Because according to Forbes.com Columbus is the number 1 Up-&-Coming Tech City in the US.
The article mostly just talks about Battelle, and how much they’ve grown in the past few years. Which is great and everything, but for some reason I have a hard time wrapping them around the “Up-&-Coming” title.
I sort of consider what I do with ColumbusUnderground.com to be in the “tech” field. And while we were nominated for a 2007 TopCat award for “Outstanding Startup Business”, there’s not really been a whole lot of recognition or help along the way. I’ve gotten no grant money, no government funding, no donations from city or regional organizations. I did speak with someone at the SBDC a few years ago who despite not having much experience with an online business was able to point me in the right direction for getting the basics started. It didn’t really make things much easier though. There really hasn’t been a lot of hand holding for me. And I’ve looked.
Can anyone help fill me in? What sort of small/micro business incubators are out there for “tech” companies? If we’ve got the next google brewing in some kid’s garage, what can he do to seek assistance or funding?
Let’s keep this Tech City thing rolling.
TechColumbus has a tech incubator for companies of all sizes, I forget how many they have at one time but they provide the exact assistance you’re speaking of.
I’m having trouble finding information for their support about micro businesses or startups in very early phases, which is what I’d like to see more of. It seems like TechColumbus wants businesses already up and running:
From the TechColumbus FAQ:
What kind of companies is TechColumbus seeking?
Our focus is on opportunities and businesses that are located in or willing to relocate to Central Ohio, and are primarily engaged in the fields of information technology and healthcare innovations. Ideal portfolio companies will be early-stage companies that are considered to have strong potential to become high-growth businesses. Early-stage to us means the company has $0-$5 million in current revenues. High-growth means that the company can reach $30 to $50 million in revenues within three to 10 years, depending upon stage of development.
Can’t hurt to call – I’d reach out to someone on staff to see if they have resources outside of the incubator program.