To guide companies and investors, you need more than market data: you need a real grasp of how governments and local systems work, and who shapes decisions. Barbara de Siena has spent over half her life abroad, working closely with professionals in the countries where UP2gether supports clients. Italian and a native French bilingual, she navigates different mindsets and operating models, aligning strategy with local reality – from regulations and bureaucracy to the way business is done.

Before investing in an international expansion path, market and industry analysis is absolutely essential.

That comes after a thorough review of the company and its products or services – so you avoid a journey that’s pointless, or even risky, for the business.

We support companies in Italy with local hiring and people management – grounded in labor law, contracts, and real on-the-ground practice – so teams work, stay compliant, and perform.

When an idea becomes a project, it must be made fundable.

Grants, financing, credit lines, and bank guarantees come faster with a strong deck and a credible business plan. Then the documentation must be tailored to banks, agencies, and investors—each has different requirements and decision logic. UP2gether supports you from the core file to the right version for every stakeholder.

It’s essential to know your partners and potential customers, as well as local and industry regulations, to ensure a correct and profitable path in international expansion projects.

Country and location analysis is the starting point—in Italy and abroad: we pinpoint the best region within a market, including special economic zones and local advantages, so your setup aligns with logistics, incentives, and the right sector ecosystems (food, leather, jewelry, and more).

Barbara de Siena, Founder of the UP2gether project, has organized trade missions and B2B business meetings for over 20 years— in Italy for foreign companies, and abroad for Italian and international businesses. Since 2021, much of this work has shifted to digital, which is why UP2gether is evolving.

In international projects, having qualified professionals and trusted contacts in the key sectors is essential.

UP2gether’s network helps you identify and reach the right people.

Hosting an international delegation requires close attention to the guests’ country-specific customs and expectations, plus the flexibility to adjust plans at the last minute—smoothly, without creating friction for participants. It’s also a uniquely valuable experience when you’re able to listen, share, and learn from your guests. As Barbara de Siena says: “I want to thank the people I’ve met over the years, because I’ve learned so much from my guests.”

Building a strong network of relationships with international and local institutions is essential to support clients on a profitable, compliant path—tailored to each specific product and project.

National and international tenders—both private and public—are a highly strategic arena.

Knowing the rules and activating the right specialists for each phase enables UP2gether to deliver a high-quality service to client companies.