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"Alaka'i moved its headquarters to Florida to take advantage of the services and location offered by STAR TEC, the Young-Rainey STAR Center and the business friendly climate here. The contacts and networks provided by STAR TEC's leadership and team of volunteers have been an essential ingredient of our rapid growth. They have opened the doors to contracts with the Department of Defense and other significant partners as well as to grants and other sources of funding.
From our formal ribbon cutting on December 15, 2006 to our graduation in October, 2008, STAR TEC has provided top flight coaching and mentoring that has helped us optimize our fast growth. It provides a great facility with start-up friendly rent, shared business services have helped us cut costs, and the leadership and mentors have continually given us fresh perspectives. The support of the STAR TEC network has presented numerous opportunities in the industry, and their advice has led to helpful strategic partnerships, positive media attention and financial benefits. For example, a suggestion from a member of our advisory team with government contracting experience eventually will lead to a $10 million gain from a change in the terms of our Government paperwork. We would not be where we are today had STAR TEC not provided us with the knowledge and expertise of advisors specifically selected to match our needs."
- Ed Dottery, Alaka'i Co-founder and President
Winner, Governor's Diversification Award, Entrepreneurship, 2008
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"Tech startups are not all the same; STAR TEC has figured that out.The commonly held image of a tech startup is that there is a founding engineer or scientist (I'll use "technologist") with a really good idea who decides to go into business. The technologist in this typical tech startup may have worked in business before, might even have the startup business underway, but really doesn't have much experience in business processes other than from a limited perspective, such as working in an R&D department. The technologist, if reasonable, is likely to realize that he or she needs a lot of business help but does not know what he or she doesn't know. In other words, the type and amount of business help needed might not be obvious to the technologist.
STAR TEC works with the technologist to identify what's needed from a business perspective and guides the technologist to a more holistic business understanding. STAR TEC also provides an Advisory Board made up of business people with real-world expertise in various aspects of business, which by design fills in gaps in the technologist's business knowledge. This Advisory Board is invaluable to the typical tech startup. STAR TEC also provides an array of other services that give the startup more polish and allow the startup to focus on its real business. I highly recommend that any tech startup apply for admission to STAR TEC - even the application process will point out areas of the business that need improvement.
- Craig Johnson, President & CEO of Field Forensics, Inc.
Finalist, Tampa Bay Technology Forum Emerging Technology Company, 2009
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