At ConnectAmericas we have the objective of promoting the growth of small and medium-sized companies in the Latin American and Caribbean region, through the internationalization of their businesses. To achieve this goal we have developed different features. In this article we answer some frequently asked questions about how to find business partners on ConnectAmericas.

• How do I connect with other companies?
• How to send direct messages to other entrepreneurs?
• How can I search for suppliers on ConnectAmericas?
• How to apply for purchase announcements?

Click here to visit our frequently asked questions site. 

1. How do I connect with other companies?

ConnectAmericas provides its users with various connection methods to find business opportunities. All our services are completely free of charge.

• Company directory: in this directory you will find the companies registered on ConnectAmericas. You can filter by country, industry, or if they have reliability badges. You can also search by keywords. By accessing a company's profile, you can see its contact information on the right-hand side. You can also send direct messages through the platform.
• Business Communities: industry-segmented communities that bring together entrepreneurs with common interests. In the communities, members can post news and announcements of interest, and likewise can express their interest in buying or selling products and services related to the industry.
• Supply Chain Program: through this Program, ConnectAmericas helps buyers find suppliers of products and services from the Latin America and the Caribbean region completely free of charge. The business opportunities derived from this program can be found in the Purchasing Announcements section. Learn more here.
• Virtual and in-person events: visit our events portal to stay informed about events that ConnectAmericas or other organizations develop worldwide
• Other interaction feature: the system allows users to comment and rate the profiles of other users they know or have done business with, in order to generate trust in the community.

2. How to send direct messages to other entrepreneurs?

By accessing the profile of a company, on the right-hand side, you will find the people who work there. Click on the envelope next to their name to send a direct message. If your company is not verified, you will have a limit on direct messages. Also, if you access a person's profile, you can see the envelope icon to send a direct message.

3. How can I search for suppliers on ConnectAmericas?

ConnectAmericas offers the following completely free alternatives to find suppliers.

• Company directory: in this directory you will find the companies registered on ConnectAmericas. You can filter by country, industry, or if they have reliability badges. You can also search by keywords. By accessing a company's profile, you can see its contact information on the right-hand side. You can also send direct messages through the platform.
• Business Communities: industry-segmented communities that bring together entrepreneurs with common interests. In the communities, members can post news and announcements of interest, and likewise can express their interest in buying or selling products and services related to the industry.
• Supply Chain Program: through this Program, ConnectAmericas helps buyers find suppliers of products and services from the Latin America and the Caribbean region completely free of charge. The business opportunities derived from this program can be found in the Purchasing Announcements site. Learn more here. 
• Virtual and in-person events: visit our events portal to stay informed about events that ConnectAmericas or other organizations develop worldwide

4. How to apply for purchasing announcements?

Applying for purchasing announcements is completely free of charge. 

• Review the purchasing announcements by clicking on the main menu > purchasing announcements, or by clicking here. You can filter by industry, country, or keywords.
• Within the purchasing announcemnts, review the specifications of the requested product.
• To apply, click on the "Apply" button on the top right-hand side.
• First, you must fill in information regarding each product you wish to apply for.
  

•  After completing the information about your product, click on the "add" button. Then, check the boxes where you authorize us to share your data with the buyer, where you indicate if you have exporting experience or if you are a manufacturer or broker.
• After completing these boxes, click on "Next step". There, you can pre-load the applicant company's information directly from your profile.
• Click on "Finish form" to submit your application.

Your application will be reviewed by a ConnectAmericas agent who will put you in direct contact with the buyer to define the business details. We will also contact you if your application does not meet the requirements and explain how to improve it. ConnectAmericas does not charge buyers or sellers in any phase of the process, nor does it charge commissions for business transactions that take place through the platform and its various services.