The U-Start business incubator
associated with the College has joined forces with four other incubators to
create the Tech Valley Incubator Network (TVIN).
TVIN will provide a forum for
information sharing and cooperation with the goal of leveraging their strengths
to better serve Tech Valley
entrepreneurs The other incubators involved are the Adirondack Technology Accelerator, Rensselaer Incubator Program, Schenectady County Community Business Center,
and University at Albany East Campus
Business Incubator.
The network members, who had their
first meeting earlier this year, formed the network in the spirit of other
regional cooperative efforts, including the Tech Valley Chamber Coalition and
the Center for Economic Growth. The member incubators of TVIN seek to offer
better services to their current and prospective clients through the network
while retaining their own unique identity and operations.
“Although each incubator will
continue to operate independently, TVIN will provide a structured way to meet
regularly, share best practices, and discuss potential joint initiatives, all
for the betterment of Tech Valley
as a region,” said Jon C. Lemelin, Director of the U-Start business incubator,
which is associated with Union College
in Schenectady.
“It's clear that the growth
of entrepreneurial businesses will be vital to the success of Tech
Valley, and TVIN will give
entrepreneurs a single point of contact.” Lemelin added. “Incubators provide
office space, clerical support, and technical and business assistance to help
these types of ventures grow and succeed. With a network of incubators pooling
our ideas and resources, we can all be more successful.”
U-Start has been operating since
July 1999 at 4 Nott Terrace in a converted Victorian Home just off the College's
South border. In October 1993, the incubator expanded into an adjacent
building, bringing U-Start's total business space to 12 firms. Three companies
have “graduated out” of the incubator and are operating in Schenectady
County.