The Practical Export Platform

From inquiry to shipment,
without the chaos.

ExportFirst.in gives Indian exporters working tools — cost calculators, HSN search, buyer practice, registrations, document templates — to ship the first order and price the next hundred.

Built by working exporters Tools, not theory First order to hundredth
Create Free Account → See How It Works
9
Live Tools
15
Step Journey
98
HSN Chapters
Mh
Maharashtra Built
01
Tools, Not Theory
Every tool below is a working product. Cost calculators run live RBI rates. The simulator generates real conversations. No PDFs to download, no videos to watch.
02
Built by Working Exporters
Designed by practitioners with active export operations. Every tool tested against real shipments — the cost calculator reflects how we ourselves price exports.
03
From First Inquiry to Hundredth Shipment
Whether you're sending your first reply or your hundredth quote, the platform fits the workflow. Tools used daily, not stored on a shelf.
The Practice Bay

Practice your first export before risking a single rupee.

Most first-time exporters lose Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 2 lakh to fraud, ghost buyers, or bad payment terms. Not because they're foolish — because they've never seen the warning signs.

The Export Simulator lets you have realistic conversations with AI buyers, including one trying to scam you. Spot the patterns. Build instinct. Make mistakes here, not in the real world.

  • Beginner Serious Buyer — UAE spice importer with real-world questions
  • Intermediate Ghost Buyer — Identify time-wasters before they drain you
  • Advanced Hard Negotiator — Hold your price in a 4-round negotiation
  • Advanced Fraud Scenario — Recognise the 3-layer scam pattern
Try the Simulator →
FRAUD SCENARIO · Round 3
B
Excellent quality, perfect packaging. We need 5 containers urgently for our Lagos client. Can you ship by Friday with payment in 60 days?
5 containers is a large first order. Could we start with 1 container and an LC at sight?
Y
B
Our company doesn't use LC. We'll send 30% advance via Bill.com to your account. Send banking details please.
Warning detected: "Bill.com" + INR settlement = FIRC compliance risk. Real foreign buyers use SWIFT. This conversation has 3 more red flags.

Your Position on the Map

Where are you docked right now?

Every exporter is at a different stage. ExportFirst.in meets you exactly where you are — and shows you the next step, not a 200-page syllabus.

01
Just Exploring
Curious about export but not sure where to start. Need to understand the basics and whether export is right for you.
02
Preparing to Sail
Have a product. Working through IEC, RCMC, product validation, compliance. This is where most exporters get stuck.
Most Common
03
First Shipment
IEC done, first buyer identified. Ready to ship but need clarity on documentation, payment terms, and logistics.
04
Active Exporter
Already shipping. Want to scale to new markets, optimise finance, and run the business like a professional.

The Working Toolkit

Real tools for Indian exporters.

Each tool below is built, working, and used today. Click any card to start. Some tools move to premium tier from July 1 — clearly labeled.

Free
📊
Export Readiness Assessment
5-dimension self-assessment in 12 minutes. Honest mirror of where you are today across Product, Mindset, Communication, Knowledge, and Finance.
Take Assessment Premium from July
🎯
Export Simulator
Practice realistic buyer conversations with AI personas — serious buyer, ghost buyer, hard negotiator, and fraud scenario. Free to explore now.
Open Simulator Free
🔍
HSN Code Library
Find your product's HSN code from 98 chapters and 1,265 sub-chapters. Check DGFT export policy, GST rate, and RoDTEP eligibility before contracting.
Search HSN Premium from July
🧮
Export Cost Calculator
6-step wizard with live RBI rates, three exchange rate views, forward cover scenarios. Daily-updated rates need continuous maintenance.
Calculate Costs Free
📦
Incoterms 2020
All 11 international trade terms with risk diagrams, buyer-vs-seller cost tables, and Indian exporter examples. Stop confusing FOB with CIF forever.
Explore Incoterms Free
💰
Export Finance Guide
11 sections covering Packing Credit, PCFC, Bill Discounting, ECGC, EXIM Bank schemes, FEMA 9-month rule, EDPMS, FIRC. Real rates, no banking jargon.
Read the Guide Personalised
✅
15-Step Journey Tracker
Personalised path from "I'm thinking about export" to your first commercial order. Steps adapt to your experience level — first-timer, agent-to-direct, or active exporter.
See My Path Pay Per Filing
⚙
Registration Services
IEC at Rs. 1,999. GST, RCMC, AD Code, Udyam — done by verified partners. Track progress in your dashboard. Documents stored securely.
View Services Free
📖
Export Glossary
150+ terms explained in plain language with Indian context. From AD Category-I to RoDTEP, from FIRC to Shipping Bill — written by practitioners.
Browse Terms

Export Moves

Updates you can act on.

Short, practical export updates — market alerts, policy changes and portal news. Each one tells you what happened, why it matters, and the next step. No blog to wade through.

Market alert
Rising Dollar Spending Opens New Export Markets in India
As an exporter, this signals growing purchasing power and openness to imported products—your competitors are already targeting these affluent Indian consumers, and understanding this shift helps you position your exports competitively.
Read →
 Policy change
India-Australia uranium deal opens new commodity export pathway
This deal signals growing strategic trade partnerships that create new sourcing opportunities and may lead to reciprocal trade benefits for Indian exporters in other sectors.
Read →
 Policy change
India-Australia uranium trade pact opens new export pathway
This trade agreement expands India's energy import sources and signals growing trade openness between the two nations, which may create opportunities for Indian exporters in energy-related sectors and supply chains.
Read →
See all Export Moves →

The Indian Export Reality

A few numbers worth carrying with you.

Real figures from official sources. The gap between India's export potential and what's actually shipped tells the whole story of why platforms like this matter.

63M

India has roughly 63 million MSMEs. Only about 150,000 are registered exporters. The gap isn't capability — it's tools and the right first buyer.

The Opportunity Gap
Source · Udyam database, DGFT IEC registry
70%

Around 70% of first-time Indian exporters stop after their first or second shipment. Usually due to payment risk, compliance complexity, or buyer mismatch they didn't see coming.

The First-Shipment Cliff
Source · FIEO surveys, industry reports
16%

Maharashtra contributes about 16% of India's merchandise exports — second only to Gujarat. Engineering, pharmaceuticals, and agri-products lead the state's basket.

Maharashtra in Indian Exports
Source · DGCI&S export data

Real member stories will replace these facts as our community grows. Want to share yours? Email contact@exportfirst.in.

About

A practitioner-led platform for Indian exporters.

ExportFirst.in is a practical export platform for Indian exporters. The team builds operational tools that working exporters use daily — from first inquiry to hundredth shipment.

An initiative of Bithelp Foundation, in association with Startup Maharashtra. Operated from Maharashtra.

The Team

Akshay Rajole
Director & Export Mentor

Leads product, content, and member mentorship. Designs the platform tools against actual export work, not theoretical use cases.

Active export practitioner · Nashik
Tushar Pakhare
Director & Community Lead

Hosts the weekly mentorship sessions in Marathi. Brings community distribution through Startup Maharashtra and the broader founder network.

Startup ecosystem builder · Pune
Rohit Lalwani
Director & Growth Advisor

Advises on positioning, brand, and member experience. Brings nearly two decades in growth strategy and impact-led startups.

Growth strategist at Wittypen · Pune

Three directors. One organization. Built carefully.

Get Started

Nine working tools.
Free to join.

Start with the readiness assessment. Find your stage. Use every tool. Decide your path from there.

Create Free Account →

Begin where you are. No payment required to start.