What Potomac International Partners does

Potomac International Partners is a Washington, DC-based multidisciplinary consulting firm founded in 2017 that delivers government relations, federal marketing, international market entry, and defense manufacturer advisory services to enterprise clients. The firm represents individuals, companies, trade associations, sovereign nations, and NGOs, with disclosed engagements spanning Fortune 100 aerospace and defense manufacturers, the world's largest energy company, leading cybersecurity firms, foreign manufacturers facing tariff disputes, and trade associations. With 11-50 employees and offices in Washington and Brazil, the firm is built on the political relationships, agency access, and bipartisan positioning of its senior team rather than on technology platforms or proprietary software.

The firm's four practice areas are Government Relations (bipartisan lobbying, congressional and federal agency access, regulatory negotiation), Federal Marketing (selling products and services to federal agencies including DoD, FEMA, GSA, and Department of War via GSA schedules, SBIRs, grants, and teaming arrangements), International Market Entry (trade policy navigation, FDI structuring, sovereign wealth fund access for US firms entering non-US markets and vice versa), and Defense Manufacturers (connections to foreign military buyers and NATO procurement). Customer engagements are delivered via direct senior-team involvement with documented outcomes including OSHA defense victories, tariff exclusion reversals, regained US city traffic control contracts, and legislative amendments enabling DoD contract pursuit.

The firm's business model is retainer and project-based professional services consulting with engagement-based pricing tailored to scope and complexity, often structured as multi-year contracts. Distribution is entirely direct, dependent on senior practitioners, and supported by thought-leadership activity including conference speaking, blog content, and organic social media. The firm was co-founded by CEO Mark Cowan (35+ years of public service across the Reagan, Bush, and Trump administrations) and Chairman Emeritus Dr. Edwin Feulner (Heritage Foundation founder, Presidential Citizens Medal recipient), who passed away in July 2025. A February 2026 strategic partnership with Worksport Ltd. targeting federal procurement indicates active commercial pipeline expansion.

Name

Potomac International Partners

Legal name

Potomac International Partners

Website

https://potomacinternationalpartners.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Washington, DC-based boutique consulting firm providing bipartisan government relations, federal market entry, international market entry, and defense manufacturer advisory services to enterprise clients including Fortune 100 companies and foreign firms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Relations Consulting

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Other Management Consulting Services (541618)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Sector & Policy Consulting (BPAHACAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Intergovernmental Affairs & Federal Grants Administration (BPAIAAAC), Multilateral Diplomacy & International Representation (UN, Regional Bodies) (BPAIAIAC)

Keywords

• Government relations consulting
• Federal procurement advisory
• International market entry
• Defense manufacturer consulting
• Political strategy advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Alexandria

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. Government Relations Consulting: Professional consulting services for individuals, companies, trade associations, sovereign nations, and NGOs seeking to navigate government processes, secure contracts, or influence policy. Revenue generated through advisory fees, retainer arrangements, and success-based compensation for contract wins.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Potomac International Partners is a multidisciplinary consulting firm offering four core practice areas: Government Relations (bipartisan lobbying and policy advocacy), Federal Marketing (helping companies sell products and services to the US government), International Market Entry (assisting foreign and US firms with cross-border market access), and Defense Manufacturers (connecting US defense firms with foreign military buyers). Services are delivered via retainer and project-based engagements by senior bipartisan professionals.

Product overview

Potomac International Partners is a multidisciplinary consulting firm offering four core service practice areas: Government Relations, Federal Marketing, International Market Entry, and Defense Manufacturers. Rather than a unified software platform, the firm operates as a professional services consultancy that matches client ideas with government needs, delivers actionable solutions for policy and political challenges, and helps companies build brands, protect reputations, and enter new markets domestically and internationally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Government Relations Bipartisan government relations services including political strategy, congressional lobbying, regulatory negotiations, and access to federal agencies. Helps clients build alliances across the aisle and promote solutions that benefit constituents and the national interest.
• Federal Marketing Federal market entry and procurement navigation services helping companies sell products and services to the US government. Includes direct sales support, GSA schedule sales, partnering and teaming arrangements, grants, SBIRs, and proofs of concept for federal agencies such as the Department of Defense, FEMA, and GSA.
• International Market Entry Global market entry consulting for US companies seeking non-US markets or foreign companies seeking US market access. Includes trade policy navigation, foreign direct investment support, PPP structuring, and connections to sovereign wealth funds and international financial institutions, delivered via senior on-the-ground professionals in multiple countries.
• Defense Manufacturers International defense market consulting connecting US defense manufacturers with foreign military buyers. Assists with NATO contracts, global defense procurement, and mid-sized defense firm expansion into international markets.

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Worksport Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 February 2026Strategic partnership to pursue federal procurement opportunities for Worksport's nano-grid product ecosystem including SOLIS solar tonneau covers, COR portable energy systems, and Aetherlux ZeroFrost heat pumps. Specifically targeting Department of War (DOW), FEMA, and General Services Administration (GSA) channels. Partnership focuses on disaster response, contested logistics, fleet decarbonization, and building modernization use cases.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BGR Group: BGR Group is a Washington, DC bipartisan government relations, lobbying, and public affairs firm serving corporations, trade associations, and foreign governments. Highly comparable to Potomac in service mix, bipartisan positioning, and federal/foreign client base.
• Cassidy & Associates: Cassidy & Associates is a DC bipartisan lobbying and government relations firm representing corporations, foreign governments, and trade associations. Comparable boutique-to-mid scale, similar bipartisan positioning, and overlapping defense/foreign client base.
• Forbes Tate Partners: Forbes Tate is a bipartisan government affairs and public affairs firm serving Fortune 500 companies, trade associations, and foreign entities. Directly comparable service mix (lobbying, federal procurement support, public affairs) and client profile.
• CGCN Group (now Crossroads Strategies): Crossroads Strategies is a bipartisan government relations and public affairs firm representing corporations, associations, and foreign governments before Congress and federal agencies. Highly comparable in scale, bipartisan brand, and federal procurement/lobbying focus.
• Mehlman Consulting: Mehlman Consulting is a bipartisan government relations and lobbying firm focused on healthcare, technology, and corporate clients. Comparable boutique DC scale and bipartisan positioning, with overlapping federal procurement and policy advocacy services.
• Subject Matter: Subject Matter is a bipartisan government affairs and strategic communications firm serving corporations and associations. Directly comparable in federal advocacy, public affairs, and crisis communications services, with similar boutique scale.
• The Glover Park Group: Glover Park Group is a strategic communications and government affairs firm offering public affairs, lobbying, and crisis communications. Overlaps with Potomac's federal advocacy and corporate reputation work, particularly for Fortune 500 and foreign clients.

Broad incumbents

• Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck: Brownstein is a large DC-based law and lobbying firm with a nationally recognized government relations practice serving Fortune 500 and foreign clients. Comparable in services (lobbying, federal procurement, international) but materially larger and broader as a full-service law firm.
• Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld: Akin Gump operates a large international law and government relations practice with deep work in defense, energy, and international market entry. Overlaps with Potomac's federal procurement, defense, and international trade capabilities but at significantly larger scale.
• Hogan Lovells: Hogan Lovells is a global law firm with a substantial government relations and public policy practice, including defense, energy, and international trade work. Comparable in regulatory, defense, and international client services but materially larger and more diversified.

Market position

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/potopartners
• Facebookfacebook.com/potomacinternationalpartners
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/potomac-international-partners-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Potomac International Partners