Export Controls for Startups: From Overlooked Risk To Competitive Advantage

Over the last decade, the United States has dramatically expanded the scope and enforcement of export controls, driven by heightened geopolitical competition, rapid technological advancement, and national security concerns. For startups operating in high-growth, high-technology sectors, U.S. export controls and sanctions laws now present both material compliance risk and a potential source of strategic advantage if addressed early.

Arnold & Porter attorneys Trevor Schmitt and Bell Johnson have partnered with technology entrepreneur and strategist Michael Hochberg to develop a new white paper addressing one of the most frequently misunderstood — and increasingly consequential — areas of risk for early stage companies.

The white paper explains how export controls now affect a wide range of startup activities — from hiring and cloud infrastructure to product design, investor diligence, and international collaboration — and why overlooking these issues can create serious legal, commercial, and exit risks. At the same time, it offers a pragmatic framework for building compliance into a company’s structure early, turning what is often viewed as a burden into a potential competitive advantage.

Read the full guide, Compliance as a Catalyst: Turning Export Control Into Competitive Edge. 

© Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP 2026 All Rights Reserved. This Advisory is intended to be a general summary of the law and does not constitute legal advice. You should consult with counsel to determine applicable legal requirements in a specific fact situation.