Webinar: Marketing for SMEs Entering the U.S. Market – Lessons from Silicon Valley

Expanding into the U.S. is a major leap for any startup — but without a strong go-to-market (GTM) strategy, even the best products can get lost in the noise.

This webinar, hosted by Business Tampere, delivers practical, experience-based guidance to help founders from the Nordics navigate the U.S. marketing landscape and accelerate their success.

The session features Annika Ahonala, founder of Sand Hill Marketing, a San Francisco–based firm dedicated to bridging Nordic innovation with Silicon Valley strategy. Drawing on real-world experience, Annika will offer a candid look at how early-stage companies can adapt their marketing for the U.S. and why it often requires a deeper mindset shift than expected.

Aligned with the goals of Bridging4Growth — an export project co-funded by the EU’s Interreg Central Baltic initiative — this session equips SMEs with proven marketing strategies, cultural insights, and actionable tactics to support long-term U.S. growth.

Whether you’re just beginning your U.S. journey or refining your next phase of expansion, this webinar will help you build a foundation for sustainable growth.

What You’ll Learn

• Why marketing is a make-or-break factor for U.S. market entry
• Key mindset and tactical differences between Nordic and U.S. GTM approaches
• How to craft a compelling U.S.-ready GTM strategy
• The role of AI in reshaping early-stage B2B marketing
• Hiring and collaborating with U.S.-based marketing talent
• Common pitfalls Nordic founders should avoid — and how to stay ahead

About the Speaker & Sand Hill Marketing

Annika Ahonala is the founder of Sand Hill Marketing, a consultancy based in the San Francisco Bay Area focused on helping Nordic companies succeed in the U.S. market. With deep experience working across both ecosystems, Annika brings a sharp understanding of the strategic and cultural gaps Nordic founders must bridge when entering the U.S.

Through tailored guidance and high-impact connections, Sand Hill Marketing supports companies from market entry to scaling—drawing on Silicon Valley’s most effective marketing practices while staying grounded in the values and strengths of the Nordic business culture.