Build for the global market; Iterate for local consumers: Jessica Uche on adapting global business models to suit new markets

Business Insider

9 hours ago

Building a global business and scaling into new markets has become the blueprint in today's interconnected world. However, this combination of expansion and localization is not always managed correctly. Founders and investors become swept up in the excitement of scaling across borders and forget that what works 'anywhere' rarely works 'everywhere.'
Leading a West Africa expansion as Country Director and moving on to Head Global Sales and Business Development gave me a front-row seat on what business expansion truly demands: A global vision matched with ruthless localized execution. The result? Driving product-market-fit (PMF) across multiple geographies.
I have seen the realities of international expansion up close: the optimism, the missteps, and the hard-earned wins. However, one thing consistently stood out with each new market expansion: Having a great product is not sufficient. Businesses must iterate with local intelligence and market nuances.
Here are five things every company considering expansion into new markets should integrate into their go-to-market (GTM) strategy:
A Gap in the Market; A Market in the Gap?
Too often, companies spot a market with millions of people and fast-growing internet access and conflate demographic numbers as the total addressable market (TAM). In the world of business, headcount is not the same as opportunity. A huge TAM is not the same as your ideal customer personas (ICPs). Hence, it does not guarantee conversion. One often-overlooked truth about expansion is that attractive demographic numbers do not equal viable markets. A country might boast a booming digital economy, technology fluency, and a rising freelance workforce. However, an expansion without an in-depth
understanding of how your potential customers live, work, earn, transact, and trust will only result in a headless revenue hunt. Market research, intelligence, and product iteration are non-negotiable for businesses looking to expand into new markets. Successful expansion begins with a commitment to understanding the market's nuances before launching. Each region has its economic realities, regulatory landscapes, and cultural nuances. Skipping this groundwork means launching blind and expanding into chaos. If you are a company looking to expand into new markets, conduct extensive UX research, localize user journey, and leverage local partnerships.
Scale with Ambition, Localize with Intent.
It is unrealistic to copy and paste a launch plan from the Central European market into Nigeria or to apply European pricing logic in East Africa.
User behaviors, regulation, infrastructure, and culture shape every market terrain. The benchmark of every new market expansion is to make your product feel native in every market it serves; this means listening to real users, adapting user flows to local norms, integrating regional systems, and aligning with local market expectations. The
companies that excel at expansion are not the fastest to launch; they are the quickest to understand, iterate, and deliver product relevance.
Remember, product-market-fit is not a fixed milestone. It is earned: one market, one insight, one iteration at a time. You want to expand with a scalable product and a go-to market approach that is flexible, responsive, and iterative for the local market.
Treat compliance as a strategy, not a barrier.
Oftentimes, I encounter founders who view legal and regulatory frameworks as red tape or hurdles in their expansion plans. On the contrary, compliance should be approached as a powerful strategic tool for any global business with expansion plans. Compliance is the bridge into a country's regulatory dynamics, tax structures, employment norms, and commercial expectations.
Understanding the ecosystem and regulatory framework for expansion projects is essential for building credibility, trust, and operational resilience, and it is less about avoiding penalties. When companies incorporate local compliance into their overall expansion strategy, they mitigate the risk of sanctions, accelerate onboarding, and create a stable foundation for business growth in the new market.
Compliance is not just a box to tick with expansion across diverse geographies. It is the blueprint for scaling with integrity.
Sustainable expansion requires grit and localization.
To founders and business leaders navigating global expansion, the key is simple: "build for the global market and iterate for the local user."
This blend of ambition, matched with ruthless localized execution, separates companies that expand into new markets from those that survive in the new market. Understand the terrain, incorporate cultural nuances, and take nothing for granted.
The business world is open, but only to companies willing to meet the market where it is.