The Gateway to Business in Cuba

About Us

Havana Strategies LLC is a boutique consulting firm that is the trusted advisor to companies interested in pursuing business opportunities with Cuba. We create value for clients through a suite of services that position companies for long-term success in the Cuban market.

Mission

Havana Strategies believes that increased engagement between Cuba and the U.S. will benefit both countries. By working with U.S. companies to facilitate trade and investment Havana Strategies endeavors to create value not only for clients but also for the Cuban and American people.

The Havana Strategies Advantage

Havana Strategies is uniquely positioned to help U.S. companies succeed. One of the few American companies that draws from on-the-ground experience doing business in Cuba, Havana Strategies benefits from a deep understanding of the regulatory context and the local operating environment. This experience combined with comprehensive knowledge of the political dynamics on both sides of the Florida Straits and an extensive network of relationships in Havana, Miami, Washington and beyond provides clients with an unparalleled advantage in Cuba.

Experience

The managing partners of Havana Strategies have experience launching, managing and advising businesses in challenging frontier markets. Cuba-specific experience on policy, government relations, and business management spans over a decade, including:

  • Advising U.S. companies on market entry strategies, media relations, government affairs, and risk analysis regarding Cuba business transactions
  • Working with policy makers, the media, and business interests in the U.S. to change U.S. policy towards Cuba
  • Organizing the visits of U.S. lawmakers and companies to Cuba
  • Establishing thought leadership on Cuba through publications on U.S.-Cuba relations and the Cuban economy
  • Managing an operationally intensive business on-the-ground in Cuba in accordance with both U.S. and Cuban regulations
  • Bringing Cuban business people, academics, and cultural figures to the U.S.
  • Sponsoring, organizing, and implementing conferences, workshops and training sessions for Cuban business people

Services

The Challenge: Cuba is Complicated

U.S. companies wishing to do business with Cuba must navigate one of the most complex legal and regulatory landscapes in existence. The restrictions are two-sided with both the U.S. and Cuban governments limiting the types of permissible activities and requiring complicated processes for pursuing these. Companies interested in doing business in Cuba must develop a strategy appropriate for the Cuban context. Failure to do so costs time and money.


The Opportunity: Cuba is Changing

Policy changes in Washington and ongoing economic reform in Cuba are altering the trade and investment trajectory in Cuba. U.S. companies can now legally engage with several sectors of the Cuban economy. Companies that want to establish a presence in the Cuban market need to act now to take advantage of near-term opportunities and to position themselves for long-term success.

Fact Finding Missions

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Market Intelligence Reports

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Media Strategy

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OFAC Guidance

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Government Affairs

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Legal Services

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Local Representation

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Brand Presence

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Corporate Social Responsibility

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Our People

Collin Laverty
Managing Partner

Collin is a leading Cuba expert. He has 10 years of experience working on Cuba policy and business issues and has been based in Havana since 2005. He initially worked at the Center for Democracy in Americas (CDA), a Washington D.C.-based policy advocacy group focused on improving relations between Washington and Havana. At CDA, he directed the Cuba program and led dozens of Members of Congress to Cuba for fact-finding visits.

Collin is the author of "Cuba's New Resolve: Economic Reform and Implications for U.S. Policy," and has been published and quoted extensively by the Associated Press, Miami Herald, New York Times, Reuters, Wall Street Journal and a number of other media outlets. In 2012, he started Cuba Education Travel, a company that offers curated travel to the island for bar associations, business groups, companies, think tanks, trade groups, and universities.

Collin has a Masters in International Affairs from the International Relations and Pacific Studies program at UC San Diego.

Michael Laverty
Managing Partner

Michael is an entrepreneur with experience launching and managing businesses in frontier markets. He began his career working in international development to strengthen health systems and improve global health supply chains in developing countries. He then shifted to the private sector where he developed the market entry strategy for a multinational distribution company to expand into new markets across sub-Saharan Africa. When South Sudan gained independence in 2011, he launched and managed the country office of a regional supply chain company.

In 2012, Michael founded Baobab Ltd, which invests and provides advisory services in frontier markets. Through Baobab, he co-founded and served as the CEO of Sitico Fuel, a downstream petroleum trading and distribution company. He also served as the Director of Global Strategy and Business Development for another Baobab portfolio company, Amoo Holdings International Ltd.

Michael has a Masters of Engineering in Logistics and Supply Chain Management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)-Zaragoza International Logistics Program.

Contact




Phone: +1.305.908.3840

info@havanastrategies.com