Louisiana Business Technology Center
| Industry | Business Technology |
|---|---|
| Founder | LSU & Greater Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce |
| Headquarters | LSU Innovation Park, Baton Rouge, LA , United States |
Area served | All of Louisiana |
Key people |
|
The Louisiana Business & Technology Center (LBTC) at Louisiana State University plays an important role to the state's flagship university, Louisiana State University as a part of LSU's Office of Research and Economic Development. LBTC's primary goal is to increase the economic growth of Louisiana by enhancing the development of small businesses and assisting in the development of new businesses. The center is ranked among the top ten entrepreneur programs in the nation. In 1988 it was jointly funded through LSU and the Greater Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce to foster economic growth in Louisiana by providing businesses with applications and tools necessary for growth and survival in the real world. It is comprised of the Louisiana Technology Transfer Office (LTTO), the LBTC Business Incubator, and the LSU Student Incubator.[1]
Background
In 1988, the LBTC began its operations on LSU's Campus as a joint venture between LSU, the Louisiana Public Facilities Authority and the Greater Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce. The LBTC is currently located at the LSU Innovation Park.
Mission
Since its inception in 1988 the LBTC has been dedicated to enhancing the future of economic development in Louisiana through assisting entrepreneurs and small business owners.
The LBTC has helped Louisiana companies obtain more than $163 million in equity, grants, and loans; has assisted over 6,000 businesses and entrepreneurs; and has graduated 140 companies from its incubator creating 2,278 jobs with 110 of these businesses still in business= 78% success rate.
Awards & Recognitions
2009 Economic Development Administration's Excellence in Development Award, 2009 National Business Incubation Association Incubator Innovations Award: Driving Louisiana's Economy, 2006 Association of University Research Parks Excallibur Award, 2005 named the National Incubation Association's Randel M. Whaley Incubator of the Year.
LBTC Mobile Classroom
In 2005, the LBTC introduced their Mobile Classroom to bring entrepreneurship training to underserved rural areas of Louisiana. This mobile unit has expanded LBTC’s outreach to serve more than 350 businesses annually and fits up to 30 individuals. The Mobile Classroom is able to host seminars and training for technology usage, marketing and financial advice, international trade, and more. The LBTC's Mobile Classroom is most notably known for its reaction to the disaster that ensued post Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. It visited impacted disaster areas to provide disaster recovery business counseling to those effected by the hurricane.[2]
The LBTC's Mobile Classroom, aka "Driving Louisiana's Economy," is an 18 wheel truck that contains monitors and equipment, and can seat up to 30 people. Here, seminars and training classes are held for entrepreneurs and small business owners to learn more about our tips and tools for succcess.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).
Louisiana Technology Transfer Office
A subset of the LBTC located on at the LSU Innovation Park, originated in 1990 on the LSU Campus LSU. Under the executive order MJF 96-22, LSU must maintain a LTTO at Stennis Space Center to accommodate NASA’s Technology Transfer Program. NASA is one of many technology resource networks including SERTTC and the Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer. In accordance with the objectives of LBTC as a whole, LTTO strives to coordinate Louisiana businesses with resources and professional expertise within the federal laboratory system through on site evaluations. The LTTO is funded through grants and contracts from Louisiana Economic Development, the Louisiana Board of Regents, NASA and U.S. Small Business Administration.[3]
Student Incubator
The LSU Student Incubator is a place for entrepreneurial LSU Students to launch or grow their business. The LBTC assists students in the development of their business plan and helps with various aspects from marketing to funding. In addition to consulting, the LBTC provides a 1200 square foot co-working space for exclusive use by student incubator tenants with the standard functionality of a regular office space.[4] In addition to space, the LBTC hosts an annual business plan competition, the Venture Challenge,[5] for its student incubator tenants. The last competition on April 20, 2012 offered $20,000 to the top four companies including: PhycoGenesis, Yellow Jacket Case, LocalMed, and Bluereach.[6] Notable Companies from the incubator: Big Fish Presentations,[7] Yellow Jacket,[8][9] BlueReach[10][11]
See also
- Louisiana State University
- LSU Louisiana Business Technology Center
- National Incubation Association's Randel M. Whaley Incubator of the year
References
- ^ [1], Louisiana Business Technology Center
- ^ [2], Mobile Entrepreneurship Program Article
- ^ [3], Louisiana Technology Transfer Office
- ^ [4], Student Incubator Overview
- ^ [5], Venture Challenge Rules & Info
- ^ [6], Advocate Article on Venture Challenge
- ^ [7], Big Fish On The Rise
- ^ [8], iPhone Case Doubles as Stun Gun
- ^ [9], iPhone Case with Stun Gun
- ^ [10], BlueReach Graduates from Incubator
- ^ [11], Student Incubator company of the year
External links
