University of Central Florida University of Central Florida

STARS STARS

The Accelerator Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Summer 2008

The Accelerator, Volume 1, Summer 2008 The Accelerator, Volume 1, Summer 2008

Christa Santos University of Central Florida

Part of the Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations Commons

Find similar works at: https://stars.library.ucf.edu/accelerator

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STARS Citation STARS Citation Santos, Christa, "The Accelerator, Volume 1, Summer 2008" (2008). The Accelerator. 15. https://stars.library.ucf.edu/accelerator/15

The Accelerator

UCF Incubation Program Expands – New Centers Added in Orlando and Seminole County

The AcceleratorQuarterly Newsletter of UCF Incubation Program

Volume 1 Summer 2008

Nearly 200 people, including city, countyanduniversityofficials,unitedinFebruary2008toopenthelatestexpansionoftheUniversityofCentralFloridaIncubationPrograminWinterSprings – the new UCF Seminole CountyIncubator. Likeitssisterprogram,theUCFTechnologyIncubatorinOrangeCounty,the10,000squarefoot Seminole incubator provides office spaceforemerginghigh-growthcompanies,aswellascoaching andmentoring, training, educationaland networking opportunities. The goal ofthose involved with the incubator is simple:provideenoughassistancetoareabusinessstart-upsthatwillhelpthemmakeanimpactontheeconomy.

Celebrating the grand opening of the new UCF Incubator-Seminole County are (left to right): Charles Lacey, Board President, Oviedo-Winter Springs Chamber of Commerce; Tom O’Neal, UCF; John Hitt, UCF President; Brenda Carey, Chair, Seminole County Board of County Commissioners and John F. Bush, Mayor, City of Winter Springs.

University-Driven Community Partnership Provides Early Stage Companies With Enabling Tools, Training And Infrastructure

The UCF Incubation Program is afamily of business incubation facilities inMetro Orlando to provide tools, training,infrastructureandmoretostart-upcompaniesinthecommunity.Inpartnershipwithawidearray of organizations, UCF has establishedfacilities in five locations to serve varioussectorsofthecommunity. Business incubation is a critical elementof Metro Orlando’s economic developmentstrategy.Studiesshowthat95%ofcompaniesstay in the community where they are

established.Incubatorsupportgreatlyreducesthe riskof failure and87-91%of companiesthatgraduatefromanincubatorprogramarestillinbusinessfiveyearslater. Sinceitsopeningin1999,theIncubatorhas served over 100 emerging companies(includingover60currentclients),whichhavegeneratedover900 new jobsandmorethan$200 million in annual revenues.

IN THIS EDITION

In depth, Incubator Client Updates and News.

PAGE 5 - 7

UCF Incubation Program Locations on Page 5

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

The Accelerator The Accelerator

MESSAGE FROM TOMWelcome to the inaugural issue of The Accelerator….the quarterly newsletter of UCF’s Incubation Program. The purpose of this newsletter is to keep our clients, partners, sponsors, volunteers and staff informed about the activities of the UCF Incubation Program.

LetmestartoutbyhighlightingthegoaloftheUCFIncubationProgram(UCFIP)anditscommunitypartners,whichistofacilitatesmarter,fasterstartupandgrowthofemerging

companiessothosecompanieswillbecomefinanciallysuccessful,highgrowthcompaniesinthecommunity.

UCFIPclientsareprovidedanarrayofbusinessdevelopmentservicesandresourcestohelpaccelerategrowth.Theformalincubationprocesstakesplacethroughaseriesofstrategicandtacticalworkingsessions.Thestrategicsessionsaredesignedtohelpdefinethecompanybusiness,marketandcapital

strategiesandtobuildthebusinessplan.ExpertiseandresourcesareidentifiedforthecompanytoutilizeinaddressingtacticalneedsastheyareidentifiedthroughthestrategysessionsorthroughotherinformalinteractionswithIncubatorstaffandadvisors.

UCFIPisaUniversity-drivencommunitypartnershipprovidingearlystagecompanieswiththeenablingtools,trainingandinfrastructuretocreatefinanciallystablehighgrowthenterprises.Combinedwitheffortsbyotherorganizationssuchas:theFloridaHighTechCorridorCouncil;CityofOrlando;OrangeCountyGovernment;SeminoleCountyGovernment;thecityofWinterSprings;andothers,theregionwillsoonbecomeoneofthenation’spremierlocationsforhigh-techenterprises.Inpartnershipwithawidearrayoforganizations,UCFhasestablishedfacilitiesinfivelocationstoservevarioussectorsofthecommunityandconsistsofover80,000squarefeet.

Tom O’Neal, Ph.D.AssociateVicePresidentOfficeofResearch&CommercializationExecutiveDirector,UCFIncubationProgram

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INCUBATORCALENDAR AND EVENTS

PAGE 3

Jim Boyle, Managing Partner, Inflexion Partners

UCF Incubation Program Advisory Board – Spotlight

Jim is a venturecapital investor with over15 years of experience,primarily on behalfof Northern TelecomLimited, Bell CanadaEnterprises, and CapitalCommunications CDP, a

subsidiaryofLaCaissededépôtetplacementduQuébec(alargeCanadianpensionfund).Jim’sfinancialskillsweredevelopedinthecorporatefinancedepartmentsofUnionCarbideCanadaLimitedandNortel. Prior to joining Inflexion Partners, Jimwas the Chief Operating Officer forTelinvestManagement Corporation. Telinvest managedan investment allocation from CapitalCommunications CDP, primarily focusing ontelecommunications opportunities in LatinAmericaandAsia.JimholdsanHBScdegreeinChemistryfromLakeheadUniversity,ThunderBay,Ontario,Canada,andaM.B.A.inFinanceand Accounting from McMaster University,Hamilton,Ontario,Canada.

John Lewis wasOrange County’s firstEconomic DevelopmentAdministrator, and hasserved in this positionfor almost 14 years. Hisresponsibilities includeadvising County officials

oneconomicdevelopmentissues,administeringtheCounty’s economicdevelopment activities,and serving as a liaison with business,

educational,andcommunityorganizations. DuringhistenureasEconomicDevelopmentAdministrator, Lewis organized six regionaleconomicsummits, implementedtheCounty’stargeted incentives program that has attractedmanyhighvaluecompaniestothecommunity,spearheaded two economic stimulus packagesinvolving23different initiativesfollowing911andthesubsequentdownturnintheeconomy.His work has brought numerous awards andrecognitiontoOrangeCounty. Orange County’s economic stimuluspackagesrepresentedexpendituresoneconomicinfrastructure beyond “business as usual.” Themostsuccessfulprogramshavebecome“businessasusual”fortheCounty:theUCFTechnologyIncubator, the UCF Small Business AdvisoryBoard Council Program, expanded programsof the UCF Small Business DevelopmentCenter, the UCF Orange County VentureLab, and the UCF Institute for EconomicCompetitiveness(thecornerstoneofEconomicStimulusPackage2.0).“TheUCFTechnologyIncubatorisanintegralpartofOrangeCounty’seconomic development strategy-increasing ourcommunity’scapacityforinvention,innovation,andentrepreneurship,”saidLewis.

As founder andchairmanofNAIRealvest,George Livingston islargely responsible for theexcellent reputation andlong term relationshipswith partners and clientsenjoyed by the firm and

its associates. He is responsible for developingthe company’s corporate and developmentstrategiesandoverseeingthearrayofprofessional

services. Livingstonspecializes incorporate servicesandrealestateservicesforfastgrowingcompaniesandadvisesandrepresentsforeigninvestors.Hisclientsincludecorporations,realestateowners,investors,anddevelopers.Hehasbeeninvolvedinthedevelopmentofroughly2millionsquarefeetofwarehouseandflexproperties. Livingston’s first career was as an ArmyInfantryOfficer.HewasaparatrooperandrangerandservedoverseasinJapan,Vietnam,andIranandontheArmystaffatthePentagon.Whenhe returned to Orlando, Livingston enteredthecommercialrealestatebusinessasabroker.Eventuallyhe startedhis own commercial realestate company and then transitioned to alsobecomeadeveloper. His first investment, which was a success,wasinastartupplanningandengineeringfirm.Thatsuccessledhimtojoinagroupofangels.Livingston’s group has been active in localandother technology startups and later roundfunding.Healsoinvestsoutsidethegroup. “CharlieParrish,anearlycontributortotheincubatorandI,startedaforprofitincubatorintheearly‘80’s,butitfailed.Timingandcapitaliseverything. I joinedtheIncubatorProgramAdvisory Board to assist startup companiesandtooffermyoperational,financial,andrealestateexperience toothers so that theywillbesuccessfulandCentralFloridacanbenefitfromtheirsuccessthroughjobgrowthandeconomicdevelopment,”saidLivingston. Aprolificwriterandspeaker,Livingstonisaskilledanalystofeconomicandrealestatetrendsandstrategicapplicationsofthosetrendstorealestate operations. Livingston is a graduate ofAuburn University with a Masters of ScienceinEconomics. He receivedhisundergraduateeducation at Florida State University with aBachelorsofScienceinEconomics.

John Lewis, Economic Development Administrator, Orange County Government

George Livingston, CIPS, Founder and Chairman of NAI Realvest

TheUCFIncubationProgramhasestablishedastrongAdvisoryBoardtocoordinatetheeffortsof both the University and the community inproviding tools and resources that enhancethe prospects for the commercial success ofdeveloping companies. The Board serves as aliaison between the Incubator, the University,andtheCentralFloridacommunity.

Benefits of the board include:Recognition inquarterly IncubationProgramnewsletterMentoring and access to new client andgraduatingcompaniesContributing to the growth and success ofemerging technology companies in CentralFloridaOpportunity to serve on the advisory boardwith2yearterm

Access to client company press releases/newsupdatesQuarterlymeetings

For more information on how to become amemberof theAdvisoryBoard,pleasecontactGordonHoganat407-882-1577orviaemailatbizdev@mail.ucf.edu.See full list of the Board on page 4.

UCF Incubation Program Advisory Board

UCF Incubation Program Expands – New Centers Addedin Orlando and Seminole County

Funding for the facility was madepossible by Seminole County Government,with assistance from the City of WinterSpringsandtheFloridaHighTechCorridor,accordingtoDr.TomO’Neal,directoroftheUCF Incubation Program. The Universityof Central Florida also contributes andadministerstheprogramming. With the ink on the grand openingprogramsstilldamp,theincubatoralreadyhasseven companies in place. “The companieshere are mainly high-growth technologybusinesses,” said Esther Vargas-Davis, SiteManager.

Dr.O’Nealsaidhehasagoaloffillingtheremaining13openingswithinthenextyear.“Ifwejustaddoneamonth,we’llbethere.”Whilesomearehigh-techcompanies,O’Nealsaid other businesses also are welcome, asoneofthesevennewmembersisalawfirm,anotherawirelesscommunicationscompanyandyetanotherspecializesinfindingobsoleteparts. InadditiontotheopeningoftheWinterSpringsfacility,theUCFIncubationProgramopened the Orlando Business DevelopmentCenter,District2(OBDC2).CreatedasthevisionofretiredOrlandoCityCommissionerBettyT.Wyman,theOBDC2incubatorwillbeusedtoaccelerate thegrowthandsuccessof entrepreneurial companies in Orlando’s

District2region.Wyman’slegacycontinueswith efforts spearheaded by CommissionerTonyOrtiz. Site Manager, Jacqueline Bartoncommented“AsOrlando’sonlymixed-useandgreenincubator,ourfocusistoserveavarietyof businesses as an economic developmenttoolthatfostersgrowthandentrepreneurshipinanenvironmentally-friendlyway.”Bartonaddedthat theOBDC2is fullwith four in-houseclientcompaniesandrecentlyaddedafifthvirtualclient.PlansforthecenteraretoexpandbyJanuary2009withtenadditionaloffices. Funding for the facility is providedby the City of Orlando in partnership withUCF.

FROM PAGE 1

June 10 - July 2, 2008Excellence in Entrepreneurship Certificate Course

Taughtbyexperiencedentrepreneurs,professionalserviceprovidersandentrepreneurshipfacultyfromtheUniversityofCentralFlorida,thisdynamic,intenseshortcourseexplorestherealitiesofplanningandstartingacompanyandhelpsyoulearnhowtosuccessfullydevelopandlaunchabusiness.Limitedto20participants.UCFTI Lunch & Learn SeriesTime:11:30am–1pmLunchisprovided•June12•July10•August14•September11

Toregisterfortheseeventsormoreinformation,visit:www.incubator.ucf.eduorcall407-882-0202.

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The Accelerator The Accelerator

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Downtown Orlando Incubator 37NorthOrangeAvenueOrlando,FL32801407-882-0202SiteManager:GordonHogan

The Downtown Orlando Incubator located on Orange Avenue serves technology and other high growth companies that can benefit from the Downtown location. The facility is a partnership with the City of Orlando.

Orlando Business Development Center/District 2 Incubator3218E.ColonialDrive,SuiteGOrlando,FL32803321-281-8383SiteManager:JackieBarton

The Orlando Business Development Center/District 2 Incubator opened in December, 2007. A partnership with the City of Orlando, the Center is a general business incubator to support primarily non-technology startups.

Photonics IncubatorCollegeofOpticsandPhotonicsUniversityofCentralFlorida4000CentralFloridaBlvd,Orlando,FL32816407-882-1577SiteManager:GordonHogan

The Photonics Incubator is housed in the Center for Research & Education in Optics & Lasers (CREOL) on the UCF Main Campus. The facility offers laboratory space for technology development partnerships between industry and UCF researchers. Supported by funding from the US Economic Development Administration, the incubator accelerates the movement of innovative laser and optics technology into the marketplace.

Technology Incubator(located in the Central Florida Research Park)12565ResearchParkway,Suite300Orlando,FL32826

Bennett Complex 3251&3267ProgressDriveOrlando,FL32826407-882-0202SiteManager:CarolAnnDykes

The Technology Incubator (UCFTI) was established in 1999 to support emerging high technology companies and help them become financially stable business enterprises. Collectively UCFTI clients and graduates have created nearly 900 jobs with an average wage of $59,000 and generate over $200M a year in revenue. The UCFTI is located in the Central Florida Research Park and represents a UCF partnership with Orange County, the City of Orlando, and the Florida High Technology Corridor.

The Bennett Complex, a 40,000 square foot extension of the UCFTI, is located on Progress Drive in the Central Florida Research Park and provides flexible space for incubator clients that need larger facilities or that need space suitable for laboratory or production activities. The Bennett Complex typically houses 10-20 person operations that require 1,000-7,000 square feet of office space.

UCF Incubator-Seminole County/Winter Springs 1511E.StateRoad434,Suite2001WinterSprings,FL32708407-278-4880SiteManager:EstherVargas-Davis

UCF Incubator-Seminole County/Winter Springs opened its doors in February, 2008 to serve high growth startups in Seminole County. The incubator is a partnership between UCF, Seminole County Government, the City of Winter Springs and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. The modern facility, conveniently located in the Vistawilla Office Center building on East S.R. 434 at the 414 on/off ramp, features 10,000 square feet of space, and includes flexible office space, a conference/training room, boardroom, mini-conference rooms, a café and networking areas, metro-Ethernet fiber connectivity, a reception area, and some office equipment.

UCF Incubation Program Locations

Foundedinearly2006,Therigyisabiopharmaceuticalservicescompanyfocusedonimprovingtheuseofbiotechtherapytoachievesuperiorhealthcareoutcomesthroughtheintegrationoftherapymanagementandtechnology.ThroughTherigy’sconsultingandsolutionsdelivery,clientscanachieveoptimalclinicalresultsacrossalldistributionchannels.Therigy’scustomersinclude:healthplans,pharmaceuticalmanufacturers,andpharmacyproviders. Therigyisthehealthcareindustry’sleadingsourceofinformation,resourcesandadvisoryservicesintheareaofspecialtypharmaceuticalsandcostlychronicdiseasetherapies.Therigyexpertsprovidetrustedknowledgeandresourcestoorganizationsthatinvest-in,manufacture,dispense,pay-for,andadministerspecializedtherapies,ensuringthelatestadvancesareadoptedquickly,appropriately,andeconomicallywiththebestpossibleoutcomeforpatients.Therigy’sseasonedexpertsprovidehandsonengagementandconsultingservicestoassistorganizationsinoperationalevaluation,optimization,planning,anddeploymentofprogramsandprocessesforclinicalandeconomicsuccess. RusselAllinson,RPhMS,CEO&ChiefClinicalOfficer,hasextensiveknowledge,accumulatedthroughouthiscareer,whichearnedhimaplaceamongtheindustry’smostrespectedauthoritiesontopicssuchasspecialtypharmacyoperationsandbiotechtherapies.Aco-founderofTherigy,Allinsondirectsthecompany’sclinicalfocus,leadingtheclinicalresearchteamtodeliverthoughtleadershiptoTherigyclientsthroughpublicationsandhands-onengagement. Co-founder,JosephMorse,PresidentandCOO,managesTherigy’sday-to-dayoperations,aswellasidentifiesclientneedsanddeliversarangeofservicesandexpertsensuringthatTherigyclientsreachtheirfullpotential. TherigyislocatedinthehistoricAngebiltBuildinginDowntownOrlando,Florida.Contact:RusselAllinson,407-992-8750

Applicote Associates, LLCisamaterialsandprocesstechnologydevelopmentcompanythatenablesproductionofthenextgenerationofsemiconductorchips(nano)whichleadto

lowercostcircuits.Applicote’ssuiteofpatentedandproprietarymaterialsprocessingtechnologiesimproveyieldscomparedtoconventionaltechnologies.Currently,the

companyisdevelopingmaterialsprocessingforthesub22-nanometerrange.Applicote’snanotechnologyprocessingcapabilitiesallowsitslicenseestostaywellaheadofthenextprocessnodeforadvancedsemiconductors.Additionally,Applicoteprovidesconsultingservicescoupledwithturn-keysolutionsthatareavailableforlicensing. OzzieCoto,CEOof!nflectacompanyco-foundedbyNatQuick(CEOofApplicote)andCoto,tocommercializetechnologiescreatedbyApplicoteAssociates,LLC,commented,“WetakedeepprideinbeingpartoftheUCFincubator.Itgivesusaccesstoalargenumberofkeyservices,andfacilities,thatwerelyonforoursuccess.Evenmoreimportantaretherelationshipswe¹vebeenabletoestablishwiththewonderfulfolksoftheincubatorandCREOL.Theprofessionalswe¹veinteractedwithareworld-class.” Cotoadded,“ThefolksattheincubatortooknoteofouruniqueneedsandfoundussuitablelabspaceinsideofTheTownesLaserInstitute(CREOL).Thismadeitpossibleforustobeinclosephysicalproximitytothepeople,theequipment,andtheservicesweneed.Additionally,ourpathtocommercializationhasincludedthecreationofaseparatecompanynamed,!nflect.Italsohasbenefitedfromthecloserelationshipwiththeincubator.!nflect’spurposeistobringourinventionstomarketquicklyandefficientlybyfocusingsolelyontheneedsoftheconsumer.”Contact:OzzieCoto,321-356-6441

Social Security Advocates, LLC,helpsobtaindisabilitybenefitsforthosethataredeniedservices.About90%ofthosequalifiedtoreceivebenefitsareoftendeclined.Asthepopulationagesandtheeconomystruggles,SSAisworkingtoaddresstheneedsofthisgroup,servingasanadvocate.

SSAwasfoundedbyJessicaCarrasquillo,whostartedthefirstlocationinabusinessincubatorinTennessee.InJanuary2008,sheteamedupwithJeanneRomantoopentheOrlandoofficeattheOBDC2.TheteamutilizestheirexperiencetostreamlinetheprocessfortheirclientswithanemphasisonthegrowingHispaniccommunity,offeringfreeconsultationswithoutfeesunlessbenefitsaregranted.AccordingtoRoman,“Thegrantprocessislengthyandcantakeseveralyears.IstartedthisbusinessbecauseIwanttomakeadifferenceandhelppeopletounderstandtheprocessandgetanswerstotheirquestions.Compassionworks…allpeoplewantisasimpleexplanation.” SSAcompletesthepaperwork,monitorstheprogressoftheapplication,andworksthroughtheappealsprocess.Theygivepersonalattentionastheygathermedicalinformation,andcommunicatewithvariousgovernmentofficestofollowthefileprogress,whichhasresultedinSSA’sgrowingsuccess.Contact:JeanetteRoman,321-281-8376

ORLANDO BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTSTANDING IN THE GAP FOR CLAIMANTS RIGHTS

CEO Ozzie Coto

UCF DOWNTOWN INCUBATOR IMPROVING THERAPY ENHANCING LIVES

PHOTONICS INCUBATORPRODUCING LOWER COST CIRCUITS

2008-09 Members of the UCF Incubation Program Advisory Board:

Randy BerridgeFloridaHighTechCorridorCouncil

Sena BlackEnterpriseFlorida

Jim BoyleInflexion,Inc.

Terence F. BrennanRoetzel&Andress

John BushCityofWinterSprings

Thomas ChatmonDowntownOrlandoBoardCommunityRedevelopmentAgency

Dr. Tom KeonUCF/CollegeofBusinessAdministration

Kim KingCityofOrlando

John LewisOrangeCountyGovernment

George Livingston, CIPSNAIRealvestPartners,Inc.

Bill McDermottSeminoleCountyEconomicDevelopment

Gary MosesRBCCenturaBank

Brian Steinberger, P.A.LawOfficesofBrianS.Steinberger,P.A.

Incubator Client Profiles

Jeanette Roman, Disability Representative for Social Security Advocates, LLC.

The Accelerator The Accelerator

PAGE 6 PAGE 7

NeoCytex BioPharma Inc. isdevelopingnovel therapeutics to promote the repair and

rejuvenation ofdamaged tissues(wound healing,neural repair).

Theleaddrugcandidatesworkbyacceleratingthe production of healthy new cells fromendogenous stem cells, enhancing the body’snaturalabilitytohealitself. Over 6 million Americans sufferfrom Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and otherneurodegenerative diseases. An additional5.4millionpatients livewith thedebilitatingeffectsofstroke.Therearenocures.Thecostof caring for these patients will exceed $200billionthisyear.Becauseofthecomplexityofthediseasesandlackofwell-characterizeddrugtargets, fewnewcandidatedrugsareenteringclinical trials. Use of cell transplantationtherapy to repopulate the brain with healthycellshasencounteredsignificanttechnicalandregulatoryhurdles. NeoCytexisdevelopingnovelregenerativetherapeutics that accelerate the healing andrepair of diseased tissues. Its compoundsstimulate theproductionofhealthynewcellsfrom adult stem cells, enhancing the body’snatural ability to heal itself. The first drugcandidate(NBI-18,asmallmolecule)isbeingdeveloped as a treatment for degenerativediseases of the central nervous system. Datafrom animal experiments indicate that NBI-18canspeeduptheproductionoffunctionalnew neurons from endogenous ‘adult’ neuralstemcells.NBI-18bypassesthesehurdlesbydirectly coaxing theproductionof functionalnewneuronsfrompreexistingneuralstemcellsinthebrain.Asafenewdrugtoimproveneuralfunction would be an important advance inthe treatment of chronic CNS diseases. Inaddition to NBI-18, NeoCytex’s researchpipelineincludesregenerativedrugcandidatesthatacceleratehealingfromwounds,fractures,andmuscleinjuries. Co-founders of NeoCytex are KiminobuSugaya,Ph.D.,andNilabhChaudhary,Ph.D.Dr.KiminobuSugayaisProfessorofMolecular

BiologyandMicrobiologyandDirectorof theStem Cell Laboratory at Burnett College ofBiomedical Sciences, University of CentralFlorida,Orlando.Heisconductingresearchon

novel therapies for neurodegenerative diseasesandstroke.Dr.SugayaisNeoCytex’sChairmanandChiefScientificOfficer.

Dr. Nilabh “Neil” Chaudhary is the CEOand Director of R&D. He has 15 years ofmanagement,commercialization,andresearchexperienceatbiotechcompanies inHouston,Boulder, and Cleveland. Before joining thebiotechnology industry, Dr. Chaudharyconducted molecular cell biology research inthelaboratoryofNobelLaureateGünterBlobelat the Rockefeller University and HowardHughesMedicalInstituteinNewYork. NeoCytex was selected as one of 10-15of the best Florida-based private companiesseeking venture capital funding at the firstannual Florida Venture Forum Early StageVenture Capital Conference, Orlando inMay. Companies were selected to presentto a national audience of venture capitalists,investment bankers and private equityinvestors. “The UCFTI incubator staff has beenextremely supportive during our startup andgrowth phase. We have benefited from theirearlymentoringregardingtechnologylicensing,businessplanningandmanagementstrategies,and very important, establishing a path toboth public and private sources of financing.Gordon Hogan and Carol Ann Dykes havebeen especially helpful in facilitating contactwitharangeofpotentialinvestors. ImustmentionthatTomO’Nealandhisteam have an unusually clear understandingof the type of support craved by startups.They have been aggressive about obliteratingridiculous bureaucratic hurdles that seem toappear suddenly and often. With supportand encouragement from UCFTI, NeoCytexwas successful in obtaining both federal andstate funding,which, in turn,has enabledustoinitiateresearchwithcollaboratorsatUCFand elsewhere. Already we have generatedexciting new drug safety data that will fueltheaggressivedevelopmentofNeoCytex’sleaddrugcandidateforParkinson’sdisease.“addedDr.Chaudhary.Contact: Nilabh Chaudhary (Neil), Ph.D.,(407)408-9566

iConvene provides a unique onlinemarketplace for anyone planning small-to medium-size meetings in CentralFlorida. In minutes, users can log on towww.iConvene.com to compare and bookmeeting rooms and order related services like

catering, A/Ve q u i p m e n t ,entertainmentandprofessional

speakers. Soon,userswillbeabletomanageguestlists,sendinvitations,trackresponsesandissuepost-eventsurveysdirectlyfromthesite. InApril2008,iConvenelaunchedinCentralFlorida,andplansexpandtoothermajormarketsaroundthecountryinthecomingyear,aswell

ashireabout15newpeople,includingsoftwaredevelopers, Internet marketing specialists andcallcenteremployees. “I never understood why I could book atriparoundtheworldonline,butcouldn’tplanasmallmeetingwiththesameease,”saidMarkThomason, iConvene co-founder and chiefexecutive officer. The idea for the companyresulted from the frustration he felt over theamount of time it took to locate and securea meeting room for a non-profit committeemeetinghewasresponsibleforcoordinating. The non-travel meetings industry is an$80billionbusinessintheUnitedStatesandaprimarydriveroftheCentralFloridaeconomy.While major meetings and conferences arealmostalwayshandledbyprofessionalmeetingplanners, Thomason and Co-Founder David

Krinkerrealizedthattherewasnothinginplaceto help individuals responsible for planningtheirownsmallmeetings. Carol Ann Dykes, UCF TechnologyIncubator site manager, said, “iConvene wasa natural fit for our program because it’s aninnovative technology that meets a clear-cutneed, and it targets the hospitality industry–avibrant sectorofour local economy. Weexist to help develop high-tech companiesand create additional jobs. Not only doesiConvenecreatenewlocaljobs,butitsupportsotherbusinessesintheCentralFloridaregion–awinningcombinationwedon’toftensee.” Thecompanyhasbenefitedtremendouslyfrom its alliance with the UCF program, asevidenced by its acceptance in the FloridaVenture Forum’s 2008 Early Stage VentureCapitalConferenceinMay.iConvenewasoneof 15 presenters selected from approximately200applicantsseekingcapital. Terry Jones, founder ofTravelocity, said,“I’vereviewediConvene’sbusinessmodelandtechnologyingreatdetailandseetremendouspotential. It’s a robust tool that can expandas user needs continue to unfold and thecompanygrows.Itservesaneedandprovidesan on-demand solution that’s available 24/7.Consumersknowagoodthingwhentheyseeit,andIfullyanticipatethedaywhenpeopleplanningsmallmeetingswonderhowtheyevermanagedwithoutiConvene.” Thomason added, “One of the steps wetookbeforewe formed iConvenewas to taketheIncubator’sCertificatetoEntrepreneurshipcourse.Wesawthecourseasoneofourlitmustests to see ifwewere ready and the conceptwasinterestingtoanobjectivethirdparty. Itwas...andwewereoneof three companies tobe admitted into the Incubator during thatcourse. Since then we’ve greatly appreciatedthe support that the program has offered us.We highly recommend the UCF Incubatorprogramtoanyoneelsecrazyenoughtostarttheirowntechnologybusiness.”Contact:MarkThomason,407-332-8887

UCF TECHNOLOGY INCUBATORTHERAPIES TO HEAL DISEASED AND INJURED TISSUES

UCF TECHNOLOGY INCUBATORMAKING MEETING PLANNING SIMPLE AND COST EFFECTIVE

NR Electronics, LLC is a full line-stockingdistributorofelectroniccomponentswith offices and warehouses in Europeand USA, at the new UCF – SeminoleCounty Incubator in Winter Springs.

Selected as one of the seven companiesto open in the incubator, NR Electronicsprocures and distributes obsolete andhard to find electronic components fromover 10,000 suppliers around the world.Services include: Active, passive and electromechanical components, hard-to-find, obsolete and discontinued components and management of excess stocks and end-of-life products. InMarch2006,NRElectronicswasgiventheExportAwardAchievementAward at theWalt Disney World Contemporary Resortfrom Jon Dudas, director of the U.S. Patentand Trademark office, who is particularlyimpressedwithhowsmallU.S.businessesarefindingsignificantgrowththroughexports. In that same year, NR Electronics wasnominated for the Hispanic Business of theYearAwardforbusinessesopenlessthanthreeyearsatthe9thAnnualDonQuijoteAwards,hosted by the Hispanic Business InitiativeFund (HBIF) and the Hispanic Chamber ofCommerce. NR Electronics is certified asa Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) bythe Florida Minority Supplier DevelopmentCouncil (FMSDC). Contact: Liza Ordonez,407-278-8885

Norberto Ruiz, Director of Operations

UCF SEMINOLE COUNTY INCUBATOR PROCURES AND DISTRIBUTES ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS WORLDWIDE

Incubator Client ProfilesIncubator Client Profiles

“

”

I fully anticipate the day when people planning small meetings wonder how they ever managed

without iConvene.-TerryJones,FounderofTravelocity

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The UCFTI incubator staff

has been extremely supportive

during our startup and growth

phase. We have benefited from

their early mentoring regarding

technology licensing, business

planning and management

strategies, and very important,

establishing a path to both public

and private sources of financing.

-Dr.NilabhChaudhary

The Accelerator

AVT Simulation provides professionalengineeringservicesandtrainingsolutionstothesimulation, trainingandentertainmentmarkets.Since its inception, AVT has been fortunate toprovide its highly specialized staff of engineersto some of the top leaders in the simulationindustry.Some of these industry leaders include:PEOSTRI, NAVAIR, Morgan (a Stanley Company), Rockwell Collins, Advanced Systems Technology, Lockheed Martin Information Systems and DEI Services Corp Founded in 1998 by Robert Abascal, aformer software architect from Bell HelicopterandLockheedMartin,hehadavisiontoservicethe simulationand training industrywithnicheapplications and consulting services. In 1999,Abascal hired another former software engineerfrom Lockheed Martin to provide softwareengineeringservicestoseveraltrainingcompanieslocated in the Central Florida Research Park.Abascal recognized several gaps in the trainingmarket that weren’t being addressed and spent

much of his time developing software tools tosimplify Host-to-Image Generation integrationand tools to provide quicker host development.In April 2002, Cliff Ingari, Larry Rodd and J.Bruce Howie joined AVT to support the USArmy’sCloseCombatTacticalTrainers(CCTT).InFebruary2003,basedonthegrowingsuccessofthesupportAVTwasprovidingtoPEOSTRI,AVT was asked to provide visual engineeringsupport to PM Comanche. In September 2003AVT joined the University of Central FloridaTechnology Incubator program, graduated inJuly2007andestablishedofficesinResearchParklocatedinOrlando,Florida. Based on the growing success of providinghighlyspecializedengineers,todayAVTsupportsPEOSTRIandNAVAIRwith15engineersandprojectdirectors.SomeofthePEOSTRIprogramsthat AVT support include CCTT AV-CATT,GCTT,GamingTechnology,SpecialOperations,SECORE and Future Combat Systems. AVTcontinued its growth in 2004 through 2006 byproviding integratedsolutions to itscommercial

customers on such programs as the EA-6B, theT-44A,theE-2C/DOFTs. In 2006 AVT obtained a Prime contractwiththeUSAF’s508AircraftSustainmentWingto provide maintenance to 25 existing visualdatabasesandtodevelop10newdatabases.ThegrowthandsuccessofAVTiscontributedtoitsprofessional staff, proven leadership, customerfirst/peoplefirstmanagementphilosophyanditscommitment to provide products and servicesinacost-effectivemannerthatexceedscustomerexpectationsandschedule. AVT Simulation is a highly regardedsimulation and training company that servicesUS DOD, UK MOD and commercial trainingcompanies. Headquartered in the hub of thetraining and simulation industry, OrlandoFlorida,AVT today employsover30 employeescomprising some of the best in the simulationand training industry. Contact: Robert Abascal,www.avtsim.com

INCUBATION PROgRAM gRADUATE

Office of Research & CommercializationUniversity of Central FloridaUniversity Tower/Research Park12201ResearchParkway,Suite501Orlando,FL32826For further information contact:Phone:407.823.3778

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Providing Simulation And Training Solutions