Higher Education
University of Connecticut
The University Of Connecticut School Of Business, Family Business Program is a self funded, member-driven initiative founded in 1995 to provide professional advice, education and peer networks for family businesses under the unique challenges that occur at the intersection of family and business. Leaning on the academic backbone of the UConn School of Business, the program is a “think tank” for family business owners, successors, and family members to gain exposure to new ideas and challenges, validate, or reject and ultimately incorporate the best practices into their own family firms. The program helps its members achieve their objectives through a multi-faceted approach integrating academics, peer interaction, expert intervention, and constituent resources. Contact: Priscilla Cale, Director, Phone: (860) 486-5628, Email: pcale@business.uconn.edu
Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC)
The Technology Incubation Program, along with the Center for Science and Technology Commercialization and the UConn R&D Corporation, is part of UConn’s Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC). The three OTC programs provide a variety of resources to support entrepreneurs as they are being patented and licensed and begin to deal with the problems of funding and commercialization. Contact: Bruce Carlson, Managing Director, Email: bcarlson@business.uconn.edu
Technology Incubation Program
The University of Connecticut Technology Incubation Program (TIP) aims to accelerate the success and viability of entrepreneurial companies by leveraging university technologies and facilities, and providing cost-effective business and research services as well as access to the diverse and unique resources of a world-class university. Contact: Rita Zangari, Executive Program Director, Phone: (860) 486-3010, Email: rita.zangari@uconn.edu
Center for Science and Technology Commercialization
The Center for Science and Technology Commercialization (CSTC) harnesses the intellectual power of the university to support commercialization of new technological advances discovered at UConn. The CSTC is responsible for identification, protection, market, and licensing of the UConn Health Center inventions. The center provides the processes and technically minded faculty that researches the need to safe guard intellectual property while pursuing commercialization. The staff of the CSTC is made up of a team of PhD scientists schooled in life and physical sciences as well as a certified U.S. Patent Officer. Contact: Margaret Genest, Program Director, Phone: (860) 679-8800, Email: mgenest@adp.uchc.edu
Research and Development Corporation
The UConn Research and Development Corporation is a for profit organization that creates new business start ups based on innovative technologies developed by UConn faculty. Its staff identifies and matches commercial opportunities with the business planning resources, leadership, and investors necessary to form a company. Key projects underway include: SMP Technologies, a company utilizing shape memory technology for dental applications; Venomix, which uses spider venom as a source of natural insect toxins; and Renzulli Learning, a software applications company which is aimed at assessing students’ talents. Contact: R. Mark Van Allen, President, Phone: (860) 676-7788, Email: markva@uconnrd.com
Central Connecticut State University
The Institute of Technology and Business Development (ITBD) provides support for Connecticut businesses and business related organizations by offering the following:
- Technology assistance, technical and leadership training such as CL&P Prime Lean Manufacturing program, Six Sigma, ISO 9000, Train the Trainer and EMSI programs.
- Plant layout and product development projects – for business of all sizes
- A conference center with wireless technology which hosts over 400 events per year
- The Procurement Center (bid matching) – has assisted in bringing in over $500 million to Connecticut in government contracts
- The Incubator Program – has hosted over 40 companies since it started in 1993
- Business Resource Center – for people wanting to start their own business.
- Draws on faculty from the four schools at CCSU; Arts and Sciences, Business, Technology and Bimolecular Science, and Education and Professional studies, to assist organizations in process and productivity improvement
Contact: Richard C. Mullins, Jr. Managing Director, Phone: (860)827-7966, Email: mullinsr@ccsu.edu
The School of Business Entrepreneurship Program
Prepares graduates for advanced graduate studies and for entrepreneurial careers in new venture creation or for managing family owned or other small business enterprises. The program provides a foundation in the knowledge necessary to search for and evaluate new venture opportunities, as well as financing, operating, and managing new or growing businesses. The program consists of: entrepreneurship and new venture creation, financing entrepreneurial ventures, managing a growing business, and field studies in entrepreneurship. Contact: Dr. William Tracey, Chair of Management Program, Phone: (860) 832-3281, Email: traceyw@ccsu.edu
University of Hartford
The Entrepreneurial Center is a program of The Career Counseling Center, the community outreach division of the University of Hartford and it provides the following services: Self-Assessment Workshops for existing and prospective business owners.
- Comprehensive Small Business Training.
- Assistance with developing a business plan.
- Support researching and seeking sources of capital.
- Access to a team of business advisors.
- Alumnae networking groups.
- Referrals to professional services.
- Ongoing training/refresher courses.
Contact: Jean Blake-Jackson, Director, Phone: (860) 768-5681; Email: blakejack@hartford.edu
The Connecticut Economic Gardening Group
(CT-EGG) was created to provide a wide variety of business services to small- and medium-sized companies in Connecticut (with revenues less than $500 million). The concept is designed to leverage a collaborative group of private, public and academic resources to provide these services in support of Connecticut business development initiatives, realizing that sustaining a robust and vibrant state economy is largely dependent on job growth and an ability to compete in the global market environment. Contact: Dr. David Desplaces, Phone: (860) 768-4270
Email: displaces@hartford.edu
Capital Community College
The Entrepreneurial Certificate Program starting in spring 2006 will include a small business management course, in which a business plan will be created, and an Internship class, where students work 120 hours at a business while attending a class on interpersonal skills. Capital has also partnered with The National Alliance for Teaching Entrepreneurship and offers their high school students a pass/fail exam for the Small Business Management course. If a student passes, s/he receives three credits to be used at any community college in the Connecticut system. Capital is hoping to create an academic pathway for high school students interested in their Entrepreneurial Certificate Program, making it very easy for them to get involved.