ISM

What ISM does

International Strategic Management, Inc. (ISM) is a privately held Michigan corporation founded in 2004 by Faris Alami and headquartered in Troy, Michigan. The firm operates as a global entrepreneurship support organization that delivers consulting, structured training programs, and ecosystem advisory services to entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship support organizations (ESOs), governments, and universities. Its service portfolio spans consulting engagements (quote-based, with a five-step apply-to-implementation journey), signature cohort programs such as the Resilient Entrepreneur Program©, Power of 7 in Marketing©, Capital & Finance Readiness Services©, Capacity Building Tour Program©, and Exploring Entrepreneurship Program©, recurring mastermind group coaching ($895/month), a low-friction $10/month membership, a $100/month AI-powered Capital Ready Planning Portal, and 20+ free AI-guided assessment paths. The firm is a certified Kauffman Foundation FastTrac® affiliate, an affiliate of MIT Enterprise Forum Pan Arab, and a named Community Organizer for Global Entrepreneurship Week in Michigan; it has executed World Bank-funded programming (Jordan YTJ/MoDEE 2025), U.S. State Department-aligned trade missions (Saudi Arabia 2024, 26 companies), and partnerships with USAID, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, TechTown Detroit, Wayne State, University of Michigan, and others.

ISM monetizes through a hybrid professional services and edtech/SaaS model. Enterprise and government consulting plus sponsored capacity-building tours (1-14 days, 1-3 cities) form the higher-value revenue line; individual entrepreneurs are reached through self-serve online courses on Teachable, AI-assisted business planning and capital readiness portals, paid webinars at three tiers ($49.99-$249.99), e-commerce book/workbook sales, and recurring memberships. Underlying technology is third-party-hosted (Teachable for the academy, Squarespace for the website, Jotform for intake) with proprietary AI-styled assessment logic and business plan generation layered on top. Brand reach is substantial — 250,000+ entrepreneurs served across 100+ countries since 2004, $150 million in capital leveraged by supported companies (a customer-outcome metric, not ISM revenue), 5,000+ participants in 2024 with 25% YoY growth, and 1,000+ Zoom sessions / 2,911 Zoom hours of program delivery in 2024. The company is bootstrapped with no external funding rounds disclosed, operates with a core team in the 11-50 range, and has continued adding senior advisors and international fellows through 2026.

Name

ISM

Legal name

International Strategic Management, Inc.

Website

https://myisminc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ISM is a Michigan-based global entrepreneurship support firm founded in 2004 that delivers consulting, signature training programs, AI-assisted business planning tools, and ecosystem advisory services to entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship support organizations, governments, and universities across 100+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Entrepreneurship Consulting and Training

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Other Management Consulting Services (541618), Computer Training (611420)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Leadership, Management & Teamwork for Business (EDAMAHAI)

Keywords

• Entrepreneurship consulting
• Business coaching services
• Small business training
• Capital readiness planning
• Economic development consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Troy

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Consulting and Technical Assistance Services: Customized technical assistance across accounting/financial education, business planning, digital strategy, high-growth technology, business operations, HR, and legal advising. Five-step client journey: apply, full application, interview, scope of work, implementation. Quote-based pricing.
2. Signature Training Programs (REP, Power of 7, Exploring Entrepreneurship, FastTrac): Paid cohort and self-paced programs with three business levels (Beginner, Professional, Elite) starting from $299. Includes lifetime access to online curriculum, one-on-one coaching sessions, and classroom materials. REP also offered via licensing model for professors/universities as a 3-hour credit.
3. ISM Membership: $10/month recurring membership that delivers a 45-minute monthly exercise/workbook on entrepreneurship topics (targeted lists, online tools, customer lifecycle, etc.) to inboxes. Includes scholarships.
4. Mastermind Group Coaching: $895/month with 3-month minimum commitment; bi-weekly Zoom sessions with elite ISM business coaches. Two tracks: The Entrepreneur Circle and the ESO/EDO Leader Club. Annual paid-in-full option offers 2 months free.
5. Capital Ready Online Planning Tool: $100/month subscription to the AI-powered Capital Ready Planning Portal with financial planning, forecasting, and benchmarking.
6. Book and Product Sales: E-commerce sales of books (e.g., The Power of 7 in Marketing $39.99, Start Where You Are $24.99), workbooks (e.g., Power of 7 Workbook $14.99, Resilient Entrepreneur Course Workbook $49.99), and the Resilient Entrepreneur Canvas (free in multiple languages).
7. Paid Webinars: Resilient Entrepreneur Webinar at three tiers: Live ($49.99), Live Plus ($149.99 with 30-min follow-up call), and Live Premier ($249.99 with 30-min call with Faris Alami).
8. Capacity Building Tour Program: Sponsored educational/training programs in three tracks (Entrepreneurs, ESO/EDO, SME development) across one to three cities over 1-14 days. Sponsored by government, economic development agencies, community organizers, and individuals.
9. Program Licensing (REP): Licensing model for professors/universities to offer The Resilient Entrepreneur Program as a 3-hour credit.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion6 records

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

ISM delivers entrepreneurship consulting, training programs, business coaching, and AI-enabled business planning and capital readiness tools to entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship support organizations (ESOs), governments, and universities worldwide. Its signature offerings include the Resilient Entrepreneur Program, Power of 7 in Marketing, Exploring Entrepreneurship Program, FastTrac (via Kauffman affiliation), mastermind group coaching, AI-powered business plan and capital readiness portals, and customized capacity-building tours across more than 100 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Finjan Show: Podcast hosted by Faris Alami sharing insights on entrepreneurship and small business development.
• Resilient Entrepreneur Program
• The Power of 7 in Marketing
• ISM Masterminds / The Entrepreneur Circle / The ESO-EDO Leader Club
• Capacity Building Tour Program
• ISM Assessments
• Capital & Finance Readiness Services
• Yallah Global

Products and services

• The Resilient Entrepreneur Program (REP) A 5–7 week self-paced signature training program designed to help leaders and entrepreneurs sustain business activities during and after crisis, offered at three business levels (Beginner, Professional, Elite) from $299 with lifetime access and one-on-one coaching; available as REP University licensing for professors.
• The Power of 7 in Marketing A self-paced marketing program equipping entrepreneurs with relationship marketing strategies, scalable techniques, and client retention methods; includes the $39.99 book, $14.99 workbook, digital course, and a 7-week live facilitator challenge.
• Exploring Entrepreneurship Program A seven-session program (3-day bootcamp to 5 weeks) engaging immigrants and minorities in exploring business ideas in the U.S. market, with a micro-enterprise / solopreneur focus.
• Kauffman FastTrac Entrepreneurship Program The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation's 8–10 week cohort-format entrepreneurship program delivered by ISM as a certified FastTrac® affiliate and licensee, helping entrepreneurs validate ideas, build business plans, and access financial tools.
• Business Coaching & Mentoring A 3-month to 12-month coaching program focused on Money, Market, or Management with over 40 specific topics (leadership, customer segments, operations, finance, etc.), delivered by ISM Certified Business Coaches.
• ISM Membership A $10/month recurring membership that delivers a 45-minute monthly exercise/workbook on entrepreneurship topics (targeted lists, online tools, customer lifecycle, etc.) to subscribers' inboxes, with scholarships available.
• Mastermind Group Coaching (Entrepreneur Circle & ESO/EDO Leader Club) $895/month (3-month minimum) bi-weekly Zoom mastermind group coaching with elite ISM business coaches, offered in two tracks: The Entrepreneur Circle and the ESO/EDO Leader Club; year paid-in-full option offers 2 months free, with full and partial scholarships available.
• Capital & Finance Readiness Services A suite of services for entrepreneurs, ESOs, and EDOs to reach financial goals, including one-on-one coaching (1–14 meetings), 2-hour workshops, 3-day bootcamps, 3-week cohorts, and the wemicrofundyou.org online platform.
• AI-Powered Business Plan Online Portal An online portal with an AI-Powered Assistant that crafts top-tier business plans and provides comprehensive financial planning, forecasting, and benchmarking tools; positioned as investor-ready and available standalone or paired with ISM training/consulting.
• Capital Ready Planning Portal (AI-powered) A $100/month subscription to an AI-Powered Assistant portal for capital readiness planning, providing financial planning, forecasting, and benchmarking tools to prepare SMEs for funding applications.
• ISM Assessments & AI Entrepreneur Assessment Navigator A free suite of 20+ assessment paths across entrepreneurs (Readiness, Business Mindset, Resilience, Networking, Immigrant & Diaspora, Youth, Legal/IP), SMEs (Business Health Check, Global Market Entry, AI Readiness, etc.), and organizations (SBDC, CDFI, EDO, ESG), plus an AI-guided Navigator that recommends next steps.
• Consulting and Technical Assistance Services Customized technical assistance for organizations and governments across accounting/financial education, business planning, digital strategy, high-growth technology, business operations, HR, and legal advising; five-step client journey (apply, full application, interview, scope of work, implementation) with quote-based pricing.
• Capacity Building Tour Program Educational/training program in three tracks (Entrepreneurs, ESO/EDO, SME development) delivered across 1–3 cities over 1–14 days, including training, coaching, mentorship, culture visits, and ESO networking; sponsored by government, economic development agencies, community organizers, and individuals.
• Resilient Entrepreneur Webinar Live webinar with Faris Alami at three paid tiers: Live ($49.99), Live Plus ($149.99 with 30-minute follow-up call with an ISM team member), and Live Premier ($249.99 with 30-minute call with Faris Alami).
• ISM Books and Workbooks Books and workbooks sold via the ISM e-commerce store, including 'The Power of 7 in Marketing' ($39.99), 'Power of 7 in Marketing Workbook' ($14.99), 'Start Where You Are' ($24.99), and 'Resilient Entrepreneur Course Workbook' ($49.99); Resilient Entrepreneur Canvas is a free multi-language download.
• REP University Licensing A licensing model that enables universities and professors to offer The Resilient Entrepreneur Program as a 3-hour credit-bearing course.

Quantifiable outcome

• 250,000+ entrepreneurs served in 100+ countries since 2004
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability4 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

41 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• USAID (United States Agency for International Development)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSAID is listed as one of ISM's 'Trusted by global institutions' partners on the homepage and in the Strategic Partners and Alliances page. ISM and its principal Faris Alami have engaged in joint international development programming.
• Kauffman Foundation (Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerISM is a certified Kauffman FastTrac® affiliate and licensee, delivering the 8-10 week FastTrac program. ISM delivers the program in partnership with Kauffman to help entrepreneurs validate ideas, build business plans, and access financial tools.
• TechTown DetroitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechTown Detroit is a regular host and partner for ISM programs and events in Detroit, including the December 2023 book signing event. Listed on homepage as a 'Trusted by global institutions' partner.
• ACCESS (Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACCESS is a long-standing ecosystem partner, listed on ISM's Strategic Partners and Alliances page. Co-organizes programming that supports immigrant- and minority-owned businesses.
• Wayne State University (WSU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWayne State University is listed as a strategic partner. ISM also draws Wayne State students as interns (e.g., Michael Maniaci, pursuing a BA in English at WSU, joined as Tech and Project Management Intern in January 2025).
• University of MichigancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Michigan is listed as a strategic partner of ISM. ISM Director Molly O'Meara holds a University of Michigan degree, indicating deeper programmatic and alumni ties.
• MIT Enterprise Forum Pan Arab Region (MIT EFAR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMIT Enterprise Forum Pan Arab Region is a listed strategic partner, supporting ISM's entrepreneurship programming in the Arab region.
• Ann Arbor SPARKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnn Arbor SPARK is listed as a strategic partner. SPARK resources have been referenced in ISM's COVID-19 era communications and newsletter ecosystem outreach.
• Automation AlleycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAutomation Alley is a strategic partner and host of GEW-related announcements (May 2020 GEW Community Organizer announcement was published via Automation Alley).
• Global Ties US (formerly National Council for International Visitors)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal Ties is a strategic partner. CEO Faris Alami spoke at the first in-person Global Ties National Meeting since the pandemic in May 2022 in Washington D.C.
• Oakland Community College (OCC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOakland Community College is listed as a strategic partner, with ISM supporting the college's entrepreneurship programming and capacity.
• Young Startup VenturesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerYoung Startup Ventures is listed as a strategic partner; co-markets startup ecosystem events and programming.
• Informa MarketsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInforma Markets is listed as a strategic partner; supports joint event programming and marketing reach.
• New Enterprise ForumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNew Enterprise Forum is a strategic partner; ISM participated in NEF Showcase Presentation and Pitch Pit in January 2020.
• Launch GlobalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLaunch Global is a strategic partner; co-markets entrepreneurship programming including open application periods for qualified entrepreneurs.
• Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small BusinessescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses is a strategic partner. ISM's Director Molly O'Meara was most recently Alumni and Outreach Manager for Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, signaling deep programmatic alignment.
• MIT Technology ReviewminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMIT Technology Review is listed as a strategic partner.
• Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerGlobal Entrepreneurship Network supports GEW programming; ISM is the named Community Organizer for GEW in Michigan.
• Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship (MoDEE) of JordanflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerISM announced a strategic collaboration with MoDEE of Jordan on November 10, 2025 under the Youth, Technology, and Jobs (YTJ) project (funded by the World Bank and implemented by MoDEE). The partnership supports Jordanian companies' growth and Jordan's digital innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.
• Education for Employment (EFE) – Palestine & GlobalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISM partnered with Education for Employment – Palestine and Education for Employment – Global to launch the "Palestinian Women Entrepreneurs – Scale Up and Thrive" program (announced February 17, 2022).
• Madayn (Public Authority for Investment Promotion & Export Development, Oman)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMadayn partnered with ISM to organize Global Entrepreneurship Week in Oman (November 2019), according to Times of Oman press.
• Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMEDC partnered with ISM at the Dubai World Expo 2022 and supports GEW Michigan events. ISM is part of the Michigan delegation and supports MEDC's mission to attract businesses to Michigan.
• Society for International Development – US (SID-US)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaris Alami gave a 2024 keynote 'How to Establish a Mentor in International Development' at SID-US Professional Development Hub in Washington, D.C.
• Ukrainian Business Leaders (UBL PIE) / American CouncilscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISM hosts Ukrainian Business Leaders: Promoting Innovation and Entrepreneurship (UBL PIE) Fellows. Anastasia Sylenok (co-founder of Digitizing.Space and HATA Hub) joined ISM as a fellow on July 2, 2025 via this program.
• KoreaWEST FellowshipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKoreaWEST Fellowship brings Korean students to ISM. Aubrey Lee (Financial Analyst & Data Visualization Specialist) joined ISM in November 2025 via another KoreaWEST Fellowship cohort.
• USASBE (United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaris Alami delivered a 'Resilient Leadership' keynote at the USASBE 2024 Conference in Birmingham, Alabama, sharing his story and the Resilient Canvas.
• Center of Hope Family Services (Toledo, Ohio)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCenter of Hope Family Services hosted Faris Alami's 2024 keynote 'Engaging Youth in Global Resilience Through STEAM' to inspire youth participation in STEAM initiatives.
• University of Windsor (Canada)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISM launched mentorship cohorts focused on supporting women entrepreneurs at the University of Windsor (Canada), providing personalized business coaching.
• Detroit Means BusinesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISM delivers customized technical assistance services, including coaching, to empower local businesses with practical tools to navigate funding, operations, and business expansion in Detroit.
• Oakland ThrivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISM partnered with Oakland Thrive to provide a Business Plan Training workshop in Arabic (referenced in May 2024 newsletter).
• Finjan Show (ISM's owned podcast)flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerISM's Finjan Show podcast (hosted by Faris Alami) celebrated its 1-year anniversary in April 2022. Featured guests include Faizan Mahmood (March 2021) and Mike Callahan (I, Inc., August 2020). Distributed via finjanshow.com.
• Innovative Leadership InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Christopher Washington, who joined ISM as Senior Fellow for Intrapreneurial Leadership and Organizational Innovation on January 14, 2026, also serves with the Innovative Leadership Institute, indicating alignment with this ecosystem organization.
• Detroit Chinese Business AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerISM participated in the Detroit Chinese Business Association Cross-Border Investment Summit (April 19, 2018) at NextEnergy.
• MEDA (Michigan Economic Developers Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISM Inc. sponsored MEDA Spring Economic Development Toolbox in May 2017.
• Detroit Startup WeekminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFaris Alami was a speaker at Detroit Startup Week 2017.
• SBAM (Small Business Association of Michigan)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSBAM COVID-19 resources are referenced in ISM's founder letters as a partner organization.
• Michigan SBDC (Small Business Development Center)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMichigan SBDC COVID-19 Support and disaster loan help resources are referenced as key partner resources in ISM's COVID-era communications.
• Nile University (Egypt)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNile University (Egypt) is listed on the ISM homepage as a partner institution. Faris Alami also served as a Business Advisor at Nile University (September 6, 2018).
• Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime TransportcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport is listed on the ISM homepage as a partner institution.
• Monshaat (Saudi Arabia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonshaat (Saudi Arabia's General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises) is listed on the ISM homepage as a 'Trusted by global institutions' partner. ISM led a Trade Mission to Saudi Arabia in 2024 with 26 companies.
• Most Holding (UAE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMost Holding (UAE) is listed on the ISM homepage as a partner.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SCORE: SCORE is a U.S. nonprofit network providing free mentorship, workshops, and online courses to small business owners and entrepreneurs, closely matching ISM's entrepreneur education and cohort program model.
• Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses: Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses delivers cohort-based education, coaching, and capital access for growth-oriented entrepreneurs; ISM lists it as a partner and its Director Molly O'Meara was previously Alumni & Outreach Manager there.
• Endeavor: Endeavor is a global nonprofit that selects and supports high-impact entrepreneurs across 40+ markets with mentoring, networks, and access to capital, closely paralleling ISM's global entrepreneurship support model.
• Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO): EO is a global peer-to-peer network of founders offering mastermind-style learning, events, and accelerator programs; directly comparable to ISM's Mastermind Circles and Entrepreneur Circle/ESO-EDO Leader Club.
• Tiger 21: Tiger 21 runs paid peer-advisory mastermind groups for high-net-worth entrepreneurs and investors, directly mirroring the format of ISM's $895/month Mastermind Circles.
• Startup Grind: Startup Grind operates a global community and events platform for entrepreneurs, comparable to ISM's GEW events, Finjan Show podcast, and ecosystem-building activities.
• MassChallenge: MassChallenge runs global accelerator and entrepreneurship support programs for early-stage founders and ecosystem partners, comparable to ISM's cohort programs and ESO capacity building.
• Growth Wheel: Growth Wheel provides a visual business development framework and tools used by ESOs and SMEs worldwide; ISM explicitly uses Growth Wheel as part of its Capacity Building Tour Program curriculum.

Broad incumbents

• Kauffman Foundation (FastTrac): The Kauffman Foundation is the originator of the FastTrac® entrepreneurship curriculum that ISM licenses and delivers; it is a larger, established incumbent shaping the same entrepreneur-education category.
• America's SBDC (Small Business Development Centers): The SBDC network provides free advising, training, and capital readiness support to U.S. small businesses, overlapping with ISM's ESO/EDO and Capital & Finance Readiness services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses6 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@internationalStrategic
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/internationalstrategicmanagement
• Xx.com/myISMinc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about ISM