Global Expansion Program to help propel company into the US market

Local water sports technology company, Foil Drive, is one of 11 South Australian businesses that will use funding provided through the Global Expansion Program to expand into new international markets.

As round five opens, Foil Drive, based in St Mary’s, will leverage the Global Expansion Program’s comprehensive package of grant funding, business support and personalised export advisory services to unlock the ‘huge potential’ of the United States market.

Hydrofoiling is a water sport where a person rides on a specialised board with a hydrofoil attached, enabling them to glide above the water’s surface. Foil Drive has created a super-lightweight motor kit that can be retrofitted onto existing boards.

Foil Drive was established in 2021 and began their export journey in 2023 and have since grown their sales across Europe and North America. The company intends to dedicate 90 per cent of their efforts into export growth – specifically targeting the untapped market of river and lake water sports.

“The Global Expansion Program will allow Foil Drive to supercharge our efforts of expanding our South Australian business and brand further into major export markets such as the United States,” said Foil Drive Co-Founder, Ben Jamieson. “We have already built a significant presence in our niche of ocean loving water sports communities; however, we intend to use the grant to accelerate this presence and contribution further.

“With enormous potential in the inland waterways and broader boating and marine community of the US, we’re excited by the opportunity this grant brings to broaden our export potential.

“Our product is universal in use between these markets however, the target audience and persona are very different and require particular marketing and sales effort to successfully target and engage these new communities.”

The Global Expansion Program empowers businesses with the tools, resources and guidance needed to navigate the complexities of global trade – supporting homegrown innovation and creating new jobs.

To support Foil Drive’s export ambitions, the company expects to hire at least three more Adelaide-based staff and several more in-market sales representatives.

The $2 million Global Expansion Program is facilitated by the Department of State Development and is funded over four years. It aims to support South Australian exporters to achieve $50 million in exports over four years.

Other round four recipients include:

Applications for the next round are open and will close at 5.00pm on Friday 11 April.

Find out more about the Global Expansion Program