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This report identifies for-profit and non-profit business incubators that support distance learning start-ups.* It is arranged as follows:

1. Introduction
  • Distance Learning Defined
  • Incubators Defined
  • Criteria Used for the Selection of Incubators
  • General Observations
2. Incubators by State

3. Selected Sources

1. Introduction

Distance Learning Defined

Distance learning - also called distance education or e-learning - refers to the acquisition of knowledge and skills through mediated information and instruction. It may include all technologies and it is used in all areas of education. The primary delivery system for distance learning today is the Internet, which integrates technological systems, media and the knowledge of the industry. Applications of the system are not limited to teaching and learning. Companies involved in distance learning include: educational service providers, infrastructure providers, application service providers, content service providers, independent software vendors, systems integrators and others.

Incubators Defined

Incubators nurture young firms. They provide management assistance, access to financing and exposure to business and technical support services. They offer shared office services, access to equipment, flexible leases and expandable space. An incubator's main goal is to produce successful graduates. Like venture capitalists, incubators impose selection criteria upon prospective clients. Some accept a mix of industries; others concentrate on industry niches. Facts about incubators (see NBIA cited below):
  • Today, there are more than 800 business incubators in North America, up from 12 in 1980.
  • 40 percent of incubators are technology focused; 30 percent are mixed use, accepting a wide variety of clients; and the remainder focus on service, light industrial and niche markets or on assisting targeted populations.
  • For-profit incubators recently began opening at the rate of nearly four per week. Many serve as vehicles for owners' investments in a portfolio of companies.
  • Business incubators reduce the risk of small business failures. NBIA member incubators report that 87 percent of all firms that graduated from their incubators are still in business.
  • Startup firms served by NBIA member incubators annually increased sales by $240,000 each and added an average of 3.7 full- and part-time jobs per firm.
  • NBIA member incubators served twice as many client companies and graduated nearly twice as many firms as their non-member counterparts.
  • For every $1 of estimated annual public operating subsidy provided the incubator, clients and graduates of NBIA member incubators generate approximately $45 in local tax revenue alone.
  • NBIA members report that 84 percent of incubator graduates stay in their communities and continue to provide a return to their investors.
  • Publicly supported incubators create jobs at a cost of about $1,100 each, whereas other publicly supported job creation mechanisms commonly cost more than $10,000 per job created.
  • NBIA estimates that North American incubator clients and graduates have created approximately half a million jobs since 1980. That is enough jobs to employ every person living in Denver, Colo.
  • Every 50 jobs created by an incubator client generate another 25 jobs in the community.
  • NBIA estimates that 75 percent of incubators are nonprofit and 25 percent are for-profit.
  • 45 percent are urban, 36 percent are rural and 19 percent are suburban.
In an effort to highlight the changing nature of companies involved in the incubation of start ups, one research study - Incubators in the New Economy - identified four groups involved in the incubation process: Venture Incubators, Venture Accelerators, Venture Portals and Venture Networks.
  • Venture Incubators - Full service organizations that provide everything a venture needs (e.g. IdeaLab!).
  • Venture Accelerators - Service firms that accelerate the process of starting a venture. They provide consulting services and make available other for-hire services. Like a consulting firm, they hope to leverage their broad base of skills (e.g. McKinsey).
  • Venture Portals - Online web sites or extranets that create a network of entrepreneurs, advisors and investors to service the needs of clients (e.g. Garage.com).
  • Venture Networks - A mix between a venture capital firm and an operating company. They invest and sometimes operate at later-than-seed stages of development. They are also strategic investors with service arms that create network synergies among these investments (e.g. CMGI).
Criteria Used for the Selection of Incubators
  • Headquartered in the U.S.
  • A web site that could be examined (some do not have web sites)
  • A portfolio that could be examined to determine the suitability of a site for inclusion (some do not provide a portfolio listing) or,
  • Evidence of the nature of their client companies - in a statement 'about' the incubator, in press releases, or some other tangible form (some do not provide a clue)
  • One or more start up companies involved in distance learning (educational service providers, infrastructure providers, application service providers, content service providers, independent software vendors, systems integrators)
General Observations
  • About two-thirds of the 500 web sites examined were identified as for-profit companies (see reference sources cited below).
  • Sixty-one companies in 21 states met the criteria established for inclusion in the report. The selected companies: 1. fit one or more of the categories defined by NBIA - technology, mixed use (wide variety of clients), service, targeted populations, and 2. were involved in one or more areas of distance learning - educational service providers, infrastructure providers, application service providers, content service providers, independent software vendors, systems integrators (these companies are cited below)
  • Many companies offered services at more than one location - in the U.S. and globally.
2. Incubators by State

Arizona

Incubate.com, Phoenix, Arizona
At Incubate.com, we help ideas grow into sustainable, profitable businesses. We work with new ventures and with existing companies in launching new e-business and online divisions. We infuse our portfolio companies with the strategies, management, technology and financial support needed to move innovative products and services into a promising position in the marketplace.

California

Idealab! Pasadina, CA (www.idealab.com)
idealab! creates, launches and operates Internet businesses. Founded in March 1996 by entrepreneur Bill Gross, idealab! currently has approximately 50 businesses in various stages of development. In addition to capital, idealab! provides a full range of resources to infuse startup companies with the development strategies and financial support needed to rapidly introduce innovative products and services. Resources include office space and the accompanying network infrastructure, consulting and services relating to development and technology, graphic design, marketing, competitive research, legal, accounting and business development support and services. In addition, idealab! provides advice on strategy, branding and corporate structure. idealab! public companies include GoTo.com, eToys, CitySearch, NetZero and Tickets.com.

Incubator LP, Berkeley, CA
Incubator, LP provides specialized services to zero stage entrepreneurs, especially those from the Berkeley community, in exchange for equity. We seek to provide an efficient and enduring mechanism by which entrepreneurs from academia can commercialize promising technologies.

Panasonic Internet Incubator, Cupertino, CA
Panasonic Internet Incubator (PII), provides a unique opportunity for Internet and eCommerce start-ups. With offices in Cupertino and San Francisco, PII provides entrepreneurs with access to resources and a network of seasoned professionals in order to accelerate their growth. We offer the opportunity to develop strong relationships with our parent company, Matsushita Electric. PII is directly linked to Panasonic Venture Capital (PVC), an equity investment fund, which is another way Panasonic helps to ensure the success of its Internet Incubator companies.

Softbank Venture Capital, Mountainview, CA BR> At SOFTBANK Venture Capital, we exist to help top flight entrepreneurs build world-class Internet companies. How do we help? Of course, the first reason entrepreneurs approach venture capitalists is money. With over $2 billion under our management for seed-stage to mezzanine round investments, the 1.25 billion later-stage fund of SOFTBANK Capital Partners, and SOFTBANK CORP., News Corp and Vivendi joint ventures overseas, we have the capital it takes to bring a company from napkin-drawings to global leadership.

Techfarm, Mountainview, CA BR> Techfarm, based in Mountain View, California, is a leading technology incubator. Techfarm's specialty is working with seed and early stage companies to bring the significant experience of its professionals to the entrepreneur and to the new enterprise at a time when it has the greatest impact. Our ultimate goal is to enable entrepreneurs to create new companies and build them to their fullest potential. To date, Techfarm has worked with over 30 companies in a broad variety of information technology industries ranging from video compression to semiconductor capital equipment to microdrives to Internet software and beyond.

Garage.com, Palo Alto, CA
Garage.com helps entrepreneurs and investors create, build, and fund promising early-stage technology companies. For startups, we provide the expertise and objectivity necessary to refine their visions, develop their business models, build their teams, while efficiently moving them along the funding path. For investors, we deliver access to an expanding universe of exciting startup investment opportunities. Garage.com is creating a new model for the venture capital marketplace - a model that unites a world of ideas with a world of resources.

Venture Catalyst Group, Palo Alto, CA
We focus on emerging high-tech firms that are looking for seed or first-round financing and are working in the following areas: Enterprise software - E-commerce - Networking. Contact the Venture Catalyst Group today for a confidential evaluation of your business concept.

CenComV, Palo Alto, CA
CenCom V's mission is to identify, shape, and grow innovative communications technology companies to rapidly become high-value market leaders. Our accelerator process propels our companies to meet key early milestones and attain high-value market leadership.

Ayzenberg Group, Pasadena, CA
advertising: print, broadcast, online - strategic planning - brand development -web site development - packaging and collateral -public relations -media planning and buying -venture incubation

Startups.com, Pasadena, CA
Launching a high-technology company is a complicated, time-consuming process. Startups.com is your ultimate operations partner. We manage all of the facilities, information technology and administrative infrastructure setup for fast-track startups and growing companies.

Women's Technology Cluster, San Francisco, CA
The first high tech incubator focused on women entrepreneurs. Our mission: to accelerate the process of launching and funding successful Internet and IT businesses.

iMinds Ventures, San Francisco, CA
Since 1997 iMinds has encompassed the full array of "value-added" services provided by professional venture catalysts, including venture capital funding and active "hands-on" management support. iMinds supports a broad range of Portfolio Companies that are leaders across a variety of Internet industry sectors.

eCapital, San Jose, CA
The Internet has taken the technology industry by storm. With eCapital, your business can ride this wave to success. eCapital develops and manages the world's most diverse network of Internet companies. In addition to creating and managing eCompanies, eCapital provides a wide range of resources to help Internet businesses grow and succeed at all stages of development.

eCompanies, Santa Monica, CA
The eCompanies incubator was created to rapidly launch Internet start-ups that will grow into profitable, lasting franchises. The incubator provides the critical services start-ups need in 7 disciplines: strategy, finance, recruiting, creative, technology, business development and marketing. eCompanies has hired blue-chip executives in each discipline, so entrepreneurs can tap not just Sky and Jake's expertise, but a whole team of Internet veterans who've done it before.

Epoch Incubator, CA.
Epoch Internet and IBM have teamed up to accelerate the early-stage development of dot-coms in the new media and entertainment industries. Epoch Incubator participants will receive, at no cost, an ecommerce infrastructure for 6 months. This includes: Web hosting in one of Epoch's state-of-the-art data centers - Powerful IBM Netfinity servers running Red Hat Linux - Option to use IBM's WebSphere Commerce Suite and DB2 Universal Database - Access to industry-leading development and ecommerce tools from technology partners like Versifi Inc., SiteLite, and Capita Technologies

EC2 The Annenberg Incubator, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
EC2 advances interactive communication through its business incubator, testbed facilities, and knowledge centers. These divisions work together to create new companies, new technologies and new explorations in emerging media.

iWeb Corporation, Los Angeles, CA.
iWeb Corporation is a for-profit high-tech/Internet business incubator corporation operating out of headquarters in West Los Angeles, with an additional incubator facility located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and a third incubator under development in Washington D. C. The company concentrates developing early-stage businesses in the fields of medicine/health, Internet media, and administration/finance. Expansion plans call for the creation of additional incubator operations in urban Empowerment Zones in major metropolitan areas across the country. Recent graduates from the i Web incubator operations are Radiology.com and WebMRI.com. Companies currently under development include eBAndRadio.com, a 40 station Internet radio network; MediaEncoders.com, a streaming media development company; and WebcastLA.com, and Internet based video productions company.

Communications Technology Cluster, Oakland, CA
CTC assists start-up and emerging businesses within a broad definition of for-profit communications technology firms. These include, but are not limited to: Cable, cellular, wireless technologies -Communications software -Computer networking -Data communications - Internet Access & Connectivity - Programming and Development -Fax, modem technology -Content Development services -Multimedia communications - Radio and television -Satellite technology .

Ideacubator. San Francisco, CA.
Ideacubator an internet incubator was founded to facilitate creativity and entrepreneurialism to the future of startups globally. Ideacubator will provide a variety of business services such as capital investment, consulting, media, business development and creative research to clients in emerging markets in the B2B and Technology sector. Our portfolio companies and clients will have access to these services through our various subsidiaries as well as through our network of partnerships and alliances.

International Business Incubator, San Jose, CA.
International Business Incubator is a non-profit business incubator sponsored by a collaboration of business, government and academic organizations. Our Board of Advisors includes business, government and educational experts who are committed to high standards for the programs of IBI, and to making its international client businesses a success through growth and strategic partnering. The Board members and their affiliations can be contacted through the IBI. The IBI staff and professional associates provide entrepreneurial, cultural, business development and financial experience to clients businesses. IBI is also guided by a professional business incubator staff who understand the needs of non-US business representatives new to the US.

San Jose Software Business Cluster, San Jose, CA.
What is it? A professional facility for 20 to 30 software start-ups and emerging businesses - A business incubator that provides entrepreneurs with access to resources, a "know how" network and shared services - 24,000 square feet of space in an attractive downtown San Jose building -Incubator of the year award.

Colorado

Boulder Technology Incubator, Boulder, Co
BTI provides technology-based companies, entrepreneurs and start-up companies support in the areas of: Business Planning - Management Development -Advisory Committee Customized to YOUR Business -Help in Capital Sourcing/Preparing Communication to Selected Investment Sources -Executive Suite Services -Access to Other Entrepreneurs.

Connecticut

Redstone7 , New Canaan, CT.
Redstone7.com was organized and financed by a Connecticut-based hedge fund and its affiliates. Redstone7.com's parent is Trident Partners, a global investment management firm whose focus is the application of technology to the capital markets. The firm manages $220 million in private investment partnerships. Redstone7.com's mission is to create wealth by assisting entrepreneurs in the launch of fast-growth, venture businesses. Our firm exploits the Internet's ability to disseminate information, thereby simplifying and streamlining the process of placing venture capital with start-up companies.

Wazee Angel Investment Network, Weston, CT.
Wazee is an informal network of angel investors with direct business experience across a wide range of information, media and technology ventures. The Wazee angels invest mainly in new Internet-based businesses that show substantial growth potential. We usually invest in the early, pre-venture capital stages of a company's development. We are active investors and often take advisory, consulting or board positions with the companies in which we invest. Individual members of the network can supply capital, industry expertise and contacts. We can often act as catalysts to help early stage companies develop alliances or partnerships with larger companies across the entire spectrum of the information industry, including media, publishing, software, communications and computers.

District of Columbia

Highgate International, LLC. D.C.
Highgate is a technology and interactive media-focused incubator and accelerator based in the SOMA tech area of Washington, DC. The company?s mission is to assist entrepreneurs and businesses who are at the "napkin or business plan stage" of developing an Internet or interactive media solution. Our Accelerate, Develop, and Implement methodology enables clients to quickly focus and execute ideas, compressing their time to market and reducing the risk of being passed over by competition or industry changes.

Georgia

Encubate Holdings, LLC, Atlanta, GA
encubate holdings LLC, located in Atlanta, Georgia, is a full-service, hybrid venture capital firm - a venture catalyst. We provide small and medium size investment capital specifically targeted to Wireless, Internet and Interactive Television companies.

Intellimedia Commerce Atlanta, GA
Intellimedia Commerce has repeatedly proven its ability to produce working Internet businesses in a complex and fast changing environment. While the company provides proprietary services to customers, Intellimedia understands the need to customize solutions for each client. From the more than 100 projects to date in a variety of industries including transportation, banking, chemicals and health, Intellimedia Commerce has a number of success stories helping traditional businesses and start-up businesses.

Intelligent Systems Incubator, Atlanta,
For those seeking solid value investments, Intelligent Systems is a long term player in the incubation of early stage technology enterprises. Intelligent Systems helps entrepreneurs build sustainable companies by providing early stage equity capital, practical business knowledge, and a proven incubator program. Since the mid-80's, we have partnered with more than 50 emerging companies. Most of our partner companies are involved in the information technology industry (Internet, B2B, e-commerce, software), although we are involved in other promising opportunities as well.

Advanced Technology Development Center, Atlanta, GA.
We serve Georgia's entrepreneurs and research faculty along with the community of technology investors and a growing list of member firms. Companies participating in ATDC, past and present, employ more than 2,000 people and generate over a quarter billion dollars in annual sales. The Advanced Technology Development Center helps entrepreneurs and their companies directly by: High speed data communications in flexible, low cost, professional facilities - A "sense of place" that promotes synergy among entrepreneurs leading to additional support, new ideas, collaboration, opportunities, and business prospects

Fulton County Business Incubator, Atlanta, GA.
The Fulton County Business Incubator (FCBI), is a business / economic development initiative of the Economic Development Corporation of Fulton County (EDCFC). FCBI in partnership with area universities, corporations and a team of economic development experts will encourage the formation of new high growth businesses in the telecommunication, information technology and related industries, with wealth and new job creation as the benchmark for project success.

Kentucky

eCorporation, Lexington, KY (www.ecorporation.com)
As a greenhouse for growing seed-ideas into full-fledged Internet businesses, eCorporation offers: Powerful solutions and support for emerging online businesses - Matching of venture capital with early-stage e-companies. eCorporation provides state of the art programming and design through the eCorp Design Group. With excellence in design, connection to capital and guidance in strategy, we bring rapid roll out of innovative products and services.

Illinois

Technology Innovation Center, Evanston, IL
The Technology Innovation Center (TIC) is a business incubator dedicated to supporting the growth of very early stage technology-based businesses. It is an extremely entrepreneurial business environment that fosters collaboration and sharing among young companies, while respecting the independence and self-reliance that motivates entrepreneurs. It is a community with a culture that supports risk taking, invention and the creation of wealth.

Maryland

Rocketworks, Gaithersberg, MD
Rocketworks is dedicated to creating the best of the next generation of Internet businesses. At Rocketworks, each incubated business has access to a wide range of assets not available at other company incubators, including an integrated creative process that explores and defines all aspects of a new business: from business model to branding; from technology to business development.

Phase 1 Laurel, MD.
The Phase 1 incubator project concentrates on Internet and other closely related ventures to allow for increased collaboration and between project members. Project members are centrally located in Laurel, Maryland cooperatively sharing infrastructure and supporting services at no cost or reduced cost in exchange for granting a small equity stake in the company to Phase 1. Phase 1 outside partners supporting participating start-up ventures will include investment bankers, venture capital funds, accounting and law firms.

Massachusetts

CMGI Network, Andover, MA.
CMGI - The Internet Catalyst: A moving force in the Internet economy -Unique business model driving growth -Deep and broad management expertise - Tightly targeted focus - Unparalleled track record - Strategic understanding of Internet dynamics -Critical Mass.

CMGI @Ventures, Andover, MA
A private venture capital firm that invests exclusively in Internet companies. We are affiliated with CMGI, Inc. and we work together to leverage the established network of CMGI operating companies across a portfolio of exciting, new Internet companies. Since 1995, we have made investments in over 50 companies.

I-Group Hotbank NE Boston, MA
I-Group HotBank New England (NE) is the premier incubator for Internet entrepreneurs in New England, focused on turning great ideas into fast-growing businesses. I-Group HotBank is a partnership between Internet business leader SOFTBANK Corporation and the Intercontinental Group, one of Massachusetts' most entrepreneurial businesses with a strong history of investments in Boston-area entrepreneurs. I-Group HotBank draws upon years of experience and connections, and moves far beyond providing the basic administrative services, office space and working capital for which incubators are traditionally known.

Lycos Labs, Waltham, MA
Lycos Labs is a focused environment that sustains the entrepreneur and accelerates his or her path through the most critical period of the company's growth: the transition from an idea to a viable business. Lycos Labs surrounds the entrepreneur with the scarcest, most valuable resources - the guidance and expertise of others from Lycos who have succeeded in building companies from scratch, and taking them to the top of the Internet pyramid.

Charles River Ventures, Waltham, MA
We are outstanding partners for entrepreneurs seeking to build important companies for the new economy. We are domain experts in internet infrastructure. Our track record in helping tiny start-ups become category leaders is second to none. With our Full Services, we will give your company a distinct competitive advantage in an increasingly crowded marketplace. Finally, entrepreneurs enjoy working with us not only for business reasons; our core values set us apart in the world of venture capital.

Michigan

A2Corp, Ann Arbor, MI.
a2incubator will facilitate the successful creation and early-stage growth of socially responsible internet-related enterprises anywhere in the world. By providing a complete range of ongoing strategic and tactical support, a2incubator will free up entrepreneurs to focus on the task of speedily building their e-firms based on validated business models.

Mississippi

CHMC, LLC, Starkville, MS (www.chmc.net)
A spin off of the first tenant of GTEC, Web Services Incorporated, CHMC authors, maintains and hosts Internet and Intranet sites for client companies. CHMC specializes in custom ASP application development.

Concept House, Starkville, MS
Concept House, Inc. is a design firm specializing in next generation interactive media such as internet and intranet publishing, CDROM/DVD authoring, kiosks, video, print media, Java applications, and real time 3D gaming. Concept House's team of award-winning graphic designers, photographers, writers, and cutting edge programmers allows the company to create an extraordinary combination of image and content for every project.

Nebraska

Technology Development Center, Nebraska
The Park is a statewide project of the University of Nebraska, the public/private sector and the University of Nebraska Foundation. The Park is a 130-acre high amenity, master-planned development, ideally located on rolling wooded terrain with nature ponds, in the rapidly growing Highlands area of northwest Lincoln, Nebraska. It is adjacent to Interstate 80, and five minutes from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campuses, downtown and the Lincoln Municipal Airport. The Highlands Golf Course borders the Park with planned bike/jog paths connecting the golf course, park, and city trail system. The Technology Park is intended to provide specific long-term advantages for your organization that will create the greatest opportunity for you to meet your developmental and operational needs. It is managed by the University of Nebraska Technology Park Limited Liability Corporation

New Jersey

Technology Ventures Incubator, Hoboken, N.J.
Stevens Technology Ventures Incubator (TVI) is located on the campus of Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, New Jersey, and about 10 minutes from Manhattan - the capital of commercial opportunity. TVI's mission is to encourage and assist potential entrepreneurs with innovative ideas or commercially attractive technology to start their own companies on campus in a supportive environment. TVI directs its effort toward meeting the special needs of technological entrepreneurs by providing scientific and technical expertise, together with experienced business guidance, to assist in accelerating the commercial application of high-value technology. We facilitate the process from "pre-enterprise" development to product commercialization in a number of ways -- through the Incubator Advisory Board; Stevens' faculty; top-quality students and graduates; perhaps as a beta-test site. Our goal is to "graduate" successful small businesses that are financially viable and freestanding. We aim to stimulate the creation of new, high-value jobs, strengthen the region's economy, and keep the development of new technology within the state.

New York

Fusient Media Ventures, NYC
We are focused on identifying, funding, developing and distributing the next generation of Internet content and converged media brands. The company has two distinct components: Fusient Ventures and Fusient Studios. Fusient Ventures is an early stage investor in converged media and internet content-related businesses. We are focused on making seed and first round investments where there is a clear opportunity to leverage our management team's expertise in media and the internet. We provide a full range of services, as appropriate, including access to media expertise and relationships, resources in marketing, business development, business affairs, technology, and financial management, as well as office space.

TechSpace.com, NYC
TechSpace is an international network of technologically advanced, full-service office communities that provide new economy entrepreneurs with office infrastructure, a wide range of technology and business "accelerator" services, and venture capital funding. Recognizing the gap between executive office suites and business incubators, TechSpace has positioned itself to appeal to entrepreneurs who have a clear vision about their business and need access to office space, services and capital in order to speed that new venture to market and beyond. TechSpace provides those elements without requiring entrepreneurs to relinquish significant equity or control.

Hawk Holdings LLC, NYC (www.hawkholdings.com)
We are a diversified technology services operating company that was formed as a strategic alliance between Qwest Communications International and Baxter Investments. We focus on creating, financing and operating emerging technology infrastructure and services companies. Because we believe the Internet will serve as the primary catalyst for growth in the information age of the 21st century, we focus on emerging companies whose products and services use the Internet to enable businesses to extend their reach and reduce their costs as they establish, migrate or expand their businesses online. These companies, which we refer to as our partner companies, have the potential to become leaders in their respective sectors. We intend to concentrate on the financial services and media industries and on the technologies that enable them.

Rare Medium Group, NYC
We offer a unique suite of e-commerce services, solutions and investments, making it possible for companies to quickly establish a commanding web presence. Leveraging the expertise and contacts gained through our network of portfolio companies, we provide incubation experience and resources needed to speed companies online with reduced risk and increased odds of success right out of the gate.

i-Hatch Ventures NYC
i-Hatch Ventures was formed in February of 1999 to provide capital and advisory services to early-stage Internet ventures. Our approach has been to 1. match experienced practitioners in the Internet space with the founding teams of Internet ventures; 2. inject seed capital; and 3. provide hands-on support from the i-Hatch team. Our investment filters focus on early-stage Internet ventures in the Northeastern U.S. doing business in any one of five industry categories: network infrastructure, web-enabling technology, e-commerce, new media and Internet services.

KnowledgeCube: The eTechnology Accelerator, NYC
KnowledgeCube is an eTechnology Accelerator headquartered in New York City. The company seeks to create, launch and operate a global portfolio of successful Internet technology businesses. KnowledgeCube invests in next generation Internet technologies at the early stages of their development and accelerates their growth by providing them with venture capital, strategy consulting, technology consulting and investment banking through their internal resources and global partner network. KnowledgeCube has partnered with Accelerators worldwide to serve technology entrepreneurs across the globe.

Concrete Media, NYC
Nobody knows more about building targeted Internet community businesses than we do. Unlike other Internet professional services companies, we've built and operated our own Internet businesses including Bolt.com, the number one site for teens, and Girlson.com, the number one site for women in their twenties. Our work includes building one of the most advanced personalized e-commerce sites on the Internet-Bertelsmann's multinational bol.com-the number one book commerce site in Europe. Other projects in a series of industry-transforming e-commerce sites include lids.com, in the headwear industry, gocollect.com, in the collectibles industry, and homeroom.com, in the online education industry. In each case it is the talent, the innovation, the passion and the discipline of our teams that have made these projects successes. We are the company to turn to for the next generation of compelling community and commerce Internet businesses.

North Carolina

Fusion Ventures, Durham, NC.
Fusion Ventures is the first seed stage Venture Fund and full-service Venture Accelerator in the triangle, and one of the most successful in the southeast. Our mission is simple: Accelerate Better Companies.

Ohio
Cincinnati Business Incubator, Inc. Cincinnati, Ohio
Our mission is to support the small business community by providing management resources, financial and support networks that enable new and existing businesses to become successful and prosper. We advocate for and support small businesses development initiatives, business learning and education. We serve all businesses, with a special focus on minority and women owned companies.

Pennsylvania
University City Science Center, Philadelphia, PA
The mission of the University City Science Center (Science Center) is to promote the application of scientific and technical knowledge to improve the quality of life and to foster science and technology-based economic development. To this end, the Science Center provides three key services to science and technology-based compaines: Office and laboratory space Business development services Research management assistance

Tennessee

eConception, Nashville, TN
eConception is Mission Control for Startups. We provide core business services to build profitable companies, primarily in the corporate services and internet infrastructure space. eConception utilizes shared resources to formulate, develop and support superior business concepts. By merging leading-edge Internet technology, entrepreneurial passion, and innovative intellectual capital, eConception nurtures ideas with profit potential into successful businesses.

Texas

STARTech, Austin & Dallas, TX
STARTech is a high-tech business accelerator. Our experts work with startup companies in their early stages to develop their business plans and mature their enterprise until they receive first round funding. STARTech also assists startups with professional expertise through our extensive network of stakeholders, mentors, and entrepreneurial organizations.

Austin Technology Incubator, Austin, TX
The Austin Technology Incubator is an economic development program of the IC� Institute, an internationally recognized leader in science and technology commercialization whose mission is to enhance understanding of the processes of economic wealth creation and prosperity sharing. ATI's Mission is to facilitate the growth and development of emerging technology companies to: Create jobs Diversify the economy Build an infrastructure for continued growth Provide educational value to UT faculty/students and to stabilize early-stage, high-risk, high-tech companies by assisting them to: Solidify management teams Secure adequate funding Get their products to market.

TEKSA Innovations Corp., San Antonio, TX
TEKSA Innovations is a for-profit technology incubator. Client companies have core technology in biosciences, medicine, information technology, telecommunications, engineering and aviation. The company has multiple office and laboratory sites. TEKSA's mission is to catalyze the commercialization and growth of high value technology companies,to facilitate technology transfer from academic and government research laboratories, and to enhance economic development by creating jobs and new ventures.

Virginia

Venturehouse Group, McLean, VA
Venturehouse Group is a company that strives to build highly successful entrepreneurial businesses. We're known by our passionate commitment to entrepreneurial development and our partnership approach to business. We are a leader in establishing an innovative approach to private equity financing. In addition to providing young private companies with our own investment capital, we also serve as strategic partners, providing them with the expertise, support, infrastructure and a network of services they need to flourish. Because of this, we are a magnet in attracting entrepreneurs with the best ideas and the best chance for success. We have a reputation for professional excellence, leadership and a long-term perspective to all of our professional relationships.

Technology Resource Alliance, Fairfax, VA
The Technology Resource Alliance assists emerging technology companies bring their products to market. A Virginia Center for Innovative Technology partner, the Alliance was created in 1995 to continue George Mason University's legacy of generating jobs, revenue and investment in local,technology-based companies. Working with a limited number of companies a year, the Alliance creates a program of services tailored to the individual needs of its clients. The Alliance's mission is to generate economic development in Northern Viriginia and enhance the viability of early stage high technology companies by providing project-based business development services and access to a regional business support infrastructure.

Selected Sources

Business Incubation and Internet Accelerators: A Living Dissertation

Incubators in the New Economy

National Business Incubator Association

*Due to the changing nature of the field and companies within the field, eLRN cannot warrant that the list includes all incubators involved in distance learning.