News
News: January 31, 2008
Sunmark FCU Takes Entrepreneurs to Lunch
By Michelle Samaad
SCHENECTADY, N.Y. — For the second year in a row, Sunmark Federal Credit Union will be the main sponsor of Union College’s U-Start Business Incubator Lunch and Learn Program.
The program provides support to entrepreneurs looking to commercialize their ideas in Schenectady County. It offers each start-up company “competitively-priced” rental space, shared administrative services and equipment, a mentor network of business and technical professionals, and a board of advisors.
The Lunch and Learn sessions are free and open to the public. Each is led by an area business leader, who addresses a specific area of managing a start-up or small business. The $449 million Sunmark FCU serves nearly 48,000 members.
Rich Meddaugh
Public Relations Specialist
Sunmark Federal Credit Union
Phone: (518) 382-2597 ext. 3129
Fax: (518) 374-3983
Email: rmeddaugh@sunmarkfcu.org
News: December 2007
CASE IN POINT
Incubator: U-Start, Schenectady, N.Y.
Opened: 1999
Fate: Turning around
U-Start was founded in 1999 by Walt Robb, former head of the GE Global Research Center in Schenectady, and Roger Hull, then president of Union College, as a college-run technology incubator. Although the program met with early success — it was full within six months of opening and had a waiting list — in more recent years it’s fallen on harder times: By mid-2006, U-Start had only three clients in its side-by-side facilities (totaling 4,000 square feet) — half of its capacity.
Part of the problem was competition; there are several other technology incubators in the area, including the Rensselaer Incubator Program, one of the oldest in the United States. And Union College — which spun U-Start off as a separate entity in 2003 — was never a major source of clients because, unlike Rensselaer, it’s not a major research institution.
“[The college] prides itself on teaching,” says U-Start director B.J. Johnson. “While many of the [faculty] may do research, they are not interested in going out and building a company.”
When Johnson came in as interim director last year, co-founder Robb — who chairs the incubator’s board and remains its primary funder — gave Johnson three months to come up with a plan to make the incubator successful.
The first step Johnson took was to broaden the incubator’s focus by taking clients from any sector except retail. He also opened its doors to companies outside Schenectady County, one of the smallest in New York. He hit the lunch circuit to let the business community know about the changes at U-Start and drum up referrals. He started a lunch-and-learn series featuring presentations on general business topics; one lunch, featuring a venture capitalist, drew 70 entrepreneurs. To create an additional revenue stream, he launched an affiliate program that charges members $500 initially per year, increasing in $500 increments annually to $1,500.
That hustle has paid off. The incubator now has six in-house clients, leaving only one empty office. While some U-Start clients are technology-based, the roster also includes graphic design, marketing and education services companies. The affiliate program has six members; Johnson hopes to keep expanding it to strengthen the incubator’s bottom line. “I could break even with 30 affiliates,” he says.
For his part, Robb is pleased with Johnson’s progress. “B.J. has been encouraging the culture [in Schenectady] to get more people thinking about start-ups,” he says. “I can’t think of a thing he’s not willing to try.” And even if the original vision of a technology incubator hasn’t panned out, Robb continues to support the program as a means to strengthen the local economy. “[My support] is a community contribution that will make this a better place to live for everybody,” he says.
The bottom line: Know your market. “The technology requirement was a significant factor [in U-Start’s troubles] because there just are not that many [tech companies] in Schenectady County,” Johnson says. He recommends that any community wanting to start an incubation program or revitalize one ask itself, “‘What do we have here that we can build on to create a really strong business environment,’ and build on that. If you don’t have a research university or a research lab [and want to start a tech incubator], you’re kidding yourself.”
News: December 7th 2007 (Times Union (Albany))
U-Start a boost for new firms
You're positive that your idea for a tech product or service is the hottest thing since Apple's iPhone. Now you have to get it to market.
If you're an entrepreneur interested in growing your idea in Schenectady County, you can explore how to get started at the U-Start business incubator's open house today.
"I would strongly recommend it. It's a great place to start whether your business is established or just a concept," said Elizabeth Turner, owner of Brayton Graphics, one of six businesses renting office in the U-Start building. A host of affiliates make use of "drop-in" offices and meeting rooms as well as shared administrative services and equipment.
"The resources they have for startups is a great, great help," Turner said.
The 24-year-old graphic designer and flash animator reached out to U-Start when she realized her year-old business was blossoming, fueling the need for more space and employees.
After meeting with U-Start Executive Director William "BJ" Johnson, Turner rented space in one of two converted Victorian homes at 2 and 4 Nott Terrace, Schenectady.
Turner said business has nearly doubled since she moved in four months ago.
"It was a big surprise for me," she said. "Now I can have a freelance designer come in. It frees me up to look for new business and spend more customer service time with my clients, which brings in more business."
Randall Hogue of Target Marketing Network was drawn to the incubator because of it closeness to Union College.
The company, a division of Success Card LLC, which originated in Canajoharie, moved to the U-Start building in September and took full advantage of the incubator's connection with the college. Hogue has used student interns from the graduate school for a wide range of projects, including the development of Success Card's business and marketing plans.
The monthly Lunch and Learn seminars sponsored by Sunmark Federal Credit Union and access to the incubator's network of mentors were also incentives, Hogue added. So is the board of advisers the incubator develops specifically for each company to provide ongoing support, strategic counseling and guidance.
"They're a very good group of people," Hogue said. "And they were very knowledgeable about starting a business specifically in Schenectady County."
News: December 7th 2007 (The Business Review (Albany))
Changed focus at U-Start incubator draws woman- and minority-owned businesses
"When you go into the incubator program associated with Union College ... you almost have credibility instantaneously, says Milton Evans Sr., head of Envisionetics, a marketer of recycled rubber products. View Larger
Something happened when William "B.J." Johnson decided to change the focus of the U-Start incubator in Schenectady.
The executive director turned it from being tech-oriented to being open to any start-up company needing office space.
More woman-owned and minority-owned businesses signed up to become either tenants or affiliates--"virtual" tenants who are not located in the building.
From three tenants--one of which was woman-owned--and one virtual, the incubator has grown to a total of 12 tenants and virtuals, six of which are either minority- or woman-owned.
Johnson said making the Schenectady incubator a mixed-use operation opened the doors to more companies in need of assistance.
"There just aren't many tech startups in Schenectady," Johnson said.
Johnson has more vigorously promoted the incubator in recent months, holding "lunch-and-learn" sessions with featured speakers.
He also attends Rotary and business group meetings to spread the word and has urged The Chamber of Schenectady County to send people his way who are interested in starting companies.
Dinah Atkins, president of the National Business Incubation Association, based in Athens, Ohio, said there aren't any statistics on how many minority- or woman-owned businesses are located in incubators.
"However, I'm not at all surprised," she said, that U-Start's companies are more diverse these days since moving from a heavy tech focus.
She said many tech companies are focused on science and engineering, fields that still are dominated by men. As a result, companies that spin out from research in those fields are often led by men.
Atkins expects more minority- and woman-owned businesses will be attracted to U-Start.
"If people perceive this as a good environment for minorities and women, they talk to other people. Word-of-mouth is a good factor in terms of incubator marketing," she said.
Al Evans, head of a new marketing and technology services company called The Core Element Group, a U-Start affiliate, agreed.
"You have an association of like minds, people who are facing the same challenges you have," said Evans, who is black. "Someone may have gone through something already that you are about to go through. They can provide advice. They train you."
Rebecca Murtagh, owner of Karner Blue Marketing LLC, said she likes the trend taking place at U-Start, which is affiliated with Union College just across the street.
"There are more women here than ever," said Murtagh. "It's great to see other women starting businesses. When they're here, it means they're going from the home to taking it to the next level."
Murtagh said she's witnessing a "regeneration" of women looking for alternative working opportunities.
"I know a lot of other women entrepreneurs," she said. "They tend to flock together and assist each other."
Elizabeth Turner, owner of Brayton Graphics, just started her business in January, after moving back to the area from Boston.
"I started this in my home and things got really busy and I wanted to start and grow," Turner said. "All the resources they offer seemed like a great opportunity for the next step up in moving my company and making it grow."
The incubator provides shared resources, such as a receptionist, copy and fax machines, and conference room, at a low price. And Johnson helps connect tenant companies with mentors who can help them overcome any obstacles they're facing.
Johnson said that when he conducted a quarterly review with Turner, he connected her with mentor Laura Mann of the venture capital firm Glenmont Partners.
"Laura has a lot of connections in the Capital District," Johnson said.
Turner said she had concerns before moving into the incubator.
"I had a fear that people would look at me and see a single-woman-owned business and not take it seriously," Turner said. "It hasn't been like that at all. Watching the other companies grow gives me more faith."
Milton Evans, Al Evans' father and head of his own company, Envisionetics LLC, also a U-Start affiliate, said joining the incubator program that's connected with a respected college gave his start-up business credibility.
"Minority-owned businesses, like other kinds of businesses, have to establish credibility," said Milton Evans, who leads a small company that markets products made from recycled rubber. "When you go into the incubator program associated with Union College ... you almost have credibility instantaneously. You have to make sure as a minority-owned business that you utilize everything you can to establish market credibility."
News: November 21st 2007
Target Marketing Network, a division of Success Card, LLC, held a ribbon cutting ceremony, hosted by the Chamber of Schenectady County on Wednesday, November 7. The business originated in Schoharie but recently moved to the U-Start building located at 2 Nott Terrace, Schenectady.
Owned by father-and-son team Randall Hogue Sr. and Randall C.J. Hogue, Target Marketing Network offers a variety of services that include branding, target marketing, lead generation, Flash presentations and graphic design to promote business, products and services. They offer every level of service from simple logo design to fully interactive digital presentations and customized web sites.
Target Marketing Network, 2 Nott Terrace, Schenectady · 518.831.9145 www.targetmarketingnetwork.com
U-Start is a business incubator whose mission is to provide a supportive and encouraging environment to promising entrepreneurs in an effort to assist them in growing their ideas in Schenectady County.
News: May 24th 2007 (Karner Blue Marketing )
Website Marketing Pro Leverages Expert Judging Gig To Stay On Top of Best Practices, Emerging Trends.
May 24, 2007, Albany, NY - The Web Marketing Association is pleased to announce that Rebecca Murtagh, Founder andd Chief Strategist of Karner Blue Marketing, LLC has been selected for the 5th year as a judge of the 11th annual international WebAward competition for Web site development.
"I look forward to this competition every year and have had the honor of judging websites from Fortune 100 companies and start-ups," explains Ms. Murtagh," The judging process enables me to continually stay in tune with emerging trends and best practices in website usability, internet and search engine marketing so I may better serve my clients."
"Unlike other awards, the WebAwards is not a beauty pageant where only the design and name recognition is important," said William Rice, president of the Web Marketing Association. "For the past decade, the WebAwards has used a quantitative judging formula based on seven criteria to evaluate, benchmark and set industry standards for Web site development. Rebecca Murtagh will play a critical role in setting the standard for Internet excellence by applying her expertise to each site she adjudicates."
The WebAwards is the standards-defining internet awards competition that sets industry benchmarks based on the seven criteria of a successful Web site. It recognizes the individual and team achievements of Web professionals who create and maintain outstanding Web sites.
Rebecca Murtagh is the Founder and Chief Strategist of Karner Blue Marketing, LLC an award winning marketing firm located in the Albany NY market. Karner Blue helps organizations leverage proven methodologies in search engine optimization, web usability, conversion of visitors to customers and Internet marketing. Judging in this competition is just one of the ways Ms. Murtagh is able to apply her many years of expertise. She frequently delivers lectures and seminars to help businesses become more informed about the ever-changing Internet and how their business can benefit.
The 2007 WebAward judges consist of a select group of Internet professionals who have direct experience designing and managing Web sites - including members of the media, interactive creative directors, corporate marketing managers, site designers, content providers and webmasters - with an in-depth understanding of the current state-of-the-art in Web site development and technology.
Judging for this year's website awards will take place in July and August, with winners announced in September.
About the WebAwards
The 11th annual international WebAwards competition sets the standard of excellence in 96 industry categories by evaluating Web sites and defining benchmarks based on the seven essential criteria of successful Web site development. The goal of the Web Marketing Association, sponsor of the WebAwards, is to provide a forum to recognize the people and organizations responsible for developing some of the most effective Web sites on the Internet today. Entrants benefit from a Web site assessment by a professional judging panel and the marketing opportunities presented to an award-winning Web site.
For more information or to enter, visit www.07webaward.org.
News: March 16th 2007 (The Business Review (Albany))
Karner Blue focuses on search engine positioning
While many marketing firms are broadening their services to compete in the world of electronic media, Karner Blue Marketing is narrowing its focus.
The 6-year-old Schenectady firm has always offered search engine optimization services, but also spent time developing custom application software and designing Web sites.
More recently, it realized that while businesses had a number of places to turn to for Web development, what they wanted from Karner Blue, as a marketing firm, was help in making the most of their site.
The firm has moved away from custom applications, and is limiting its Web design work, to concentrate primarily on search engine optimization--helping businesses improve their position on Google and its peers--and Web-site marketing.
"Instead of being everything to everyone, we want to focus on our strengths," said Rebecca Murtagh, Karner Blue's founder and chief strategist. "Everyone has a Web site now, but we find clients at a loss for how to use them. I've seen way too many businesses struggle."
The demand for search engine optimization, or SEO, services has grown as businesses try to get noticed in the crowded online marketplace.
Last year, Leslie Trosset opened BizTech-Link, a one-person company in Delmar focused on optimized Web design and high search-engine rankings.
Eric LaChance, an account executive for Mountain Media, a Saratoga Springs company that has developed a niche in "search-engine friendly" e-commerce sites, said SEO in general "up and coming."
"People are starting to realize that you have to rank on Google if you want to be successful," he said.
Murtagh cited a study by Boston-based Forrester Research that found 80 percent of people trying to locate a business turn to search engines first.
That compares to 10 percent who respond to print advertisements, 10 percent who respond to online ads, and fewer than 9 percent who respond to television ads, e-mail marketing or outdoor advertising.
A separate study, by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, an arm of the nonprofit Pew Research Center, found that searching through Google and other sites is the second-most popular online activity, after e-mail.
About 38 million people use search engines each day, and 68 percent said they trusted search engines as "fair and unbiased" sources of information.
"Search engine marketing is critical," Murtagh said. "It is not a luxury anymore."
Karner Blue uses methodology developed by Murtagh to create "competitive positioning strategy" for individual businesses and improve their chances of getting on the first page of a search engine.
Murtagh said that includes conducting research to identify the words and phrases people in the clients target market actually use in their searches--which often are different from the keywords businesses think they will use--and finding ways to convert visitors into customers.
bpinckney@bizjournals.com | 518-640-6815
News: February 6, 2007 (U-Start Press Release)
U-Start Business Incubator and Consulting Alliance Form Relationship
U-Start Business Incubator in Schenectady and the Consulting Alliance, a consortium of executive-level consultants in the Capital Region, has announced the formation of a strategic relationship. Members of the Consulting Alliance will become part of the Mentor Network of U-Start whose purpose is to advise U-Start member companies as they create and grow their enterprises. In addition, some Consulting Alliance members may join the Board of Advisors of one of the U-Start affiliate companies.
Bonnie Edelstein, President of the Consulting Alliance, stated that this alliance with U-Start enables start-up businesses to have access to professional consulting services that might otherwise be unavailable to them, and it provides an opportunity for our consultants to help entrepreneurs launch and sustain successful enterprises. It's a "win" for all.
Chad Morrison, Past President of the Consulting Alliance, commented that this relationship provides our members with an excellent opportunity to utilize their expertise to foster the creation and growth of new firms in the area.
William “BJ” Johnson, Executive Director of U-Start, expressed enthusiasm for the caliber of the Consulting Alliance members and how this will broaden the U-Start Mentor Network.
Additional information on the two organizations can be found at: www.consultingalliance.org and www.incubator.union.edu. BJ Johnson can be reached at 518-631-0472.
News: February 2, 2007 (The Business Review (Albany))
Director puts programs in place to jump-start stalled incubator
U-Start's board of directors is changing the leadership and programs at the business incubator, which has never lived up to its potential.
Leading the change is William Johnson, 64, the new executive director of U-Start.
Johnson said U-Start, which has a budget of about $100,000, is emphasizing its new affiliate program instead of focusing on filling office space with full-time tenants.
The affiliate program allows non-tenant businesses to use U-Start's conference room and other amenities for a fee--$500 for the first year, $1,000 the second and $1,500 the third. Full-time tenants pay rent of about $1 a square foot, or between $150 and $400, depending on the size of the office.
Johnson also is converting two former offices, one in each of U-Start's two buildings on Nott Street, into work stations with cubicles to make room for affiliates.
Just as important as the affiliate program, Johnson said, is the requirement that affiliates have a board of advisers.
A board of advisers is not a legal entity and does not have the clout of a board of directors. But it is a group of businesspeople who can help companies avoid pitfalls and perhaps connect executives with partners or clients. The Consulting Alliance in Albany has about 60 consultants who have signed on to be advisers.
Milt Evans, 70, likes the changes taking place at the incubator. He just signed up his company, Envisionetics LLC, as an affiliate. Evans, a former president at Tire Conversion Technologies in Niskayuna, said Envisionetics will distribute Tire Conversion's products, such as speed bumps, which are made from recycled tires.
Evans started a company five years ago that didn't take off. He said one reason was the lack of the kind of support Johnson plans to give affiliates.
"One thing we learned was that you've got to surround yourself with knowledgeable people who can help you get through the difficulties you have. They may be technological, they may be financial," Evans said. "There are a lot of people who are doing what I'm doing. Some have been successful and all of them have learned something. We want to avail ourselves of that kind of information and those kind of relationships."
Johnson was hired last year as the interim director of the incubator. His intention was to develop a proposal to revive U-Start and set the groundwork for the next director. When the board approved the proposal, it asked Johnson to stay on.
Johnson commutes an hour and 15 minutes each way to work from Massachusetts. Officially, it's a 16-hour-a-week job, but Johnson says it's more like 40 hours. He is paid $40 an hour.
Johnson, who was an executive at Digital Equipment Corp., IBM and Compaq, said he is not in it for the money.
"I've been really successful in industry and this is my way of giving back," Johnson said. "If that sounds corny to you, that's the real reason."
The 9-year-old U-Start can claim no notable success stories, unlike the older, larger and much-heralded Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute incubator program, which has launched companies such as software developer and consulting firm MapInfo Corp. (Nasdaq: MAPS) and video game developer Vicarious Visions Inc.
"It's taken longer to get up to speed than I anticipated," said Harry Apkarian, chairman and CEO of TransTech Systems Inc. "We've got to do something. Schenectady needs it badly because there's not enough job creation and economic development going on."
Johnson is also working to make the connection between the incubator and Union College stronger. Union owns the incubator buildings and its former president, Roger Hull, is on U-Start's board. Johnson makes frequent visits to the campus to discuss potential partnerships with the engineering and computer science departments.
News: January 4, 2007 (The Business Review (Albany))
Schenectady credit union to sponsor incubator luncheon program
Sunmark Federal Credit Union of Schenectady has signed on as the main sponsor for the 2007 U-Start Business Incubator Lunch and Learn Program.
U-Start, a business incubator program affiliated with Schenectady's Union College, provides support to entrepreneurs looking to commercialize their ideas in Schenectady County. It offers each start-up company competitively-priced rental space, shared administrative services and equipment, a mentor network of business and technical professionals, and a dedicated board of advisors.
The Lunch and Learn sessions are free and open to the public and will take place on the third Thursday of every month. Each is led by an area business leader, who addresses a specific area of managing a start-up or small business.
"We feel that this is a great opportunity to assist local business leaders," said Bruce Beaudette, president and CEO of Sunmark. "The Lunch and Learn series fosters growth and development for the local business community and we look forward to supporting the participants and the U-Start Business Incubator in its efforts."
Sunmark is chartered to serve any one who lives or works in Albany, Schenectady, Montgomery, Saratoga, Schoharie and Rensselaer counties of New York.
News: April 9, 2006 (from The Daily Gazette)
Schenectady entrepreneurs: Startup businesses appreciate help of downtown incubator
Mike DeBritz’s basement was overflowing with scissors, tambourines and little bottles of fake blood.
His year-old business, Community Learning, had about two dozen customers from Niagara Falls to New York City. Reviews of his after-school enrichment programs, the forensics-packed "Cookie Jar Mystery" and scrappy "Art of Collage," were glowing.
But more pressing than the lack of space in his Niskayuna home was DeBritz’s lack of experience with some of the more arcane elements of entrepreneurship - business plans, overhead, bottom lines, distribution chains and returns on investment.
He decided to address both issues by renting two suites at the U-Start Business Incubator in downtown Schenectady. He started moving in last week, and has high hopes for his new digs.
"I needed help getting to the next level," DeBritz said. "That’s why I came here."
The U-Start incubator, formed in 1999 by a group of local entrepreneurs who wanted to see more home-grown businesses in the Electric City, is hidden in two Victorian homes on Nott Terrace near the main entrance of Union College.
The nonprofit incubator tries to address the scourge of all start-up businesses: a limited cash flow. Rent is competitive at $9.80 per square foot, and the tenants trim their operational costs by sharing necessary but expensive amenities including a photocopier, fax machine, high-speed Internet connection, voice mail and conference rooms.
But it’s the intangible benefits of the incubator that tenants seem to most appreciate. This includes an informal and supportive environment, quarterly business reviews, a wide network of incubator affiliates, monthly workshops and a relationship with Union college.
"You do work in a bubble when you’re by yourself, and it helps to have someone to bounce ideas off of," DeBritz said.
Overseeing U-Start and offering their guidance are Executive Director Temi Bova and Operations Manager Peter McElligott.
Bova worked in marketing and communications at General Electric Co.’s Advanced Materials business in Pittsfield, Mass., and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy before joining the local incubator last month. She succeeded Jon Lemelin, who left U-Start in January to become the chief technology officer at the Graduate College of Union University.
Bova said marketing and branding are often two of the toughest challenges that start-ups face. "They can have a great product but if they don’t know how to sell it, they won’t go anywhere," she said. "We try to identify any challenges and ask how we can assist them or bring someone in to help assist them."
McElligott, who ran a consulting firm after working for 30 years as a chemist and engineer at GE’s Global Research Center in Niskayuna, agreed and said a start-up business is less likely to go under if it has the "hands-on" assistance of an incubator.
"They might have a good idea, but they may not have a good distribution plan or manufacturing plan to get the stuff out there," he said."We help with that."
For U-Start tenant Peter Meenan, who runs Meenan Information Services with his partner Peter Duchessi, one of the most valuable benefits of the incubator is the ready supply of interns from Union College - who can earn credits while working for local businesses.
During his four years at U-Start, he’s taken on six different interns - mostly economics majors - to crunch numbers and conduct interviews in order to determine if the local auto dealership industry would be receptive to new inventory and supply chain management software.
Field Work
Based on the results of the interns’ lengthy report, he dropped the idea and moved on to developing his new GenAura software, which helps companies identify pros and cons in their supply chains. He said the interns’ field work saved him quite a bit of time.
Along with the benefits of networking and shared amenities, UStart’s quarterly reviews have also had a solid effect on Meenan’s business plan and bottom line. The incubator’s managers and board of directors scrutinize Meenan’s business plan and record books to identify if the company is on the right track.
"It forces you to focus on your objectives and do a realistic assessment of whether or not you’re meeting those objectives," he said. "For a small business, there’s definitely an economic advantage to being in an incubator."
Another tenant, Rebecca Murtagh, agreed that networking through U-Start helped grow a local clientele for her Web site optimization firm, Karner Blue Marketing. She has also benefitted from the incubator’s relationship with Albany law firm Nixon Peabody, which fields legal questions from U-Start tenants.
"That’s invaluable for a small business,"Murtagh said.
The incubator also has an affiliate program for companies that don’t need floorspace but want to participate in the quarterly reviews and take advantage of UStart’s mentoring network and relationship with the local college.
Both Murtagh and Meenan said they plan to move their businesses out of the incubator at some point. But there’s no rush, as there’s no restriction for how long a company can stay at the old Victorians on Nott Terrace.
Seing Results
Even after leaving the incubator last year and moving to a Central Avenue location in Albany, local entrepreneur and Union College senior Brian Selkirk, 21, is feeling the benefits of his two years at UStart.
Last week he pitched eWired Auctions, his 3-year-old business that specializes in online auctions and silent auctions for charities, to the Schenectady Museum.He said U-Start co-founder and Co-Chairman Walter Robb, a big name in the local business community, had a hand in securing the pitch.
"His name probably got me in the door," Selkirk said.
A history major who plans to run eWired full time after he graduates this spring, Selkirk said his two years at U-Start were instrumental in helping him understand how to run a business.
"I was clueless," he said. "From beginning to end, they oversaw my transformation from a college kid to serious business owner with patent pending and a customer base."
Tech Valley Link
Selkirk’s only criticism was that he would like to see more student owned and student-run business in the incubator. So would U-Start managers Bova and McElligott. Only four of the incubator’s 12 suites are rented out, and they have one non-resident affiliate. McElligott said finding new tenants - often one-person operations run out of a basement or garage- can be tricky. He and Bova rely on U-Start’s pool of mentors, affiliates and Union College ties to help market the incubator and attract new start-ups.
The nonprofit stays financially afloat from rent and contributions from its board of directors, Bova said. She declined to disclose the incubator’s operational budget.
U-Start is a founding member of the Tech Valley Incubator Network, which includes incubators at The University at Albany, RPI, Watervliet Arsenal, Schenectady County Community Business Center and a few other.
U-Start Co-Chairman Robb said incubators are becoming more common across the country as municipalities and universities schools begin to realize the importance of start-up businesses to fuel the local economy.
"If businesses get started in Schenectady, hopefully they’ll stay in Schenectady," Robb said.
BY MICHAEL MULLANEY
Gazette Reporter
News: March 29, 2006
About Community Learning
Community Learning is an educational services company whose mission is to provide high quality, accessible education products that support teacher professional development and student achievement. Our products include program solutions for after-school and summer enrichment; Orchard Software titles for targeted instruction, and the flexible, customizable English composition platform, Writing Links!
Committed to Teacher and Student Success
Demands for integrated programming, targeted instruction, customizable platforms, professional development and innovative solutions for enrichment pose considerable challenges for administrators, teachers, program directors and students. Community Learning is focused on these specific needs, and all of our products include the highest level of support for staff-- with training and on-going technical assistance. Our courses and programs are developed in conjunction with subject area experts and curriculum specialists with years of classroom experience.
Community Learning offers several innovative web and LAN based learning programs that provide strong instructional support and supplemental learning opportunities for your students.
These programs can be customized to your students’ individual needs and provide assessment tools to help document academic progress. Management systems can also automatically create progress reports to help gauge effectiveness and keep parents informed.
For more information, please contact Michael DeBritz at (518)347-0461