World Trade Center Utah

What World Trade Center Utah does

World Trade Center Utah (WTC Utah) is a private, nonprofit international business development organization founded in 2006 and headquartered at 60 E. South Temple in Salt Lake City, with an additional regional office in Seoul, South Korea operated in partnership with the University of Utah. The organization's mission is to accelerate the international growth of Utah-based companies by providing business advisory services, administering federal and private trade grants, coordinating trade missions, managing the state's Foreign-Trade Zone program, and offering tariff and supply chain advisory services.

The organization operates a portfolio of integrated service lines including Business Advisory Services for international strategy consulting, the Foreign-Trade Zone Program for duty deferral and reduction, SBA STEP Grant Administration distributing up to $1,050,000 annually to eligible small businesses, Trade Events and Missions including governor-led delegations to markets such as France, the UK, UAE, Israel, South Korea, and Australia, Tariff Advisory Services with ongoing policy updates, Market Expansion Programs for softlanding and corporate relocation, and the Export Acceleration Grant funded by JPMorgan Chase. There is no proprietary technology platform; the service offering is people-intensive and event-driven.

WTC Utah's business model is a nonprofit hybrid combining membership fees, service charges, government grant administration, and private sponsorship. It is the official Utah administrator of the SBA STEP Grant and operates under an affiliation with the World Trade Centers Association, providing access to a network of 2,600+ trade and investment partners across 88 countries. In 2024 the organization reported serving 329 companies, providing 1,046 services, facilitating $322M in new trade opportunities, and organizing 15 international trips. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the organization is governed by a Board of Directors and Global Advisory Board chaired by former U.S. Ambassador Jeff Flake, with Jonathan Freedman serving as President and CEO.

Name

World Trade Center Utah

Legal name

World Trade Center Utah

Website

https://wtcutah.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

World Trade Center Utah is a private nonprofit founded in 2006 that helps Utah businesses expand internationally through business advisory services, trade missions, SBA STEP Grant administration, Foreign-Trade Zone management, and tariff advisory, serving 329 companies and facilitating $322M in new trade opportunities in 2024.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Trade Development Services

NAICS

National Security and International Affairs (928), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Trade Facilitation & Customs Modernization (BPADAMAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Trade Facilitation, Customs & Border Regulatory Cooperation (BPADANAG), Trade, Export Controls & Customs Compliance (BPAHAFAN), Global Trade & Customs / Trade Compliance (BPAHAHAG)

Keywords

• International trade advisory
• Export assistance services
• Foreign-trade zone program
• Trade mission coordination
• SBA STEP grant administration

Headquarters

HQ city

Salt Lake City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Administration: WTC Utah administers the SBA State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) Grant, distributing federal funds to eligible Utah small businesses for international expansion activities. The organization also partners with private entities like J.P. Morgan Chase for additional export acceleration grants.
2. Membership and Advisory Services: WTC Utah operates as a private nonprofit organization providing services to businesses. The organization generates revenue through membership fees and service charges for business advisory, trade mission coordination, and export assistance services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

World Trade Center Utah is a private nonprofit organization that helps Utah-based businesses expand internationally through a portfolio of trade services. Core offerings include business advisory consultations, administration of the SBA STEP Grant and Export Acceleration Grant, operation of a Foreign-Trade Zone program, organization of international trade missions and events, tariff advisory, and supply chain optimization support.

Product overview

World Trade Center Utah is a nonprofit service organization (not a software product company) that provides a portfolio of international trade services to help Utah businesses expand globally. The core offering consists of Business Advisory Services for strategic consulting, a Foreign-Trade Zone Program for duty reduction/elimination, SBA STEP Grant Administration for export funding, Trade Events and Missions for international market access, Tariff Advisory Services for policy navigation, Market Expansion Programs for sales growth, Supply Chain Optimization for logistics efficiency, and an Export Acceleration Grant funded by JPMorgan Chase. These services work together as an integrated suite supporting the full lifecycle of international business development—from initial market research and planning through trade mission participation, tariff management, and ongoing operational optimization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Advisory Services Expert consultation for Utah companies on international growth strategies, market entry, partnership development, and global expansion planning.
• Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) Program Program helping Utah businesses reduce or eliminate duties on foreign goods, defer customs payments, and improve cash flow through authorized foreign-trade zone designations in eligible counties.
• SBA STEP Grant Administration Administration of the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration, providing funding to Utah small businesses for international expansion activities including trade shows, export training, and market research.
• Trade Events and Missions Organization of trade missions, trade show exhibitions, and business trips to international markets including aerospace shows, life science delegations, and governor-led trade missions.
• Tariff Advisory Services Guidance on tariff regulations, trade policies, and strategies to help Utah businesses navigate the tariff landscape, including tariff dashboards and trade policy webinars.
• Supply Chain Optimization Advisory services helping businesses optimize supply chain operations for international trade, including logistics, sourcing, and supply chain resilience.
• Market Expansion Programs Programs focused on helping companies grow sales in international markets, including soft-landing support for foreign companies entering Utah, public-private partnerships, M&A facilitation, and corporate relocation assistance.
• Export Acceleration Grant Grant program funded by J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. providing Utah companies up to $10,000 in funding to offset global expansion costs including legal consulting, market research, translation, and trade mission participation.

Quantifiable outcome

• $322M in new trade opportunities facilitated in 2024
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• World Trade Center Association (WTCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWTC Utah is an official member of the World Trade Centers Association, providing access to an international ecosystem of 2,600+ trade and investment partners across 88 countries. This affiliation enables Utah companies to connect with global business opportunities through the WTCA network.
• Governor's Office of Economic OpportunitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWTC Utah partners with the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity to organize trade missions, coordinate state economic development initiatives, and administer export programs for Utah businesses.
• University of UtahcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the University of Utah to operate WTC Utah's South Korea office, supporting Utah-Korea business connections and international programs.
• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWTC Utah administers the SBA State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) Grant for Utah, distributing federal funds to eligible small businesses for international expansion activities. The SBA has increased Utah's STEP Grant to record-high amounts.
• Delta AirlinesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDelta Airlines is listed as an ambassador member of WTC Utah's Global Advisory Board, supporting the organization's trade and investment initiatives.
• BioHive / BioUtahcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWTC Utah partners with BioHive and BioUtah to organize life science trade delegations, including participation in Arab Health trade show in Dubai with Utah biotech and medical device companies.
• Salt Lake ChambercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDerek Miller, President of Salt Lake Chamber, serves on WTC Utah's board. Organizations collaborate on economic development and international trade initiatives.
• Medical Korea / Korean Healthcare IndustryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWTC Utah organized a Utah trade delegation to Medical Korea 2026 in Seoul, partnering with the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity and BioUtah to help Utah healthcare companies connect with Korean market opportunities.
• Kem C. Gardner Policy InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNatalie Gochnour from Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute serves as Co-Chair of WTC Utah's board, providing policy expertise and research support for Utah's economic development initiatives.
• Indus International Research Foundation (IIRF Americas)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerGuruprasad Sowle serves as advisory board member at WTC Utah and President of IIRF Americas, facilitating structured collaboration between India and the United States, including trade delegations and advisory forums between Utah and India.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• World Trade Center Atlanta: Another WTCA-affiliated state/regional trade development nonprofit serving Georgia businesses with similar trade mission, advisory, and FTZ-adjacent services. Directly comparable in mission and WTCA network model.
• World Trade Center Denver: Colorado-based WTCA affiliate providing comparable international trade promotion, advisory services, and trade missions to in-state companies. Closest geographic and economic analog to WTC Utah.
• World Trade Center Seattle: Pacific Northwest WTCA affiliate offering trade development services to Washington state businesses through WTCA network. Closely aligned business model and member organization structure.
• World Trade Center Las Vegas: Nevada-based WTCA affiliate providing trade promotion services to Nevada businesses with similar WTCA network leverage and state-level economic development focus.
• World Trade Center San Diego: Southern California WTCA affiliate serving San Diego and Baja California cross-border trade with comparable trade mission and advisory programs. Particularly relevant for cross-border expertise.
• World Trade Center Institute (Baltimore): Maryland-based WTCA affiliate providing international trade and investment services to Mid-Atlantic businesses with comparable trade mission and advisory programs.

Broad incumbents

• World Trade Center New York: The flagship and largest WTCA affiliate, providing a much broader portfolio of international trade services in a global hub. Comparable in mission but materially larger scale and broader scope.
• U.S. Commercial Service (International Trade Administration): Federal trade promotion agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce that provides export assistance to U.S. businesses globally. Overlaps significantly with WTC Utah's trade advisory and mission services but at federal scale.
• JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization): Japanese government-affiliated trade promotion organization that supports business expansion between Japan and global markets. Analogous institutional model—government-backed trade facilitation with international offices.

Regional players

• Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity (Utah): Utah's state-level economic development agency that partners closely with WTC Utah on trade missions and export programs. Related but government-focused mandate rather than nonprofit advisory.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wtcutah
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/world-trade-center-utah
• Instagraminstagram.com/wtcutah

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about World Trade Center Utah