We're still blushing after reading a recent review of Import Genius on the Washington Post. The piece outlines a number of ways that businesses are using the Import Genius database to improve their competitiveness.  The most obvious use is to research competing businesses to learn about their supply chain and identify new sources for your own company. And companies are also using Import Genius to monitor their own suppliers to find out who else they sell to in the U.S., and what percentage of the market each business represents.  Our database is also being used extensively for lead generation. Overseas manufacturers are using the database to find U.S. importers who might be interested in their products. At the same time, U.S. companies are using the service to identify local importers for customs brokerage, ocean freight, warehousing, rail transport and trucking serivces.  But as TechCrunch points out, more interesting uses abound. Manufacturing firms have used Import Genius to protect their intellectual property. Upon discovering a patent violation, they can use Import Genius to trace those goods back to their source overseas, allowing them to carry the patent infringement suit back to its true source.  Even more exciting are the opportunities for investors in private and public equities. Private equity investors are using Import Genius to perform due dilligence on privately held companies in emerging markets. By providing detailed records on these companies' U.S. exports, we help reduce risk for investors in markets where data is scarce.  Meanwhile, stock analysts and hedge fund managers are now utilizing Import Genius to more closely monitor the companies and markets they follow. We can provide a detailed snapshot of a company's imports, which in many cases can serve as a leading indicator for new product releases, revenues and key performance indicators.