Programs and Services
Mentors - A unique and highly regarded component of the incubator's program is our mentoring service. Each company has the opportunity to work with a mutually agreed-upon mentor who has had related and successful experience in the company's particular industry. The mentor is much more than an advisor: He/She provides one-on-one, in-depth guidance during much of the period the company is with the incubator.
Network of experts - The incubator is structured around an active advisory committee, mentors, and a network of professionals who are successful executives from private technology companies, professional practices, consulting firms, the public sector, and universities. Their expertise is shared on an ongoing basis with those involved with the incubator. The bottom line is, affiliation with the incubator can greatly enhance a company's credibility within the business community.
Valuable resources - Student interns, technical experts, learned faculty members and library materials are available to assist the startup venturer. The incubator also facilitates access to outside professionals, such as accountants, attorneys, and consultants, who are able to assist tenants at no cost or at discounted rates. Entrée to local economic development agencies is also facilitated.
Educational programs - Regular seminars, training sessions, and round-table discussions are integral parts of the incubator program. Attorneys, bankers, consultants and other incubator sponsors teach practical topics relating to financial planning, capital acquisition, strategic business planning, and organizational development.
Access to capital - Incubator affiliation facilitates access to capital sources, such as banks, venture capitalists, "angel" investors, and corporate strategic partners. Incubator professionals can help a client negotiate strategies, perform due diligence, and structure deals. The incubator is affiliated with the Western New York Business Development Fund, which provides seed capital for area high-tech businesses.
State-of-the-art facilities - The incubator's state-of-the-art, 40,000-square-foot, multi-tenant facility is subdivided into individual suites ranging from 277-2,217 square feet. Rental of multiple suites is permitted. Suites are available in either wet laboratory or office space configurations and are suitable for office activity, research and development, assembly, or light manufacturing. Wet laboratory space includes fume hoods and lab benching with de-ionized water, natural gas, compressed air, and vacuum capabilities. Safety showers and eyewash fountains are strategically placed throughout the facility.
Each office or lab offers free T1-equivalent Internet connectivity. Conference rooms, audio-visual equipment, a photocopier, and a fax machine are available on site. Included at no additional expense to the client are all utilities except telephone (connections are provided), air conditioning, loading dock and free off-street parking, wheelchair access, twenty-four-hour access and security, postage machine, kitchen facilities and eating area, mail handling, and building maintenance and janitorial service. Importantly, the terms of occupancy are extremely flexible and do not involve a long-term lease commitment.
The primary mission of the University at Buffalo Technology Incubator is to provide an environment that assists start-up technology-based companies in becoming independent, thriving businesses. We do this through an emphasis on business assistance and practical skills. Our program is specially designed to help technology-intensive companies survive and grow through the start-up period when they are most vulnerable.
We provide management counseling and networking opportunities, assistance with capital sourcing, and access to university expertise, university business databases and library facilities, and university purchasing power.
We believe that in order for a technology startup to succeed, it needs a comprehensive package of support services. The UB Technology Incubator provides the following:
