Florida High Tech Corridor

2013

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Invaluable Resources Paired with Constructive Consulting More than just office space at the right price, incubators provide critical resources to technology types who sometimes need the added business-savvy to turn an innovative idea into a marketable product. From business consulting and regulatory seminars to vendor referrals and funding introductions, these services are tailored to each company���s needs, providing the kind of support TrueMotion Cervical D6 similar to what larger, more mature companies get from a board of directors. ���I needed a network of experts who understood the challenges to starting and growing a business,��� said Suzanne Schwitalla, president and CEO of Ability Worldwide Inc., a logistics consulting firm within the University of South Florida���s (USF) Tampa Bay Technology Incubator that delivers training and other services to both military and commercial customers. ���Technology companies in particular face unique challenges with intellectual property, capital investment, hiring and competition. You���ve heard the saying ���It takes a village to raise a child?��� Well, it takes a strong technology incubator to help grow a startup technology company.��� In addition to the built-in advisors and incubator managers, the incubator in itself is designed to provide an environment where entrepreneurs can exchange ideas, share inspiration and learn from each other. Before Stephanie Warrington established her medical device company, TrueMotion Spine, in the Florida Innovation Hub at the University of Florida (UF), she saw the advantages of the collaborative setting. ���Every time we came to the Hub to meet an investor or advisor, someone on our team would have one of those hallway ���collisions��� the Hub is becoming famous for, and we would gain a new contact, insight or resource as a result,��� said Warrington. Even with the best business support from consultants and advisors, however, inventions that leave the lab still need ongoing testing, analysis and research. Shared wetlabs and research space are seen as the biggest necessity for a growing R&D firm. Space for creative interaction in the Sid Martin Biotechnology Incubator Lobby TrueMotion Spine President, Stephanie Warrington D ebra N eill-M areci 34 florida.HIGH.TECH 2013 fht_incubation_2013.indd 34 2/12/13 1:18 PM

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