Trade Center of the Americas

What Trade Center of the Americas does

Trade Center of the Americas (TCA) is a Minneapolis-based sustainable business accelerator, incorporated in 2019 as the successor entity to the South American Trade Forum (2008-2019). TCA operates as a bilateral trade intermediary connecting Latin American small and medium enterprises with U.S. Midwest buyers, with a stated emphasis on sustainability and ethical trade. Leadership is Silvia Ontaneda (CEO) and Leandro Guimaraes (COO), and the organization reports a small core team (firmographic size of 1-10 employees), reflecting its status as an early-stage private entity without disclosed funding.

TCA's product surface is a bundled set of services rather than a single software platform. Core offerings include tiered memberships (Business Membership, Premium Corporate Membership), the ETHICA Certification program (a proprietary ethical-trade compliance standard), the WeFairTrade Academy (sustainability and trade-readiness education), Marketplace Opportunities (buyer-producer introductions), and Consulting Services for international trade strategy. The company also operates TROPIC, a subsidiary distribution platform that adds productized market-access infrastructure on top of the consulting and certification business. Geographic scope spans seven Latin American countries — Ecuador, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, and Uruguay — plus the U.S. Midwest (Minnesota in particular, anchored at 825 Washington Ave SE, Minneapolis).

The business model combines recurring membership fees, certification fees per SME, academy enrollment revenue, project-based consulting engagements, and — potentially — commissions or margin on flows facilitated through the TROPIC distribution platform. Distribution is driven by an institutional partnership network that includes UNA Minnesota, Global Minnesota, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (MN DEED), the MN Trade Office, Impact Hub, MEDA, and the Wayzata Chamber on the U.S. side, alongside Cargill and U.S. Bank as corporate counterparts. Legacy relationships inherited from the South American Trade Forum era — 3M, Medtronic, Target, Best Buy, Carlson, Ecolab, Land O'Lakes, the U.S. Commercial Service, and the State Department — extend the buyer-side reach but pre-date the current corporate structure. No funding rounds, revenue figures, or audited financials have been publicly disclosed.

Name

Trade Center of the Americas

Legal name

Trade Center of the Americas

Website

https://tradecamericas.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Trade Center of the Americas is a Minneapolis-based sustainable business accelerator connecting Latin American SMEs across seven countries with U.S. Midwest buyers through memberships, ETHICA Certification, WeFairTrade Academy, TROPIC distribution, and consulting services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Trade Consulting

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Export Promotion & Market Access Support (BPADAMAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fair Trade & Ethical Supply Chains (Certification, Traceability, Producer Support) (BPAGALAL), Trade, Export Controls & Customs Compliance (BPAHAFAN)

Keywords

• International trade consulting
• Export readiness training
• Ethical trade certification
• B2B trade facilitation
• Sustainable supply chain services

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: TCA Membership provides access to the business community, visibility for member companies and products, educational resources, market insights, networking opportunities, and invitations to events and trade missions. Members also gain pathways to WeFairTrade Academy, ETHICA Certification, and marketplace opportunities.
2. WeFairTrade Academy Training: Educational platform providing practical training programs in export readiness, ethical business practices, sustainability, market access, buyer expectations, traceability, branding, logistics, compliance, and strategic growth for Latin American SMEs and producers.
3. ETHICA Certification: Certification services for ethical business practices, sustainability, transparency, and traceable supply chains. Helps companies evaluate, improve, and communicate standards that matter to responsible buyers, partners, and consumers.
4. Marketplace Opportunities: Connecting certified and prepared members with market opportunities through network, events, buyer engagement, trade missions, digital platforms, and strategic partnerships. Includes product visibility, buyer introductions, and trade show support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Trade Center of the Americas operates as a sustainable business accelerator offering a multi-module platform centered on international trade facilitation between Latin America and global markets. Its core offering is a tiered Membership program that grants Latin American SMEs, producers, and exporters access to the TCA community, market intelligence, and networking, paired with specialized services: WeFairTrade Academy training, ETHICA ethical/sustainability certification, Marketplace Opportunities connecting members with buyers, and Consulting Services for export readiness, compliance, and market entry.

Product overview

Trade Center of the Americas operates as a sustainable business accelerator offering a multi-module platform centered around international trade facilitation between Latin America and global markets. The core offering includes Membership (providing access to the TCA business community, networking, and market intelligence), paired with specialized services: WeFairTrade Academy (educational training for export readiness), ETHICA Certification (ethical and sustainability certification program), Marketplace Opportunities (B2B connections and trade show support), and Consulting Services (trade advisory and market entry support). These products work together as an integrated ecosystem where members progress from community access through training and certification to marketplace participation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TROPIC: Minnesota-based import and distribution platform connecting ethically sourced Latin American tropical products with the U.S. Midwest market.
• ETHICA
• WeFairTrade Academy

Products and services

• Memberships TCA Membership provides Latin American SMEs, producers, exporters, and strategic partners access to a trusted community focused on sustainable trade, market intelligence, business visibility, networking opportunities, invitations to events and trade missions, and pathways to WeFairTrade Academy, ETHICA Certification, and marketplace opportunities.
• WeFairTrade Academy Educational platform designed to help Latin American SMEs, producers, farmers, and exporters become better prepared to access international markets through practical training in export readiness, ethical business practices, sustainability, market access, buyer expectations, traceability, branding, logistics, compliance, and strategic growth.
• ETHICA Certification Proprietary certification program designed to help SMEs, producers, and exporters strengthen their credibility by demonstrating commitment to ethical business practices, sustainability, transparency, and traceable supply chains. ETHICA is a registered trademark of Trade Center of the Americas.
• Marketplace Opportunities B2B marketplace program that rewards prepared and certified members by increasing their visibility and access to marketplace opportunities through network connections, events, buyer engagement, trade missions, trade shows, and strategic partnerships.
• Consulting Services International trade consulting services including export readiness, market preparation, compliance and documentation guidance, branding, buyer-readiness coaching, market entry support, cross-cultural facilitation, and trade referrals and matching for Latin American SMEs and producers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Movement from potential to preparedness—and from preparedness to opportunity for Latin American SMEs

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• United Nations Association of MinnesotacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Strategic community partnership supporting sustainable trade initiatives and alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals. UNA Minnesota collaborates on trade missions and development programs.
• Global MinnesotacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Community partnership focused on international trade promotion and cross-cultural understanding between Latin America and the U.S. Midwest region.
• Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Government partnership supporting economic development initiatives and trade facilitation between Minnesota and Latin American markets.
• Minnesota Trade OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Long-standing partnership established during SATF era (2008-2019) supporting international trade opportunities and market access programs for Latin American exporters.
• Impact HubminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Community partnership supporting innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem development for sustainable trade initiatives.
• MEDA (Minnesota Economic Development Association)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership supporting economic development and trade facilitation initiatives in Minnesota.
• Wayzata Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Regional chamber partnership supporting local business community engagement with international trade opportunities.
• U.S. BankcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Corporate partnership providing financial services and support for trade operations and member businesses in the TCA ecosystem.
• CargillcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Corporate partnership established during SATF era (2008-2019) supporting agricultural trade and sustainable supply chain initiatives between Latin America and U.S. markets.
• TROPICcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025TROPIC is a Minnesota-based import and distribution platform that is part of the TCA ecosystem, connecting ethically sourced Latin American tropical products with the U.S. Midwest market. TROPIC serves as TCA's distribution company for physical products.
• Federal Commercial ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Federal partnership established during SATF era supporting international trade promotion and export assistance programs.
• State DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Federal government partnership supporting diplomatic and trade relations between the U.S. and Latin American countries.
• CarlsonminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Corporate partner during SATF era, contributing to trade promotion and cross-cultural understanding initiatives.
• 3MminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Corporate partner during SATF era supporting trade and economic development initiatives.
• MedtronicminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Corporate partner during SATF era contributing to international trade development.
• EcolabminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Corporate partner during SATF era supporting sustainable trade initiatives.
• Land O'LakesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Agricultural cooperative partner during SATF era supporting farm trade and sustainability initiatives.
• TargetminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Corporate partner during SATF era contributing to retail trade and market access programs.
• Best BuyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Corporate partner during SATF era supporting international trade and technology sector connections.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Rainforest Alliance: Rainforest Alliance operates one of the most recognized global sustainability and ethical sourcing certification programs, covering agricultural supply chains in Latin America. It directly competes with TCA's ETHICA on ethical certification credibility and supply-chain traceability standards.
• TechnoServe: TechnoServe is an international nonprofit that builds market-based solutions for SMEs and producers in developing countries, including significant Latin America operations. It parallels TCA in addressing SME export-readiness, market access, and supply chain development for emerging-market producers.
• Root Capital: Root Capital is an impact-focused agricultural lender and capacity-builder for SMEs in Latin America. It overlaps directly with TCA's focus on Latin American agricultural cooperatives and producers seeking market access, ethical certification pathways, and export growth support.
• Fair Trade USA: Fair Trade USA is the leading fair-trade certification body in North America, directly competing with TCA's ETHICA Certification in providing ethical sourcing credentials to Latin American producers and U.S. buyers. Both target similar producer segments and compete for buyer-side certification acceptance.
• World Trade Centers Association: WTCA is a global membership-based network of trade facilitation organizations connecting businesses across borders. It is the closest functional analog to TCA in operating as a member-driven trade-promotion network focused on international business development.
• B Lab (B Corporation Certification): B Lab administers the B Corp certification for businesses meeting verified standards of social and environmental performance. It is a direct competitor to TCA's ETHICA Certification in providing credibility around ethical business practices, transparency, and stakeholder governance.
• Sedex: Sedex operates a global ethical trade membership platform that connects suppliers and buyers on sustainability data, similar to TCA's membership-driven marketplace. Both offer tiered membership access combined with ethical-trade verification services for international supply chains.

Broad incumbents

• International Trade Centre (ITC): ITC is the UN/WTO intergovernmental trade-promotion body that assists SMEs in developing countries with export readiness, market intelligence, and trade facilitation - directly mirroring TCA's mandate but operating at significantly greater scale and with multilateral funding.
• Inter-American Development Bank (IDB): IDB is the leading multilateral development institution supporting Latin American and Caribbean private-sector growth, SME trade finance, and export promotion. IDB Invest, its private-sector arm, funds similar capacity-building and market-access programs that compete for the same producer-customer relationships TCA serves.

Regional players

• ProColombia: ProColombia is the Colombian national export promotion agency offering trade training, market access programs, and buyer matchmaking services for SMEs. It mirrors TCA's activities but operates as a government body within a single Latin American country rather than as a multi-country private accelerator.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/trade-center-of-the-americas
• Instagraminstagram.com/tradecenteroftheamericas
• Facebookfacebook.com/Trade-Center-of-the-Americas-100054498698191

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Trade Center of the Americas