THOUGHTFUL SELECTION PROCESSNo application fee
- 01
Start the conversation
Send a preliminary inquiry.
- 02
Explore the fit
Enterprise fit and readiness review.
- 03
Go a little deeper
Potential interview and verification.
- 04
Make it official
Participation only by written offer.
Dates are provisional; inquiries do not reserve a place. Final costs, funding coverage and responsibilities will be disclosed before acceptance or payment.
06 /MAKE THE NEXT GATEWAY POSSIBLE
Back the ambition.
Build the capability.
Help resource a focused cohort or a defined part
of the enterprise journey.
/ 01
Founding partnerships
Help fund detailed design, partner coordination and shared delivery infrastructure.
/ 02Country cohorts & scholarships
Support participation and preparation for selected enterprises and proposed institutional fellows.
/ 03Technical & residency support
Resource specialist assistance, executive learning and purposeful market-engagement activities.
Corporate sponsorships
Explore a founding partnership, country cohort, enterprise scholarship, technical workstream or residency support. We will develop a costed proposal and agree recognition, expert participation, reporting and any appropriate introductions. Participant selection remains independent.
Foundation & development funding
Support inclusive enterprise development, women-led businesses where relevant, agricultural value addition, underserved communities and institutional capacity. Tefa welcomes invitations to submit a concept note, full proposal or partnership application. Funding requests will include participant criteria, a theory of change, delivery partners, itemized budget, milestones and monitoring. Applicant eligibility and any eligible lead-partner arrangement will be assessed for each opportunity.
Budget, coverage & measuring progress
The proposed funding model includes program delivery, two economy round trips for one designated executive, accommodation for both residencies, scheduled local transport and specified cultural activities. Final coverage, hotel-night allowances, meals, visas, insurance, shipping, testing and certification will be itemized before an offer or agreement. Pricing is being recalculated for the expanded two-week residencies. No fixed price or scholarship award is confirmed; earlier estimates are not an offer.
We will measure baseline-to-endline readiness, transformation milestones, products prepared, qualified buyer engagement, negotiations and confirmed commercial outcomes. Longer-term employment and supplier benefits require follow-up evidence.
Request a tailored funding discussion
Funding arrangements, eligibility and reporting are agreed with each partner.
Tefa Development LLC leads development; no charitable tax-deductibility claim is made.
BUYER DISCOVERY & COMMERCIAL ENGAGEMENT
Better preparation.
Better conversations.
Help shape a relevant supplier pipeline. We invite importers, distributors, specialty and halal-market buyers, ingredient buyers, food-service purchasers and retailers to share their sourcing requirements.
Join the buyer networkPURPOSEFUL CONNECTIONS, AT EVERY STAGE
01
Share sourcing priorities
02
Review suitable products
03
Meet through mutual interest
A PLACE AT THE TABLEA buyer-discovery
roundtable.
90 minutes8–12 peopleGreater
Boston
Boston
Proposed for late November or early December 2026 in Greater Boston. A working session to discuss sourcing priorities, supplier requirements and program design.
Exact date, venue and attendees are to be confirmed. Chambers and Chinatown business networks are prospective outreach channels, not confirmed partners.
Express roundtable interestSourcing interviews inform preparation before Residency 1; profiles, suitable samples and progress updates help qualify opportunities during transformation; Residency 2 combines focused Boston meetings, virtual engagement and selective buyer-site visits. Buyers review profiles in advance and meet according to fit and mutual interest. No purchasing obligation. Attendance is proposed to be free; limited preapproved travel assistance may be available, subject to budget and employer policies. No attendance payments or purchase commitments are promised.
THE COMPANION PROGRAM
Opportunity travels
both ways.
Gateway Asia is the proposed companion pathway for American businesses preparing to enter selected Asian markets.
Explore Gateway AsiaASIA → UNITED STATESGateway USA
Enterprise development. Product preparation.
Structured U.S. buyer engagement.
UNITED STATES → ASIAGateway Asia
Market selection. Partner development.
Commercial preparation for American businesses.
Both pathways are in development under Tefa’s MarketBridge™ practice, with separate participation requirements, budgets and outcomes. Gateway Asia serves American food, agricultural technology, processing, packaging and related service businesses. Published residency dates apply only to Gateway USA; Gateway Asia dates are not yet scheduled.
07 /BEFORE YOU CONNECT
A little clarity.
A better start.
Good questions open the right doors.
Here are a few answers to get you started.
01Is Gateway USA accepting applications?
Preliminary applications may be prepared for future cohort consideration. The program is being developed and funded. Submission is not admission; final dates, costs, support and participation terms must be confirmed in writing. Use the inquiry form to prepare an email directly to Tefa.
02Do enterprises need to be ready to export already?
The proposed program targets established businesses with a credible priority product and capacity to improve. A readiness assessment will help determine fit. Gateway USA is not currently positioned as an idea-stage startup program.
03Are the residency dates confirmed?
No. September 11–24, 2027 and April 22–May 5, 2028 are provisional. Funding, calendar checks, delivery partners and individual travel arrangements must be resolved. Please do not book travel based on these dates.
04Are fees, scholarships and travel arrangements confirmed?
No. These depend on the final program budget, sponsorship and delivery arrangements. Expressing interest creates no payment obligation and does not reserve a place. Final fees, coverage, accommodation, insurance, testing and certification responsibilities will be disclosed before acceptance or payment.
05Can organizations contribute expertise instead of cash?
Yes. We welcome discussions about teaching, technical assistance, facilities, mentoring, market insight and country coordination. Contributions will require an agreed scope and delivery responsibilities.
06Who develops and manages the program?
Gateway USA is being developed by Tefa Development LLC under Tefa’s MarketBridge™ practice. Proposed education, technical, country and buyer partners will be named only when their participation is confirmed. Learn more at tefaglobal.com.
08 /HELP SHAPE WHAT COMES NEXT
Let’s open
the conversation.
Every great opportunity starts with a connection. Tell us where you fit and what you’d like to explore.
Enterprise interestBuyers & distributorsSponsorship & fundingDelivery partnerships
factorytechusa@tefaglobal.comASIA ↔ UNITED STATESENTERPRISE AMBITION. GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY.