Ali Gurlek

About Ali Gurlek

Bridging International Ambition with U.S. Market Realities I empower international…

Experience

1. Chief Executive Officer

   Ustr Growth Partners Llc

   May 2025 — Present · Atlanta, GA, US

   I lead USTR Growth Partners in empowering international SMEs and growth-stage companies to enter and scale in the U.S. market with confidence. Drawing on 25+ years of experience in finance, market development, and cross-border business, I help clients simplify, de-risk, and accelerate their U.S. expansion.Key Responsibilities & Achievements:Direct U.S. market entry projects: company formation, compliance, soft-landing strategies, and location selection.Build strategic partnerships, develop sales channels, and drive B2B growth through LinkedIn outreach and U.S. distributor matchmaking.Advise on government incentives, including USDA and SBA programs, state grants, tax credits, and Turquality integration.Guide clients through M&A: target identification, valuation, due diligence, and investor documentation.Support export channel development and regulatory compliance for successful U.S. market penetration.USDA & SBA Long-Term Investment Funding Advisory:Help clients secure USDA loan guarantees and grants for industrial investment, renewable energy, and rural business growth.Facilitate SBA-backed loans and SBIC funding for affordable, flexible capital to fuel expansion.Integrate government financing into market entry strategies to reduce risk and improve funding terms.Impact Highlights:Secured and managed a $4.8M USDA-backed loan for an $8M industrial investment.Enabled Turkish manufacturers to expand into the U.S. through strategic pricing, positioning, and partnerships.Scaled a small CPA firm into a thriving mid-sized practice, boosting profitability and market presence.Let’s connect to discuss how USTR Growth Partners can support your U.S. growth journey.

Education

• Bilkent University

  Associate of Science Degree in Business Administration, Management

  1989 — 1991

• Clemson University

  MBA, Management

  1993 — 1994

• University of Kentucky

  Bachelor of Science (BS), Finance

  1991 — 1993

Skills

• Project Management
• Negotiation
• Email Marketing
• Sales
• Pricing
• Advertising
• Marketing
• Online Marketing
• Customer Service
• Leadership
• Social Networking
• Social Media Marketing
• Team Leadership
• Strategic Planning
• Market Research
• Competitive Analysis
• Start-Ups
• Management Consulting
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Business Development
• Entrepreneurship
• Online Advertising
• Financial Analysis
• New Business Development
• Investments
• Coaching
• Strategy
• E-Commerce
• Fashion
• Purchasing
• Retail
• B2b
• Corporate Finance
• Business Strategy
• Brand Management
• Marketing Strategy
• Forecasting
• SEO
• Change Management
• Sales Management