Most foreign hard-tech companies fail to enter the US market. We fill the gaps that sink them.
Defense and dual-use entry runs by its own rules, and the rules are exactly where good companies get stuck. SylvaQ exists to remove those blockers, including for companies in uncrewed and autonomous systems.
in grant funding enabled within the first 90 days of a hard-tech market-entry engagement
in government contracts enabled.
We remove the barriers to entry and position you for the revenue.
The hard parts nobody warns you about.
A foreign company can't sell into the US defense market directly. Technology shared for "evaluation" has a way of getting copied. The compliance and cost rules can make the math look impossible. And more than a few companies signed with a US "partner," spent the money, and got nothing back. Each one of those has sunk a real market entry.
- · Can't bid or sell into the US defense market directly.
- · Shared technology gets inspected and copied.
- · Compliance and price rules make the math look unsolvable.
- · A US "partner" took the money and delivered nothing.
- · A US structure that can actually hold the IP and the contracts.
- · IP protection treated as the headline, not a footnote.
- · Compliance and sourcing navigated with experts who know the rules.
- · Access to funding programs most foreign companies don't know exist.
- · One point of accountability, from the US entity to the first signed contract.
There's a second door.
For companies with strong technology but no appetite to build a US production line, SylvaQ structures IP licensing and sale paths that turn the technology itself into revenue, without the full US-ownership burden.
Built over years.
State defense, aerospace, and mobility development offices. Regional defense and hard-tech accelerators. Defense-focused legal counsel. Allied-nation trade agencies. The reason a foreign supplier can read as credible from day one.
Dual-use entry, answered.
How long does US market entry take for a hard-tech company?+
A grant application can be submitted within 30–90 days of engagement start. Full market entry — US entity formed, first revenue, operational presence — typically takes 6–12 months. SylvaQ compresses the timeline through institutional access that would otherwise take 12–24 months to build independently.
Do I need a US company to apply for Michigan grants?+
It depends on the program. Some Michigan grants do not require a US entity at time of application, only at time of award. Others require a Michigan presence commitment. SylvaQ advises on specific requirements for each opportunity and manages sequencing of entity formation alongside grant timelines.
What does NDAA compliance mean for a foreign hard-tech company?+
NDAA Section 889 prohibits US government contracts from using equipment containing components from specific Chinese manufacturers. For foreign hard-tech companies — whether in autonomous systems, defense electronics, sensors, or advanced manufacturing — this typically requires auditing the bill of materials and replacing non-compliant components before entering US procurement. SylvaQ conducts this BOM assessment as part of the market entry engagement.
Can a foreign hard-tech company participate in US government procurement?+
Yes, for certain programs. US defense and dual-use procurement programs are increasingly open to allied-nation suppliers who meet US component sourcing and compliance standards. Key requirements across most programs are NDAA Section 889 compliance (no prohibited Chinese components), ITAR/EAR export authorization, and a US-registered entity. SylvaQ manages the compliance assessment and connects companies to US component suppliers where substitutions are needed.
What is the Drone Dominance program?+
Drone Dominance is a US Department of Defense procurement initiative targeting 300,000 drones across four phases, valued at approximately $1.1B. Uniquely, the program is open to allied-nation suppliers — foreign companies with compliant technology can qualify. Qualification requires passing an ITAR/EAR/NDAA compliance review and completing a demonstration in Michigan. SylvaQ maps the compliance path and provides institutional access to the qualification process.
Find out where your US entry actually starts.
Book a call. We map the gaps that would sink it, and the structure that gets you in.
We don't name companies, programs, or deals publicly. On a call, we walk through how this applies to your technology.