Connecting CEE Tech, IP, and Innovations with U.S. Markets

We create strategic alliances for Central & Eastern European Mid-Market and Venture Backed entering or expanding in the U.S. market with trusted partners to drive competitive advantage, value creation, and accelerated growth.

Cereus connects Central and Eastern European innovations, technology, and IP with U.S. markets. We offer a range of services including strategic partnership development, market entry consulting, and access to U.S. resources and capital, are all aimed at streamlining market entry and expansion.We prioritize adaptation, integration, and guidance on business practices to effectively navigate cross-cultural hurdles, ensuring our partner's success in new markets. Committed to the long-term growth of the CEE business ecosystem, we focus on aligning interests, smooth transitions, and sustainable development while enabling partners to capitalize on opportunities in the U.S. market.By leveraging our extensive networks across both regions, we minimize risks and maximize opportunities, navigating the complexities and nuances inherent in these markets to drive growth.
We help companies tap into the potential of innovations and markets.
With over a decade of B2B and B2C experience working across 25+ countries and dozens of industries, we bring a unique, global perspective to your market entry efforts.

What We Do

With over a decade of experience working across 25+ countries and industries, we bring a unique, global perspective to your market entry and innovation efforts. Using our cross-industry expertise in both domestic and international markets and deep network of strategic partners, we open doors for our partners.

Who We Work With

We work with mid-markets looking to access innovations and technologies to develop a competitive edge. Typically, this would require building an in-house team from scratch with a development firm, which can be costly and time-intensive when trying to capitalize on an opportunity. These firms must have an established track record in their market and a desire to innovate.On the other hand, we identify and evaluate B2B innovations and technology companies that can solve these pressing challenges but have yet to be in the market, whether in that specific industry or internationally. They must have proven sales offer a unique competitive advantage.A particular focus for uncovering innovative technologies is European firms, especially from Central & Eastern Europe (CEE). We regularly visit the CEE region to meet with funds, firms, and institutions.

How We Do It

Strategic Alliances: We build bridges between mid-market companies and leading innovators in the U.S. and international markets. By carefully selecting partners whose capabilities complement your business objectives, such as channel partners, customers, funds, and more. we ensure you can seamlessly integrate advanced innovations into your business model.Positioning: One of the main challenges when entering a new market, whether it's a geographic region or industry is how a solution is positioned among the existing market. This includes identifying the right use cases for the unique IP, tech, or innovation along with making necessary changes and refine the offering to best fit the needs of the market.Market Expansion: Our team provides expert guidance on entering and expanding within the U.S. market, leveraging our deep understanding of market dynamics to tailor strategies that overcome barriers and maximize market impact.Growth Acceleration: Through our strategic alliances, we enable rapid scaling of operations and improvements in efficiency and effectiveness, helping your business achieve faster growth and a stronger market position.Value Creation: We are committed to enhancing the value you deliver to your customers through innovative solutions that differentiate your offerings and improve customer satisfaction.

Our Process

Market Evaluation: Identifying and connecting with the right partners, evaluating market entry feasibility, interviewing the target market, finding opportunities to create a competitive advantage, roadblocks, and adapting solutions to fit the new market's needs.Market Blueprint: Map out existing assets and relationships. Evaluate the relational capital of everyone involved in a situation and leverage existing networks and connections to create win-win opportunities. Identify future targets, cross-cultural hurdles, strategies to overcome roadblocks, pitch development, and creating a win-win for target partners.Integration: Our team provides expert guidance on entering and expanding within the U.S. market, leveraging our deep understanding of market dynamics to tailor strategies that overcome barriers and maximize market impact.Growth Acceleration: Through our strategic alliances, we enable rapid scaling of operations and improvements in efficiency and effectiveness, helping your business achieve faster growth and a stronger market position.Value Creation: We are committed to enhancing the value you deliver to your customers through innovative solutions that differentiate your offerings and improve customer satisfaction.

Our Work

Revenue Growth in Education: A traditional boot camp education firm saw an addition of +$3 million to its pipeline as we helped it move upmarket. They used existing IP from a conventional boot camp model adapted into corporate tech boot camps.Healthcare Education & Licensing Success: We tapped into existing audiences and brand awareness to generate an additional $6 million in the pipeline for a healthcare education and licensing product.3x AEC Government Data Firm Contract Value: We grew a data firm contract value with local governments 3x in 18 months. This was achieved by leveraging their untapped strategic partnerships and referrals, expanding networks, and growing the value of existing clients.U.K. Tech Startup: 5x ROI over five months for venture-backed B2B startups from the U.K. entering the U.S., where they landed a deal with a globally recognized CPG brand within four months.

About

What is Cereus

The name Cereus comes from two places.The word is from the Latin word "ceres," which means torch or tinder.The other is the Cereus flower. A desert flower that only blooms at night.The imagery of blooming in a barren desert in the dead of night and the torch just waiting to be lit to become a roaring fire combine to create a vivid picture of the unleashing of potential that Cereus hopes to create for its partners.

Leadership

Tristan Ruml
Principal

My grandfather and father built successful companies, serving the U.S. market and Abroad. They developed innovative approaches in legacy industries, developing software and online training before it was common.This influenced my more than ten-year professional journey, which included traveling to more than 25 countries, working with firms across the U.S., Europe, and Asia, and living abroad for periods.Since then, I've worked with companies in industries ranging from B2B and B2C, from MedTech and AI to Defense/Security and Financial Services. Through this diverse experience, I've developed a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities businesses face when entering new markets and commercializing new technologies. This background has given me the experience of connecting the dots across industries, countries, and cultures to fuel growth and innovation.My approach is rooted in what I call "social calculus"—identifying and leveraging existing assets and relationships to create win-win opportunities for all parties involved. By taking the time to understand each client's unique goals and challenges, I'm able to develop customized strategies to bridge the gap and spark conversations and opportunities that drive measurable business results.My experiences in emerging economies shaped my views on the untapped potential of people, markets, and ideas. It also demonstrated the importance of simplifying to connect with people of diverse backgrounds, whether clients in a new market, sales & technical teams or cross-cultural partners.
Beyond my professional experience, I'm passionate about the outdoors and adventure travel. I regularly visit Prague and CEE, where my family is from.
I believe in the untapped potential of people and ideas. Many of society's most pressing problems have a solution that someone brilliant has already solved, even on a small scale. I want to bring it to life.

Contact Us

Ready to explore a partnership?