The Incubator at MAGNET
Update - November 2010
MAGNET Innovation Center
Greetings!

Flickr: dok1
October in Pike County, Ohio
With October over and the switch to daylight savings time, it seems we're moving faster and faster toward the holiday season and inevitably, winter.  While I do lament that nightfall seems to come now before I even leave work, we had a wonderful fall season following a very nice summer.  With consistently moderate temperatures and dry weekends, October was a near perfect month for Fall hiking and driving (as this picture from Pike County so colorfully illustrates).

For me that meant a lot of trail running throughout the Cuyahoga Valley National Park area.  I'm a big user and supporter of the park, and with Fall comes another opportunity to support the park system while knocking out a couple unique Christmas gifts.  CVNPA's annual Bids for Kids online auction just kicked off. With a focus on fun and unique experience-based packages, you're sure to find a special gift for that special person.  Better yet, the money raised from the CVNPA Bids for Kids will provide scholarship and education programming support for underserved school children attending Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Education Center. Auction items range from an opportunity to participate in the park's annual deer survey to a week long stay in Wisteria Cottage in Devon, England.  Please make a point to check out the auction and support one of our greatest regional treasures.

Back to this month's update, we had another graduation last month.  Further details are coming, but I wanted to get the congratulations out this issue.  Another of our tenants was featured on the front page of one of our regional business magazines.  Finally, I've got a link to a pretty interesting website where you can buy or sell a business.

Dave Crain
Director, Entrepreneurial Services, MAGNET
dave.crain@magnetwork.org
216.432.5310

As always, if you know someone that would be interested in what we're doing here, use the "Forward to a Friend" button at the bottom of this E-Mail. 
In Print - DXY Solutions
Dan Young, founder of DXY Solutions, was featured on the October cover of CBC Magazine.  The entrepreneur with the shortest, and perhaps most descriptive elevator pitch I've heard recently ("We build mobile apps"), Dan was not speaking to the state of mobile technology.  Instead Dan was speaking to the current IT environment in Northeast Ohio.

While pointing out that the region has an abundance of IT talent and several IT heavyweights, what's missing is a place/way for all that IT talent to network and mingle.  On the plus side, Dan sees several local companies, his included, adding jobs before the New Year.

Dan and I have discussed this issue of IT networking many times during his time in the incubator.  Based on his passion, I am starting to take that conversation outside and I'm pulling together some interested parties to do a little brainstorming on the topic.  I'm not sure what may come of it, so stay tuned on this one...
Congratulations New Heights Research
New Heights Research has "graduated" from The Incubator at MAGNET.  As is usually the case, this means they simply are growing faster and bigger than fits the incubator.  New Heights relocated within the region and are getting settled into their new digs.  Once the dust settles on their move, we plan on a "graduation interview" and I'll share some more details on their business and growth.
Online resource for buying/selling businesses
Those entrepreneurs I talk to that are serious about buying or selling a business without exception work with a trusted professional.  There are several such professionals in the area, and I've had a couple of them here in the incubator for presentations or networking.  The importance of such an event, both personally and professionally, transcends the word "transaction", and I agree that dealing with someone you know and trust is essential to a positive outcome.

That said - it seems everything is moving online these days in one shape or form, and this area is no exception.  One of my tenants recently brought to my attention a website called BizBuySell.com.  The website boasts "Over 45,000 active businesses for sale". 

I took a look and it's an interesting site.  The focus is squarely on what we would call "lifestyle" businesses: retail, service, Internet, franchise and manufacturing.  Brokers are welcome, and the site also offers tools to help you value your business (for a small fee). 

As was pointed out to me by the entrepreneur who told me about the site, even if you don't use the site to buy or sell a business, it can also be used as a market research tool. 

However you approach it, I found the site and business model interesting and wanted to share it with the rest of you. 
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For regional events of interest, NEOinc's regional entrepreneurial calendar lists speakers, events, workshops, conferences and seminars throughout the region targeted at technology entrepreneurs and small businesses.  You can subscribe to the calendar to be notified when new events are added.
 
If you have an event of interest to entrepreneurs, getting on the calendar is free, and easy.  The calendar is hosted by MAGNET and a quick E-Mail with event details sent to Lynne Brakeman will get your event included.