Tampa Bay Innovation
Center Events
Tuesday
December 11, 2012
8:30 - 10:00 am
Tampa, Florida
December 11, 2012
10:00 - 11:30 am
Tampa, Florida
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Partner Events Preparing Your Business Plan
January 12, 2012
9 am - 12 pm
Tampa, Florida
2013 Florida Venture Capital ConferenceJanuary 31 - February 1, 2013
Ponte Vedra, Florida
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COMMUNITY EVENTS
February 11, 2013
8:00 am - 1:30 pm
Tampa, Florida
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WELCOME
 Looking back at 2012, there are a number of noteworthy things for us to share.
Our stakeholders look to the Innovation Center as a source of high tech job creation, and we're pleased to say that our client companies employed more than 100 individuals in 2012, with an average annual salary above $60,000. That's quite a positive economic impact within our community, as well as an extremely favorable average for the incubator/accelerator industry.
That track record was at least partially responsible for the Innovation Center being named recipient of the 2012 Excellence in Service Award by the Tampa Bay Technology Forum, presented during its annual Industry Achievement Awards. The award recognizes an organization for the professional services it has provided for growing technology companies.
I'd have to say that the establishment of our Entrepreneurs' Hub was a highlight of our 2012 activity. Now with more than 200 members online and more than 600 participating in numerous programs, it's driving a great deal of our activity.
We look forward to an exceptional year to come and wish you a year filled with happiness and much success.
Tonya Elmore
President
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From Bootstrapping to Venture Backing (and Everything in Between)
Vology's Funding Story
| When Vology CEO Barry Shevlin spoke at TECH Talk during Global Entrepreneurship Week in November, he told the story of how he was able to tap into multiple sources of financing to grow the company from its first year revenues of $1 million to nearly $100 million today, 10 years later.
Ranked in the Inc. 500/5000 list of fastest growing companies in the U.S. for seven consecutive years, Vology is a leading global technology solutions provider that serves tens of thousands of customers across 80 countries. Vology has one of the industry's largest inventories of new and certified pre-owned products from such manufacturers as Cisco, Juniper Networks, Brocade, Extreme Networks, Avaya, HP, Palo Alto and ShoreTel.
Here's a "blow by blow" description of how Vology has succeeded by using everything from credit card advances to private equity funding to support the company's growth.
The start up years
Home equity loans and credit card advances
Back in 2002, Shevlin was running a software development firm in Palm Harbor. One day, one of his staff asked to borrow $3,000 for a business venture, saying he would repay him $3,600 within the week. Naturally, this piqued Shevlin's interest.
As it turned out, this was an opportunity to buy used network equipment and resell it. When the loan was repaid as promised, Shevlin realized there was something to the concept and began researching the market and its opportunities. As context, this was during the post-dot.com period, and most companies were looking to buy more with a smaller investment. That was the beginning of what was originally named Network Liquidators, which he financed through home equity loans and credit card advances. (More ...)
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| Innovation Center Honors Partners and Volunteers
| Tampa Bay Innovation Center held its annual Chairman's Recognition Reception on November 29th at the Rusty Pelican in Tampa. Award recipients were recognized for their outstanding service to the Center and its clients or for their other business achievements.
Outstanding Contribution Awards:
- V. Michael Eitler, cofounder and managing partner, Group125, LLC
- Shawn R. Hughes, CEO, BlueSky Mast, Inc.
- Richard B. Nicholas, COO, E Solutions Corporation
- Christopher Paradies, Ph.D., shareholder, Fowler White Boggs P. A. and Innovation Center advisory board chairman
Outgoing Chairman, Board of Directors: Paul S. Sacco, director, Real Estate Management, Pinellas County Government
Outstanding Partner: Florida Federal Contractors Association
Client Graduate: Craig Johnson, CEO, Field Forensics, Inc.
The Innovation Center would like to thank all of its volunteers and members for their ongoing support.
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| TECH Talk
|  Join us on Tuesday, December 11, 2012 from 8:30-10:00 a.m. at Microsoft Headquarters offices, 5426 Bay Center Dr., Suite 700, Tampa. Jason Stanard, founder and CEO of GreatCircle Studios, will present "It's Still Google, Stupid!" on the changes in Google ranking algorithms and how they have affected companies' web SEO approach. In the past two years, Stanard has been nominated for the Tampa Bay Technology Forum's Rising Star award as well as the Tampa Bay Business Journal's Up-and-Comers award. He serves on the board of directors of the Clearwater Downtown Development Board and the advisory board of the International Academy of Design and Technology-Online.
Presented by Tampa Bay Innovation Center as part of the Entrepreneurs' Hub, TECH Talk is the area's only free monthly breakfast, networking and education event developed specifically to meet the interests of the local technology community.
There is no fee to attend and space is limited. Click here to register. For more information, contact Jen Suereth at 727-547-7340 or suerethj@tbinnovates.com.
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| eHub Sponsorship Opportunities |
Build your brand recognition and increase visibility through our eHub sponsorships. There are sponsorship opportunities for every budget with a number of advertising and marketing benefits. Sponsorship opportunities are currently available at Platinum, Gold and Silver levels. Briefly, the Platinum Level sponsorship allows the sponsor to give a five-minute introduction at each monthly eHub lunch and one TECH Talk, logo and company link on all marketing materials and registration sites when applicable, company profile with logo and link on the Innovation Center website, free attendance at eHub events, one feature in the electronic newsletter and a press release announcing the sponsorship. The Gold Level sponsorship includes a three-minute introduction at each monthly eHub lunch, company profile with logo and link on the Innovation Center website, free attendance at eHub events, announcement in the electronic newsletter and a press release announcing sponsorship. The Silver Level sponsorship includes logo with company link on the Innovation Center website, free attendance at eHub events, announcement in the electronic newsletter and a press release announcing sponsorship. Click here for complete details on sponsorship levels. For additional information, please contact Jen Suereth at 727-547-7340 or suerethj@tbinnovates.com. |
| StartUp Xchange
| Have you defined your target markets? What financing options are available? How do you protect your ideas? Are you ready to bring in partners or investors? Have you defined your value proposition? Innovators and start up entrepreneurs can get some answers at our monthly StartUp Xchange. Access Tampa Bay Innovation Center mentors who are available to answer your questions as you navigate your entrepreneurial journey.
December's mentors are Dino Eliadis, business consultant, DE Inc.; Justin Miller, intellectual property attorney, Larson and Larson; Chris Paradies, intellectual property attorney, Fowler White Boggs; Kelley Rexroad, HR consultant, krexconsulting and Jason Stanard, web design and SEO, GreatCircle Studios.
Presented by Tampa Bay Innovation Center as part of the eHub, StartUp Xchange is an informal monthly gathering of entrepreneurs, innovators and Innovation Center mentors who are available to share their advice and experience to help further your idea or start-up. Learn more here.
DATE: Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012
TIME: 10-11:30 a.m. (immediately after TECH Talk)
LOCATION: Microsoft Headquarters at 5426 Bay Center Drive Suite 700, Tampa, FL 33609
COST: No charge
REGISTER: www.meetup.com/startupxchange
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| Innovators Digest |
In case you missed them, here are some recent articles and blog posts for innovators and entrepreneurs.
How to Make Criticism Drive You
By Nadia Goodman for Entrepreneur.com
Many of the world's most successful business leaders were criticized -- even laughed at --when they first introduced their ideas. Instead of believing the naysayers, they used that criticism as motivation to succeed. (More ...)
5 Ways Washington Can Help Innovation
By Drew Greenblatt for Inc.com
Manufacturers know that making commodity products is not the key to success. Only innovation will distinguish us from our global competitors. (More ...)
Social Media Will Play a Crucial Role in the Reinvention of Business
By John Seely Brown for Harvard Business Review
Corporations, for the most part, aren't going to reinvent themselves by improving on the core competencies they've been honing for years. Instead, if they're going to change, they're going to do so from the outside in, allowing ideas from the edge of the company to penetrate to the core. Social media will be a part of that transformation. (More ...)
7 Tax Tips Your Startup Should Consider Before 2013
By Nellie Akalp for Mashable.com
As the looming "fiscal cliff" dominates the post-election news cycle, it's hard to know what tax and financial moves make sense this time of year. Pundits are talking in circles, and experts don't possess a crystal ball. In this environment, it's understandable that startups and self-employed professionals are confused about the next steps. (More ...)
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Based in Largo, Florida, Tampa Bay Innovation Center is an innovation and entrepreneurship center that assists emerging and entrepreneurial technology companies in accelerating their success.
Have you joined Entrepreneurs Hub? eHub is a unique community that helps entrepreneurs and innovators share ideas, inspiration and opportunities. Offering the best elements of real and virtual communities, eHub creates an environment that combines Innovation Center programs with a network that's designed specifically for entrepreneurs and innovators. It includes the Innovation Center's growing number of regular programs such as TECH Talk and StartUp Xchange as well as this enewsletter, podcasts, IDEA Camp, Innovation Conference and other specialized events; and access to coworking in Launch Lab™ and Mentors Corner.
Click here for eHub membership and upcoming event information.
If you'd like to learn more about our services, click here for our website, email us or call 727-547-7340.
Tampa Bay Innovation Center
7887 Bryan Dairy Road, Suite 220
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