View a breakdown of all our programs here! View ISM Appendix here!

International Strategic Management, Inc. (ISM) is a leading U.S. advisory & consulting services provider within the economic development arena. We build entrepreneurship and small business developments communities.

ISM supports organizations launching entrepreneurship & small business development activities/ initiatives in their communities, like training, mentorship, funding, and business planning, etc….

With a focus on under-resourced, underrepresented, and underserved communities. Like women-led, immigrant-owned businesses, as well as youth entrepreneurship.

ISM Model offers two tracks:

  1. Track One

    Entrepreneur Support Organizations / Economic Development Organizations

  2. Track Two

    Entrepreneurs, leaders, Startups, SME owners, Leaders

We specializes in offering the services below to both tracks:

  • Technical assistant provides technical support and expertise to entrepreneurs and SME owners in a variety of areas, including information technology, business planning, growth planning and strategies, network management, and more.

    These services may be provided on a project basis or as ongoing support for an entrepreneur or SME's day-to-day operations.

    We will work closely with entrepreneurs and SME owners to understand their unique technical needs and challenges, and to develop strategies for addressing those needs in a way that supports their overall business objectives. This may involve assessing their existing technical infrastructure, identifying areas for improvement or optimization, and developing a plan for implementing changes or upgrades.

    In addition to providing technical expertise, business technical assistants may also provide training and support to help entrepreneurs and SME owners maximize the value of their technical investments. This may involve providing user training for new software applications, or developing best practices for managing and maintaining technical infrastructure.

    Ultimately, the goal of a business technical assistant is to help entrepreneurs and SME owners operate more efficiently and effectively by providing the technical support and expertise they need to stay competitive in today's technology-driven marketplace. By working closely with entrepreneurs and SME owners and developing customized strategies for delivering technical support and expertise, business technical assistants can play a critical role in helping them achieve their goals and succeed over the long term.

  • Business assessment provides expert analysis and recommendations on a the different or specific aspect of a business or program, such as its financial health, marketing strategy, or program or business performance. We provide valuable, objective insights to help businesses identify areas for improvement and opportunities for growth.

    The research will help us discovering new information, validating existing knowledge, or exploring new ideas. The research will help us provide the best solutions based on our insights.

    As needed we can provide education and training to support the assessments and the research that was conducted or separately.

  • In the context of business, program design and management refers to the process of creating, implementing, and overseeing educational or training programs that support the growth and development of a startup or scale-up. This process involves identifying the specific needs of the business, such as training employees on new skills or implementing new processes, designing educational materials and activities that align with these needs, selecting appropriate delivery methods, and assessing the effectiveness of the program.

    Effective program design and management can help startups and scale-ups to build a strong foundation for growth and development by providing entrepreneurs with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed. This might include programs focused on leadership development, sales and marketing training, or technical skills development like business planning, or strategy for funding or drafting a growth plan.

    ISM program management involves ongoing monitoring and evaluation to ensure that the program remains relevant and effective over time, and that it continues to meet the evolving needs of the community and the entrepreneurs. This may involve adapting the program based on feedback from participants or changes in the business environment.

    Overall, effective program design and management can play a crucial role in the success of a startup or scale-up by helping to build a culture of learning and growth, and by ensuring that the entrepreneurs or the SME owners have the skills and knowledge they need to help the business achieve its goals.

  • Capacity Building Tour Program© is an educational/training program designed to enhance leadership and entrepreneurial skills.

    The program is offered in three tracks:

    1) Entrepreneurs;

    2) Entrepreneurship Support Organizations;

    3) SME development.

    Program is organized by options of one, two, or three cities, and we can customized the CBT. In addition to structured training and coaching sessions, the program offers networking opportunities with ESO’s and Edo’s, as well as a narrow focus on a new concept related to entrepreneurship from startup to scaleup.

  • For entrepreneurs, SME owners, economic development organizations, and entrepreneurship ecosystem developers, coaching services can be a valuable tool for fostering business growth and success.

    Entrepreneurs and SME owners can benefit from coaching services that provide guidance on business strategy, marketing, sales, leadership development, and other key areas. Coaching can help entrepreneurs and SME owners to identify and address weaknesses in their business operations, set achievable goals, and develop action plans for achieving those goals.

    Economic development organizations and entrepreneurship ecosystem developers can also benefit from coaching services by providing access to coaching as a resource for the entrepreneurs and SMEs in their communities. Coaching services can help to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem by supporting the growth and development of new businesses, which can in turn create jobs and contribute to economic growth.

    Coaching services for entrepreneurs and SMEs may be provided by individual coaches, consulting firms, or through partnerships with economic development organizations or entrepreneurship support programs. These services may be tailored to the specific needs of the client, and may include assessments, training, mentorship, and other forms of support.

    Overall, coaching services can play a valuable role in supporting the growth and success of entrepreneurs, SMEs, and the larger ecosystem that supports them. By providing access to high-quality coaching services, economic development organizations and entrepreneurship ecosystem developers can help to foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, and contribute to the long-term economic health of their communities.

Track Two

Entrepreneurs, leaders, Startups, SME owners, Leaders

Services/ programs offered:

  1. Training and education

  2. Business Advising

  3. Talent and operation development

  4. Business coaching

  5. Funding strategies

Track One

Entrepreneur Support Organizations / Economic Development Organizations

Services/ programs offered:

  1. Program designs and assessments

  2. Ecosystem development/ assessment

  3. Mentorship training

  4. Train the trainers

  5. Talent development programs



Capacity Building Tour Program

Capacity Building Tour Program brings people from around the world to the US for one to two weeks, or takes a group of people from the US to other countries.

This program involves half-day training and half-day touring.

Sample cities beyond Detroit, including Michigan, Washington D.C., Texas, and California, collaborating with Egypt, Uzbekistan, and many other countries.


The Kauffman FastTrac Program®

The FastTrac program is an intensive, eight to ten-week program that prepares serious entrepreneurs to open their business by planning and writing a business plan. ISM, a certified FastTrac® affiliate and licensee, provides the course in an interactive, group-orientated environment in which participants network with one another to bolster their business knowledge and ideas.

Train the Trainer © Program

Program Overview

The multiple place program is designed to train potential facilitators in areas of entrepreneurship and SME economic development including custom-made Train the Trainer training. Typically sponsored by government & economic development agencies, community organizers/ organizations, and individuals.


Business Coaching Program

Business Coaching Program, is a three months to 12 months program where we work on Money, Market or Management which have over 40 specific topics such as leadership, customer segments, operations, finance,….

Resilient Entrepreneur Program

Our exclusive Resilient Entrepreneur Program©. The Resilient Entrepreneur Program is a direct response to the crisis and pandemic and is designed to prepare both leaders and entrepreneurs in sustaining their business activities now and into the future.

This program is usually deployed in partnerships with an ESO’s or EDO’s


Exploring Entrepreneurship Program©

Exploring Entrepreneurship Program is a seven-session program ranging from three days bootcamp to five weeks, engaging immigrants and minorities in exploring business ideas in the U.S market. It is a micro-enterprise (solopreneur) focused program. Sponsored by government and economic development agency, community organizers, and individuals.