YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Youngstown Business Incubator and The Entrepreneurial Center of Hudson, or TECHudson, have signed what they describe as a first-of-its kind partnership in northeastern Ohio, a partnership designed to spur innovation and technological development.
"We'll be able to reach out to all entrepreneurs across 18 counties in northeast Ohio," says Jim Phipps, executive director of TECHudson.
TECHudson, a technology incubator based in Hudson, was formed last July. Its focus is on developing mobile applications for the gaming industries.
The partnership allows clients of the YBI and TECHudson to receive operational support and business methodologies so they can grow.
Phipps says that TECHudson, which houses four portfolio companies, could benefit from the YBI's experience in bringing business-to-business software to market. YBI is home to 25 companies that collectively employ more than 300 people and is affiliated with 47 other companies through the JumpStart Entrepreneurial Network.
The partnership with YBI will help generate deal flow, provide better access to funding, and help TECHudson develop its own network, Phipps says.
The applications, or "apps", market is still in its infancy, he says, and mobile devices and tablets are among the hottest sellers in the tech market. “My advice for those who have a good idea is to first get off the couch,” he smiles. “Then come and talk to us.
U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-17 Ohio, and U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, applauded the partnership, calling it an example of why the region is attracting international attention for rebuilding its economy.
“We have learned here in northeast Ohio that success can only come through collaboration,” Ryan said in a prepared statement. “By working together, we strengthen networks, share resources and, instead of trying to get a bigger piece of a smaller pie, we are creating even more opportunities for success.”
Brown added that the partnership would help “bolster Ohio's role as a national leader in the successful development and launch of new small businesses.”
Copyright 2012 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.