Pin the Tail on the Market

Data, not preconceptions or history, should drive a trade & FDI plan.

In economic development, assumptions are often the enemy of opportunity.

Tech & Innovation? San Francisco Bay Area.
Financial Services? New York City.
Life Sciences? Boston.
Energy? Texas.

It’s easy to default to these well-known markets. They’re established, they’re crowded, and they’re competitive. So you spend months on planes, navigating conference floors shoulder-to-shoulder with dozens of other economic developers, all delivering a similar pitch: “We have a fast-growing innovation hub…and great quality of life!” Sound familiar?

But what if you invested some time and resources upfront to do your homework? To uncover emerging opportunities—hidden pockets of innovation, niche growth sectors, and untapped markets that truly align with your region’s strengths? You may get something like this:

Quantum Innovation = Chicago
Regulatory Tech (RegTech) = Seattle
Medical Devices = Minneapolis
Hydrogen Infrastructure = Denver

Instead of competing for scraps in a saturated market, you’re presenting your value proposition to a focused audience—one where you’re not just another voice, but the voice. Suddenly, you’re in a room with decision-makers who see your jurisdiction not as an “also-ran,” but as a potential perfect fit.

Read the full post on at States of Trade.