Thruline Thursday 14: So You Think You Want to Enter the US Market

​Expanding into the United States in 2026 will be one of the most strategic moves an international founder can make. Even with political turbulence, regulatory shifts, and a crowded competitive landscape, the U.S. remains the world’s most important launchpad for innovators who want scale, capital, and global credibility.

​Yes, there will be headwinds. Yes, the bar is rising. But the opportunities are massive for teams that prepare early, deploy resources wisely, and build the right relationships before they enter the market.

​This Thruline Thursday brings together experts with decades of hands-on experience guiding companies into the U.S. ecosystem. They’ve built, funded, advised, and scaled mission-driven ventures across SAAS, ConsumerTech, Gaming, ClimateTech, DeepTech, SpaceTech, Circular Economy, and more. They know what works, what doesn’t, and where the opportunities will be in 2026.

​If you’re planning a U.S. entry

​If you support founders who are expanding

​If you want clarity on risk, timing, investment, and strategy

​You want to be in this room.

​We’ll break down what it really takes to enter the U.S. market, how to use the remainder of 2025 to prepare, and how to shape a resilient go-to-market plan that positions you for success on day one.

​Bring your team. Bring your partners. Bring the founders in your network who are eyeing the U.S. in 2026.

​This is the session that will help them step in with confidence, strategy, and the right support behind them.

​About Thruline Thursday

​Over the past few months, we've convened bold thinkers and doers across 10 high-impact digital sessions—bringing together over 300 industry experts, founders, CEOs, investors, and mission-driven leaders across the climate and innovation space.

​These monthly, 60-minute conversations go deep into the work of changemakers advancing climate action, infrastructure innovation, equity, and circular solutions.

​Designed to spark curiosity and fuel transformation, each episode reaches a growing, values-aligned audience eager to engage.

​​What makes this different? Here's the Run of Show:

​​30 Minutes - each expert explains current tips, trends and best practices that matter for you today

​​30 Minutes - recap & Ask Me Anything session (AMA)— where you get the chance to ask direct questions, discuss real challenges, and leave with practical insights tailored to needs and interests.

​​If you’re serious about making smart moves while creating impact, this is where you need to be.

​​ABOUT THE HOST

​​​PHIL DILLARD is the Founder & CEO of Thruline Networks, an impact investing and advisory firm focused on ClimateTech, Circular Economy, and Regenerative Economy solutions. A former naval officer and manufacturing executive, Phil brings a systems-thinking lens to business strategy, capital access, and sustainable growth. He’s also the host of Thruline to the 4th Sector, a podcast spotlighting mission-driven companies redefining capitalism. With a deep belief in business as a force for good, Phil works with founders and investors to grow companies that deliver both profit and impact.

​ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

• ​Sarah M. Pettay

  • ​Co-Founder and Managing Director | Mind the Bridge

  • ​Sarah helps startups align Marketing, Product, and Sales to create clarity, reduce operational friction, and accelerate revenue, drawing on two decades building GTM systems and customer journeys that support rapid growth. Her experience spans early-stage to Series C companies where she has scaled teams, improved retention, and delivered measurable outcomes for brands like Bitly, Lulus, Olaplex, and fast-growing tech and consumer startups.

• ​Dr. Helena Fowler, DCN

  • ​Co-Founder and Managing Director | Mind the Bridge

  • ​Dr. Helena Fowler, DCN is a Doctor of Clinical Nutrition and a senior marketing and product strategy leader with two decades of experience driving growth and developing teams in hyper-growth environments. Her global experience spans across multiple industries, including tech (software, hardware, SaaS, PaaS), tech-enabled retail, energy and climate, agriscience, consumer goods, food and beverage, health, wellness, and nutrition.

• ​Marta Clua Villas

  • ​Program Manager | Mind the Bridge

  • ​Marta Clua Villas is a Program Manager at Mind the Bridge, overseeing international startup programs and supporting founders as they scale globally. She brings experience across growth and marketing in software, consulting, and tech, including leading growth expansion for a Korean startup. Marta holds a Business Administration degree from the University of Barcelona and studied at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, where she began working in the Silicon Valley startup ecosystem.

• ​Sylvia Flores

  • ​CEO/ Co-Founder | Manos Accelerator

  • ​Sylvia Flores is the CEO and Co-Founder of Manos Accelerator, an award-winning entrepreneur and engineer with experience leading multiple startups and deep knowledge of the U.S. Hispanic market. She previously worked with former Mexican President Vicente Fox to launch a Silicon Valley tech incubator and began her career in engineering at IBM. Sylvia has served as Regional National Vice President for the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and holds a Chemical Engineering degree from San Jose State University.

• ​William Doll

  • ​Founder | Syneidesis Group

  • ​William Doll is the Founder of Syneidesis Group. He invests in proven, revenue-generating technologies that strengthen climate solutions and democratic resilience. He focuses on companies with strong unit economics that outperform legacy systems and are backed by experienced investors.

• ​Ashley Trick

  • ​Venture Capitalist | Capital6

  • ​Ashley Trick is a Venture Capitalist at Capital6 with a technical background that shapes her approach to early-stage investing. A former engineer, she evaluates technical feasibility quickly, spots strong innovation potential, and supports founders with a deep network across investors, customers, media, and talent. Ashley works closely with teams as they build and scale, and she actively backs underrepresented founders in the tech ecosystem.

• ​Carl Hinrichsen

  • ​Founder | Exec Functions LLC

  • ​Carl Hinrichsen is the Founder of Exec Functions LLC and a go-to-market leader with experience scaling global sales and partnerships at Meta, Amazon, and Bertelsmann. He built Meta’s global reseller program into a top-10 revenue driver and led product and partnership launches at Amazon and Bertelsmann. Carl advises high-growth companies on revenue and GTM strategy, serves as a venture scout and mentor, and is a frequent speaker on scalable growth and high-performing teams.

• ​Michael Loginoff

  • ​Investment Manager | Invest New Zealand 

  • ​Michael works across the US and New Zealand venture markets, connecting North American investors with high-growth Kiwi startups and guiding founders on fundraising strategy. His background spans PORTAL Venture Partners, Mana Ventures, and investment banking at Citigroup London, where he worked on major IPOs, Series A financings, and M&A transactions. He holds a Master’s from the University of Oxford and has lectured at Johns Hopkins.