Student Sandbox Sees Rapid Growth

This year, The Tech Garden has seen an explosion in both the interest and participation of student startups taking part in the Summer Sandbox program.  The Student Sandbox, a business accelerator for student companies from 14 local universities and colleges, has seen growth in each of its first four years.  Growing from four companies the first year and 12 the second, to a record 34 teams this year.  The type of company has also expanded with an infusion of engineering talent and companies from cleantech to bio-medical implants.   

The Summer Sandbox also features a collection of companies created from last fall's Syracuse Startup Weekend.  Last year's winner, UpFront, is taking part in the summer program, as well as selling its product to local customers.  For more information, visit www.syracusestudentsandbox.com.

Tech Garden Welcomes CeCeT

The Tech Garden welcomes Clean Tech company "Center for Evaluation of Clean Energy Technology" (CeCeT), a renewable energy test and research center, headed by Executive Director David D. Gower. 

The testing center will use rigorous real-life testing scenarios to increase the success rate in converting wind and solar power concepts into commercially viable products. The wind and photovoltaic (PV) test centers also will help educate the next generation of clean energy workers by collaborating with New York State higher education institutions to provide real-world training and proficiency in wind and solar technologies that will help attract wind and PV industries to New York.

The CeCeT consortium is led by Intertek, a location-based provider of quality and safety solutions serving a wide range of industries globally.  CeCeT is supported in part by an award from the New York State Energy Research and Development Association (NYSERDA).

Open World Leadership Group Visits TTG

Future leaders of Eurasian governments toured The Tech Garden as part of the Open World program, one of the most effective U.S. exchange programs with post-Soviet countries. Open World conducts exchanges that establish lasting professional relationships between the up-and-coming leaders of Open World countries and Americans dedicated to showcasing U.S. values and democratic institutions. The theme for this trip was Accountable Governance/Young Professionals. For more information, visit www.openworld.gov.

Ruth Ragonese (second from right), executive director of International Center of Syracuse, visits The Tech Garden with a group of young professionals from post-Soviet countries that are traveling the U.S. through the Open World program.

 

e200 Class of 2012 Continues at The Tech Garden

The e200 Emerging Leaders class of 2012 is beginning their second of four curriculum modules that includes Business and Strategy Assessment, Financial Planning, Marketing and Sales, and Resources-Human Resources, Access to Capital, and Government Contracting. Upon completing the eight month initiative, participants will have developed a three-year strategic growth plan based on their individual business situation and goals that has been vetted by their peers and business experts. Participating businesses must be poised for growth, have annual revenues between $400,000 and $10 million, and have been in business for at least three years.

The e200 Class of 2012 includes individuals from: Berry Good Dental Care, P.C., Buttolph Lumber Company, Calico Gals Inc., Delmonico Insurance Agency, GV Foods Inc., HR ONE, Infitec, Inc., Inforia, Inc., John Arquette Properties, Just the Right Stuff, Inc., Midstate Spring Inc., Nagle Athletic Surfaces, Inc., New Hope Mills Mfg., Prudent Engineering, LLP, Rudy Schmid Inc. Body & Frame Shop, Site-Seeker, Inc., Visual Technologies, Westside Audiology & Eastside Audiology Services, LLC, and Willowbank Company, LLC.