International Landing Pad Network

The Bottom Line

Ready to take your company stateside? This is your chance to expand with the right network behind you. SOSA provides everything a high-potential international scaleup needs to thrive in the U.S. market:

Fully Funded NYC HQ

100% subsidized office space for 12 months at SOSA’s innovation hub in Chelsea, Manhattan

Curated Capital Access

Meet with SOSA Ventures to be considered for potential investment

Direct Connections

Curated business development and investor connections to help you land partners, clients, and capital

How SOSA Ensures Your NYC Success

Your Accelerator Toolkit

SOSA’s year-long soft-landing initiative is designed to provide comprehensive, tailored support to accelerate growth-stage international companies into the New York City market

Secure Your Dedicated NYC Hub

The Manhattan Launchpad

Work from fully subsidized office space for 12 months at SOSA’s centrally-located innovation hub in Chelsea, Manhattan: coworking desks, conference rooms, lounge areas, and full office amenities!

Direct Access to Investment and Clients

Capital & Customer Acceleration

Curated business development and investor connections to help you land partners, clients, and capital. You’ll meet with SOSA Ventures (SOSA’s affiliated venture fund) - to be considered for potential investment. Get exclusive corporate matchmaking opportunities, facilitated by our dedicated innovation experts.

Tailored Guidance for U.S. Scale

Expert-Led Operational Readiness

Ongoing mentorship and tailored programming focused on achieving your specific U.S. expansion goals. Get expert scaleup support from trusted professionals on fundraising, financing, operations, accounting, marketing and leadership development. You’ll also be paired with a dedicated Lead Mentor throughout the year!

Leverage SOSA’s NYC Network & Resources

Exclusive Ecosystem Integration

Engage directly with with SOSA’s extensive network of NYC investors, corporate innovation leaders, and ecosystem partners, including investor speed dating, corporate roundtables, networking events, and a Demo Day showcase. Access over $115,000 in partner benefits across more than 25 startup tools and platforms,

SOSA: Your Global Partner for Local Scale.

We understand what it takes to help founders successfully scale in new markets. As a global technology and innovation management company, SOSA has over a decade of experience running more than 40 international accelerator and landing programs worldwide.

A Proven Track Record

Since 2014, we have been connecting large corporate organizations and governments, with emerging tech, driving collaboration and scaling solutions. We bridge the gap between global innovation and the U.S. market, with offices in New York, São Paulo, and Tel Aviv.

Part of an Elite Network

SOSA was selected by NYCEDC to operate one of four concurrent programs forming the coordinated, citywide International Landing Pad Network.

Have Questions?

Reach out to our team to discuss your eligibility

Are you Built
for the Big Apple?

We’re looking for ambitious, high-potential scaleups ready to ignite their U.S. market expansion.

Growth Stage Ready

You’re a growth-stage scaleup already generating substantial annual revenue OR with sufficient capital on your balance sheet.

Global Vision, NYC Commitment

Your HQ is outside the U.S. but you’re psyched about establishing operations and growing a team in NYC.

Industry Focus

You operate in an innovation-driven industry such as advanced technology, the green economy, or life sciences. We’e bullish on companies in Cybersecurity, Fintech, AI, CleanTech, Industry 4.0, and Agnostic B2B SaaS.

Remember!

You’re committed to in-person presence in NYC for the entire 12-month program.

About NYCEDC

New York City Economic Development Corporation plays a pivotal role in fostering entrepreneurship and innovation, which are key drivers of good-paying jobs and economic growth in New York City.

Since 2019, NYCEDC-funded entrepreneurship programs have supported more than 500 startup entrepreneurs in accessing critical networks, mentorship, business development, and capital opportunities to build scalable startups and novel products and services across NYC. As these programs have evolved, so too has the need for NYCEDC to maintain stronger connections with graduates of these programs (“Program Alumni”) to continue supporting and tracking their growth and impact over time.

All NYCEDC logos and marks depicted herein are registered trademarks of New York City Economic Development Corporation and are used by permission

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Why San Francisco

San Francisco and the broader Bay Area remain at the forefront of global innovation and venture capital. In 2024, startups in the Bay Area attracted $90 billion in venture funding - 57% of all U.S. venture capital investment, totaling $178 billion nationwide. Particular areas of strength in the San Francisco ecosystem include Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cybersecurity, HealthTech, BioTech, Fintech, and GovTech. Beyond capital, San Francisco's startup ecosystem encompasses thousands of founders, corporate innovation centers, accelerators, and support services. Its density of talent and infrastructure fosters unmatched networking opportunities, from intimate angel sessions to high-stakes investor connections.

For international startups, the U.S. remains the largest and most attractive market for expansion. U.S. corporations and investors are increasingly looking outward for proven, globally competitive technologies that can be quickly deployed at scale. For foreign startups with product-market fit and strong teams, programs like Desafía San Francisco offer a structured path to validate their offerings, build local relationships, and secure early traction in one of the most dynamic markets in the world.

Requirements

Bootcamp in Madrid

The selected companies will be invited to an in-person launch of the program. During a full-day bootcamp in Madrid on October 9th, the companies will align objectives, refine their U.S. value proposition, and prepare for the San Francisco program.

Two-week intensive immersion program in San Francisco

The in-market immersion, operated by SOSA and local partners, will offer the selected companies a personalized agenda aligned with their U.S. expansion and fundraising goals.

Workshops and strategic content sessions

An array of expert-led sessions will cover U.S. market entry fundamentals, legal and regulatory landscape, go-to-market strategy, how to win over U.S. investors, and other key topics.

Targeted meetings with investors in Silicon Valley

The program will include strategic meetings with VCs, angel networks, and family offices, focused on validating startups' market opportunity, refining their fundraising pitches, and building meaningful relationships.

Connections with key players in the San Francisco tech ecosystem

The immersion program will offer opportunities to meet SF ecosystem leaders, including innovation directors from corporates, accelerators, industry experts, and growth advisors.

Mentoring from experienced entrepreneurs

Founders who have successfully scaled their companies in the U.S. will offer direct insight into the realities of operating and fundraising in Silicon Valley.

Networking opportunities

This program will provide selected startups with a multitude of in-person touch points with key stakeholders in the San Francisco ecosystem, enabling them to build their U.S. contact base and explore commercial, investment, and collaboration opportunities.

Participation in a final Demo Day

During the San Francisco immersion, the selected startups will deliver a 5-minute pitch to a curated audience of investors, corporates, and ecosystem stakeholders.

Ongoing support through the Desafía Alumni Network

Upon completion of the program, the founders will connect to a broader community of Spanish startups and international partners, with continued access to resources and visibility.

Requirements

Be an entrepreneur with a technology startup

Have an annual turnover increase of more than 20% year over year (YoY)

Be headquartered and operating primarily out of Spain

No previous participation in a Desafía San Francisco Program

Have full professional proficiency in English

Full participation in all program phases, including the in-person Program Launch in Madrid (October 9th), the Virtual Program, and the entire two-week San Francisco Immersion (November 10-21st)

About ICEX

ICEX is a public business-oriented organization aimed at promoting the prosperity of the Spanish economy through internationalization. Its goals include enhancing the competitiveness of Spanish companies and their ecosystems in international markets; promoting Spain's image, its productive sectors, and companies abroad; attracting, promoting, and supporting foreign investments in Spain; and providing training in these areas. Its international network and close collaboration with chambers of commerce and sectoral associations are key to positioning Spain as a reference in global markets.

ICEX also promotes the international scalability of the technological and innovative entrepreneurship ecosystem through market intelligence activities, institutional support, and the promotion of our companies: startups, scaleups, investment funds, corporations, accelerators, incubators, etc. This is approached from a dual perspective of business development and investment attraction, as well as the creation of partnerships within the ecosystem.

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About Red.es

Red.es is the public corporate entity attached to the Ministry of Digital Transformation and The Civil Service.

Red.es develops programs to boost the digital economy, innovation and entrepreneurship, in addition to offering training for young people and professionals and support for SMEs and startups through the promotion of efficient and intensive use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).

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