4th Quarter 2008

Business Innovation Center Upcoming Events

October
Oct 2, 2008
TRDA and the University of Florida Office of Technology Licensing
Early Stage Technology Showcase
5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
 

Oct. 8, 2008
Roadmap to Success Workshop
Oct. 8 - Nov. 12, 2008
7:00 - 9:00 p.m., Wednesdays

Oct. 15, 2008
Procurement Technical Assistance Center
Counseling (By Appointment)
8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
For information contact Tony Espinosa
tespinosa@bus.ucf.edu 

Oct 24, 2008
Cost Proposal Preparation Workshop
for Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) and
Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.


November

Nov. 7, 2008
S.O.S. for Women Series
"How to Market Your Business on a Limited Budget"
1:30 - 3:30 p.m. 

Nov. 12, 2008
Roadmap to Success Final Presentations
7:00-9:00 p.m.

Nov. 19, 2008
Procurement Technical Assistance Center
Counseling (By Appointment)
8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
For information contact Tony Espinosa
tespinosa@bus.ucf.edu

December

Dec. 4, 2008
SBDC Lenders Roundtable for Small Business
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Dec. 17, 2008
Procurement Technical Assistance Center
Counseling (By Appointment)
8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
For information contact Tony Espinosa
tespinosa@bus.ucf.edu

Get a sneak peek at early-stage Florida technology companies tackling real-world challenges

Central Floridians will be the first to hear about some of the most dynamic new technology companies emerging in Central Florida.

On Oct. 2, TRDA and the University of Florida Office of Technology Licensing will host an Early Stage Company Showcase and introduce six companies that have developed technologies with high potential for commercial growth and profitability.

TRDA will feature four companies that are current clients of the TRDA Business Innovation Center in Melbourne, Fla.:

The University of Florida will present two companies:

The showcase will take place at the TRDA Business Innovation Center, located at 1050 West NASA Blvd. Event registration and networking start at 5:30 p.m. Company presentations will begin at 6 p.m., followed by networking with heavy hors d'hourves until 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $50 per person. To register, visit www.trda.org.

TRDA uses $1.4 million grant to launch DOD Commercialization Assistance Program

Forty-five small businesses in Florida and New York will soon "strut their stuff" in front of investors, prime contractors and defense industry professionals looking to tap into companies that have developed new emerging, dual-use technologies.

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) recently awarded the TRDA a $1.4 million grant to launch the DOD Commercialization Assistance Program.  The program will provide commercialization assistance to 20 Florida companies and 25 New York businesses that have previously received a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the DOD. 

"We will help take these companies to the next level of development by connecting them with potential government and industry-wide customers," said Chester J. Straub, Jr. executive director of the TRDA.  "When provided assistance, these companies have the potential of sparking significant economic development in their communities."

TRDA will collaborate with the Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce to develop customized plans for each company that cover business planning, marketing, sales, government contracting and securing capital. In addition, TRDA will help secure senior mentors, consultants and experts within the participants' industries to provide specialized business and technical assistance.

The program will feature company presentations in Florida and New York before an audience of defense program managers, acquisition officers, prime contractors, corporations, venture capitalists and angel investors.

For more information on this program, contact  Bernie Zuzo, TRDA's SBIR Commercialization Manager at 321-872-1050, ext. 108 or via e-mail at bzuzo@trda.org.

Three Technology Start-Ups Selected for the TRDA Business Innovation Center

Two medical device companies and a software services company are among the three new tenants/affiliates recently selected to participate in TRDA's business incubation program at the TRDA Business Innovation Center.

Abilities MedTech, a medical device company founded by Warren Sizinski, is manufacturing and distributing a multi-task lifting device for the disabled.

NexGen, also a medical device company, is developing a portfolio of innovative health-related products. Headquartered in Reno, Nev., NexGen was founded in 2005 by the founders of Image Guided Neurologics. The company's Florida office will be located in the TRDA Business Innovation Center and is headed up by Matt Solar, vice president of product development. Solar is also the CEO of C2C, a medical device company already residing in the center.

The third emerging business is Eikona Systems, a software company that specializes in providing systems and software services to large corporations. Eikona Systems' management team is CEO Barry Rubel, founder of Riptide Software, and President Keith Heob, co-founder of Audio Control Technologies in Silicon Valley.

All of the companies completed the TRDA's "Roadmap to Success" workshop series, designed to boost entrepreneurs' understanding of key aspects of business formation, growth and continuing profitability. The workshop series is a pre-requisite to be considered for tenancy at the TRDA Business Innovation Center. The next series, and the last one to be offered in 2008, begins on Oct. 8 and ends six weeks later on Nov. 12. For more information about the Roadmap series, contact Bonnie O'Regan at boregan@trda.org or visit www.trda.org.

Teacher Quest turns 11

A lot can happen in one year.  But, think what can be accomplished in 11 years!

This summer, the TRDA's signature educator professional development program - Teacher Quest - celebrated its 11th anniversary of giving Florida teachers a broader experience in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields through full-time summer employment opportunities. 

"Shaping the workforce of tomorrow begins today in our classrooms...with our teachers," said Diane Matthews, director of education for TRDA, which sponsors the program.  "For more than a decade, Teacher Quest has given teachers the edge they need to truly inspire students and better prepare them for their future careers."

Under Teacher Quest, K-12 teachers embark on a seven-week, paid internship at select science- and technology-based businesses throughout Florida.  They return to their classrooms in the fall equipped with valuable industry knowledge and experience to infuse into their curriculum to make math, science and technology studies more exciting and challenging for their students. 

The Florida Department of Education launched the program in 1989 to address the growing shortage of middle- and high-school teachers in math, science and technology.  Since TRDA took over administration of Teacher Quest in 1997, more than 1,500 math, science and technology teachers throughout Florida have participated in the program. 

"When you think about the number of students each of our 1,500 teachers have reached during the last 11 years, we're close to positively impacting nearly 50,000 students," Matthews said.  "That's equivalent to the size of some of the state's largest school districts."

The 2008 program drew teachers from nine Florida counties.  This year's partner employers included the following:  Brevard Zoo, .decimal Inc, Delaware North at Kennedy Space Center, The Florida Aquarium, Florida Advanced Technological Education Center (FLATE), G-Wiz, the Hands-on Science Museum, Imaginarium, Knight Enterprises, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Miami Metro Zoo, Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science, Museum of Science and History (MOSH), Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), Orlando Science Center, Progress Energy Florida and Sun Hydraulics Corp.

"We are always looking for additional employers to really keep the program's momentum moving forward so we can come back in another 11 years and report even greater results," Matthews said.

For more information on participating, either as a teacher or a program partner, contact Diane Matthews at dmatthews@trda.org, (866) 263-9564, ext. 106, or visit http://www.trda.org/.