2010 business launch services directory 6 4_10 pdf

GRA/TAG Business Launch 2010 Suite of Service Providers

Directory

With appreciation to:

The Georgia Research Alliance and the

Technology Association of Georgia present

GRA/TAG Business Launch 2010

Table of Contents Accounting………………………………………………………....4‐5 Business Services………………………………………………..…6‐7 Capital Advisors…………………………………………………....8 Consulting………………………………………………………….8 Executive Coaching………………………………………………..9 Executive Search…………………………………………………..10 Financial Consulting……………………………………………….10 Financial Services………………………………………………….11 Hardware………………………………………………………….12 Hosting………………………………………………..…………...12 Human Resouces Services………………………………………..13 Law Firms…………………………………………………….……14 Marketing…………………………………………………….…...15‐16 Media………………………………………………………….…..17 Payroll……………………………………………………………..17 Public Relations…………………………………………………..18 Real Estate………………………………………………………...18 Web Development………………………………………………..19 Other Services………………………………………………….…19

The Georgia Research Alliance (GRA) and Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) are proud to be able to

present over $400,000 in services to this year’s finalists.

We sincerely thank these service providers, who represent leading businesses in the community, who have

generously agreed to donate their services to these promising young Georgia companies.

Accounting Cherry, Bekaert & Holland, L.L.P. (CB&H), is an innovative certified public accounting and consulting firm fo‐cused on providing high‐quality financial and management services to emerging technology and life‐science businesses. As a distinguished leader among ac‐counting firms in the Southeast, CB&H brings valuable and

practical advice to our clients through our tax compliance, audit and advisory, com‐pensation and benefits structuring, business valuations, mergers and acquisition planning, multi‐state and international tax and initial public offering management services. CB&H offers the industry specialization and depth of resources of a national CPA firm coupled with the high‐est caliber of personal attention, responsiveness, and accessibility emerging busi‐nesses expect and deserve. Our specialists stand ready, as the Firm of Choice, to serve emerging businesses through the anticipated challenging stages of growth, now and in the future. CB&H will be providing 20 hours of consultation to the GRA/TAG Business Launch winner. Contact: Dawn Patrick, [email protected]. Estimated value: $7,000.

Nichols Cauley & Associates, LLC is a leading public accounting and business consulting firm providing innovative, quality‐driven, and client focused services to organizations in a variety of industries and business lines throughout the United States and internationally. Nichols Cauley will be providing 35 hours of advisory and/ or consulting services to the contest winner. Contact: Michael Johnston, [email protected]. Estimated value: $10,000.


Accounting

Grant Thornton LLP is the U.S.

member firm of Grant Thornton

International Ltd. In addition to

audit, tax and advisory services, the firm provides mergers and acquisition

services, valuation, internal audit, Sarbanes‐Oxley consulting, integrated cost

reduction, transfer pricing, capital cost recovery, and assistance with capital raising

and initial public offering planning. Early stage companies often find our tax and

valuation services of particular interest. Grant Thornton will be providing 20 hours

of consultations to the contest winner. Contact: Aaron DeSouza,

[email protected]. Estimated value: $8,000.

McGladrey is the brand under which RSM McGladrey, Inc. and McGladrey & Pullen, LLP serve clients’ business needs. Together, they rank as the fifth largest U.S. provider of assurance, tax and consulting services with 7,000

professionals and associates in nearly 90 offices. The two firms operate as separate legal entities in an alternative practice structure. McGladrey & Pullen is a licensed CPA firm that provides assurance a services. RSM McGladrey is a leading professional services firm providing tax and consulting services. Both firms are members of RSM International, the sixth largest global network of independent accounting, tax and consulting firms. For more information, visit the McGladrey Web site at www.mcgladrey.com. Join our Facebook fan page at McGladrey News and/or follow us on Twitter @ McGladreyPRNews. McGladrey will be providing 20 hours of consultations to the contest winner. Contact: Wes Getman, [email protected]. Estimated value: $8,000.


Business Services

The Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) is a nationally recognized science and technology accelerator that helps Georgia entrepreneurs launch and build successful companies. ATDC provides strategic business advice and connects its member companies to the people and resources

they need to succeed. The winner of the competition will be given membership in ATDC’s award‐winning incubation program. ATDC members receive coaching from experienced entrepreneurs, belong to a learning community of 30+ technology startups, have access to flexible office space, and can tap into ATDC’s connections to the people and resources they need to succeed. Contact: Lance Weatherby, [email protected]. Estimated value: $10,000.

FRONTLINE Selling, located in Alpharetta GA, is the premier provider of Demand Creation outsource and training solutions. Since 2002, our Demand Creation System (DCS) has helped hundreds of our clients uncover net‐new selling opportunities by identifying, gaining access to and engaging with high level decision makers. Congratulations to all the finalists. We are pleased to offer a choice of either 1 month of Demand Creation services where FRONTLINE will (on behalf of the selected firm) secure executive level access within targeted accounts; or (if they prefer, learn how to secure these same high level meetings for their inside or outside sales team) a 1 day training session of our RAMP‐UP methodology along with 1 month’s usage of our guided prospecting software application, Prospecting Productivity Management (PPM). Contact: Mike Scher at 770‐777‐9336 or e‐mail at [email protected]. Estimated value: $10,000

Abraxas Business Services is a merger and

acquisition advisory and business brokerage

firm. The focus of Abraxas is to work with

business owners in the lower middle market

that have developed companies that are

attractive to strategic buyers, private equity groups, and/or individual investors. Abraxas

will be providing consultation to the contest winner in the areas of optimizing the value

of the business and defining exit strategies for the owners. Contact: David Chambless,

[email protected]. Estimated value: $10,000.


Capital Advisors MARTIN TILSON

Go to market for capital the right way with assistance from those who know. This service includes Council to the company leadership on the way to approach capital funding, distinguish important business points and in what order, feed‐back and review as you practice your presentation, explanation of the methods and timing to look at potential investors, access to networks. Please contact Josh Lewis, [email protected], for individual contact information. Estimated Value: $10,000 (to each finalist).

Business Services Progility Partners is an Atlanta‐based, specialty consulting firm that helps clients refine and execute successful business strategies and drive profitable growth by maximizing performance, aligning technology and driving innovation. The Progility team has extensive hands‐on operaing executive experience with industry leading as well as early‐stage companies. Areas of expertise include: Sales & Marketing, Strategic Planning, Product Management & Development, Service Delivery, M&A Planning & Integration, Business Transformation, Supply Chain/Logistics Planning, Customer Experience Planning, IT Governance & Portfolio Management. Progility Partners will be providing 20 hours of consulting to the winner of the TAG/GRA Business Launch Competition. Contact: Kevin George, [email protected]. Estimated Value: $5,000.

Fountainhead Consulting Group, Inc. is a Business Planning, Business Consulting, Business Valuation and Succession Planning firm. Our Business Planning and Business Consulting services area includes Steps to Success (STS™), a proven and practical method of revolutionizing a business and turning it into a fountainhead of profitability and personal satisfaction for a business owner. Through our unique, step by step methodology we show business owners how to grow larger, grow faster, become more profitable yet make their business easier to operate by eliminating the guesswork and uncertainty involved in growing and managing a business. Our Steps to Success (STS™) methodology is built upon our experience with over 1,200 businesses during the past 15 years and as result of using our systematic approach a business owner obtains the peace of mind to sleep at night knowing that they are doing all that they can do for their business to be successful. Contact: [email protected], Estimated value $12,000.


Consulting

Got framework? Pyramid Consulting, Inc. will provide up to 40 hours of testing services for your Mobile/Web application, to include a review of your current Testing Framework along with our recommendations, and/or a feasibility analysis of your current test cases to

determine if automation is right for you. Founded in 1996, Pyramid Consulting, Inc. provides solutions for the enterprise, tailored to your organization's needs. Services provided span most areas of the SDLC, including Project Management, Development, and Testing, specializing in test automation of Web and Mobile applications. Contact: Sanjeev Tirath, [email protected]. Estimated value: $6,000.

AGSI is a Management & Technology Consulting company specializing in business technology effectiveness across the Enterprise. We improve business performance by reducing costs and

increasing efficiencies. We Optimize ‐ Reducing costs, Increasing Efficiencies, and Im‐proving Service Delivery by Aligning Enterprise Technology to Strategic Intent and De‐ploying IT Governance to select & manage Investments. We Execute ‐ Reducing Costs and Improving Business Process Execution by Providing Program Oversight, Project Management, and Build/Buy/Implement Services. We Integrate ‐ Reducing Timeline & Costs and Accelerating ROI by Combining People, Processes & Technologies to achieve the Strategic Intent of mergers, acquisitions and organizational change. AGSI is providing consulting services provided by our firm’s senior executives. Contact: [email protected] Estimated value $15,000.


Executive Coaching Management Psychology Group is a consulting firm of professional licensed psychologists with a mission is to help clients place the right people into the right jobs, to help people grow to their full potential on the job and to help executive teams become more effective. MPG is offering the services of our firm to the winning company for the period of one year free of charge. Contact: Doug Griest, [email protected]. Estimated value: $20,000.

C Level Enterprises‐Scholarship for one Program: CEO boot Camp or C‐Level Boot Camp‐ Up to $2, 495 Value. These strategic level management trainings and Boot Camps

can turn executives into world‐class CEOs. They will help raise the performance and success levels of any senior executive to a world‐class level. During the program, participants master over a dozen systems, crossing all the major business disciplines including sales, marketing, finance, operations and product development. These are practical systems that can be used every month to plan, improve and optimize businesses. There are also systems and tools for strategy development, hiring, management, employee development, risk management and corporate vision development. Contact information: Bob Norton, [email protected]. Estimated Value: $2,495.

Executive Search Executive Strategies, Inc. (www.esisearch.com) is a national general management search firm. Founded 1994 by

Holland ”Dutch” Earle, a former human resources executive, ESI serves a variety of industries and market places including technology, hospitality and travel, professional services, energy and utilities, communications, healthcare, manufacturing, human resources, finance and construction. Typical senior management searches are at the Director/Vice President level and above. At ESI, we strive to find, qualify, and place the right people in the right jobs for our clients; our impressive local and national client list and our outstanding search completion record is evidence of our success. In conjunction with the TAG 2010 Business Launch Competition, ESI is pleased to provide executive search services to this year’s winner. Estimated at $40,000 this senior level talent search includes research, candidate identification and prescreening, candidate interviewing and qualification and other search related services required by the client. Contact: Dutch Earle, [email protected]. Estimated Value: $40,000.


Financial Consulting UBS Financial Services is one of the world's largest wealth management firms, providing a host of services including investment management, mortgages and financial planning. Langley Respess is a Senior Vice‐President, Investments

with UBS and has been helping investors manage money for almost 20 years. Langley works with a number of technology entrepreneurs and executives in Atlanta, and sponsors the TAG/ATDC Entrepreneurs Society. UBS is pleased to provide a Financial Goal Analysis to the winners of this years Business Launch Competition, which will help the winning entrepreneurs focus on their own personal financial planning needs. Contact: [email protected]. Estimated value, $5,000.

Credit Suisse Private Banking USA, a business within Credit Suisse Securities (USA), LLC, provides clients with comprehensive wealth management solutions. Private Banking USA is comprised of professionals dedicated to delivering expert advice and a comprehensive range of investment products and services tailored to the complex needs of high net work individuals. Relationship Managers work with our clients, who are often business owners and entrepreneurs, to construct customized investment portfolios that reflect the specific goals, risk tolerance, liquidity requirements and time frames of each individual client. Credit Suisse Securities (USA), LLC will provide 2 hour discussion regarding wealth management consultations. Contact: Robert.douglass@credit‐suisse.com.


Financial Services

AcuityCFO is a professional services firm that provides broad financial leadership to small and mid‐sized companies needing to establish a solid foundation for growth. The firm is re‐defining how financial services are delivered to companies by providing access to flexible, high‐quality, hands‐on financial strategy and accounting support. AcuityCFO helps clients understand their financial position, establish stronger controls and processes, and anticipate their financial future. Using a team approach, the needs of each client is assessed and the right team is tailored, including partners, controllers, accounting managers, and senior accountants. This approach provides increased continuity, flexibility, and value. AcuityCFO will provide CFO consulting services. Contact: Judy Vitale, [email protected]. Estimated value: $10,000.

TechCFO is an executive professional services firm that provides experienced CFOs and senior finance professionals to deliver project and part‐time financial and strategic services to technology, life sciences and technology‐enabled service companies. TechCFO combines deep practical experience, comprehensive resources and best‐of‐breed practices to deliver objective, high‐value financial and management consulting services for private, venture‐funded and publicly‐traded technology businesses through all stages. Contact: [email protected]. Estimated Value: $5,000.


Hardware Aventis Systems, Inc. assists budget‐conscious businesses by fulfilling their IT equipment needs with reliable refurbished Dell and

HP lines of servers and storage systems. Aventis also offers a full suite of business‐class desktops, laptops, workstations, and all hardware components necessary for upgrades. Aventis Systems, Inc. will be providing the GRA/TAG Business Launch winner with a Dell PowerEdge server and 5 workstations. For questions please contact Tiffany Bloomer at 678‐324‐5235 or [email protected]. Estimated value: $2,700.

As a global technology provider, Canvas Sys‐tems delivers quality IT hardware solutions and services that reduce costs, streamline operations, mitigate risk and drive business value. Canvas’ offer includes server and net‐working technology including a minimum of one server, router, and switch as well as a basic technology assessment. . Contact: James Davie, [email protected]. Estimated Value: $4,000.

Hosting

Leapfrog Services, Inc., a TAG member and provider of managed IT services including network administration, highly available help desk, data backup and disaster recovery, is pleased to donate services to the winner of the 2010 Business Launch

Competition. Delivery of services must begin by June 3, 2010. Donated services may include technology assessment and planning, network implementation and administration, help desk, field service, hosting and data backup. The selection and scope of services will be defined after consultation with the winner. Contact: Claire Arnold, [email protected]. Estimated value: $15,000.

Human Resource Services


HR Strategies & Solutions (HRSAS) provides human resources leadership and expertise to small and midsize, private or public companies. Using our skills and

experience, we help companies establish and implement their HR priorities. Our efforts provide short‐term results, while creating a foundation to support the future. HRSAS will provide the winner with a proprietary HR assessment and a resulting HR Roadmap/Action Plan to support their short and long term business goals. Contact: [email protected]. Estimated value: $5000.

MICHAEL ROBERTSON HR CONSULTING Is your organization an engaged team or just a collection of Human Resources? Michael Robertson is an independent consultant that specializes in assisting growing technology firms to deliver results with people. Michael has spent his career working with Management teams to define Human Resources strategies that impact business. Michael will work the winner to identify and implement an employee engagement strategy that aligns with the goals of the organization and will be instrumental in growing the organization to the next level. Contact: Michael Robertson, [email protected] Estimated Value: $8000.


Miller & Martin is a full service law firm providing representation to midsize and start up companies, including technology companies. Its areas of expertise include choosing the right entity and organizational structure, shareholder agreements, protecting

intellectual property, including patents and trademarks, angel and venture capital financing, mergers and acquisitions, licensing agreements, option plans, taxes, international transactions and litigation. Miller & Martin will provide the GRA/TAG Business Launch winner with transactional legal services. Contact: Kent Antley, [email protected]. Estimated value: $7,500.

The Siavage Law group will provide legal or consulting services to a Business Launch finals participant. . SLG prides itself on being the entrepreneur’s lawyer. The

professionals at SLG have an extensive track record representing hundreds of emerging technology companies at every stage from initial incorporation through to liquidity. Contact: Allison Siavage, [email protected]. Estimated value: $2,500.

With nearly 70 offices throughout the US, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, DLA Piper represents the most exciting emerging growth companies in the Southeast United States. We represent more clients in a broader range of geographies than

virtually any other law firm in the world and have years of experience providing integrated services to emerging tech companies. DLA Piper will provide legal services to a competition final participant. Contact: [email protected]. Estimated value: $5,000.

Ballard Spahr LLP is a national full‐service law firm with nearly 500 lawyers in 12 offices across the United States. The Atlanta office, formerly the intellectual property (IP) law firm of Needle

& Rosenberg, P.C., continues to focus on IP legal services, including patents, trade‐marks, copyrights, and trade secrets, as well as IP licensing and IP litigation. Our clients range from small start‐ups to large multinational technology companies, as well as mid‐size companies and universities. Ballard Spahr will provide general IP consulting. Contact: Greg Kirsch, [email protected]. Estimated value: $10,000.

Law Firms


Marketing Arketi Group is a public relations and digital marketing firm that helps business‐to‐business technology organizations generate revenue and accelerate growth through intelligent strat‐egy, public relations, messaging, lead nurturing and inbound marketing. Consistently recognized by BtoB magazine as one of the nation's "Top BtoB Agencies," Arketi’s core belief is that marketing generates revenue. For more information visit www.arketi.com. Arketi Group will be providing the GRA/TAG Business Launch winner with creative/branding services. Services must be used in the 2010 calendar year. Contact: Sami Jajeh, [email protected]. Estimated Value: $6,000.

iFusion Marketing provides fractional CMO services to hi‐tech start‐ups and emerging companies in a variety of industries. Its principal, Jacqui Chew, brings more than 15 years of experience developing and executing multi‐channel marketing plans for companies in the enterprise software, Internet‐enabled, information security and consumer products and professional services sectors. iFusion will provide strategic marketing plan development services. Contact: Jacqui Chew, [email protected]. Estimated value: $5,500.

Henriott Marketing Strategies: With over 20 years of

technology marketing expertise Lisa Henriott offers a unique

"CMO to Go" service. Software providers accelerate their

growth using Henriott's go‐to‐market plans, positioning, and

research. Clients like Infor, Manhattan Associates, Servigistics,

Emcien and others benefit from a seasoned marketing

executive who can create the strategy as well as execute the plan. Henriott Marketing

Strategies will work with the winner to facilitate a marketing strategy workshop,

develop a positioning document for the company and its solutions, and define a

marketing plan. Henriott Marketing will also help execute the plan working with other

marketing services providers. Lisa Henriott, [email protected]. Estimated

value: $10,800.

Marketing


Covalence Marketing | Branding | Communi‐cations is an integrated marketing firm that helps B2B companies strategically position themselves in the marketplace and increase sales. Clients turn to us to identify what dif‐ferentiates them from competitors, craft key messages that can be used consistently throughout all marketing channels, build

sales with impactful creative and appropriate content, and develop maximum return on investment by mining available channels and effectively utilizing technology. Learn more at www.covalencembc.com. Covalence will provide services including conducting our proven Discovery process that creates audience‐defined messaging, creation of a public relations plan and writing of three press releases. Services must be used in the 2010 calendar year. Contact: Lynn Hood, [email protected]. Estimated value: $13,000.


Media Since 1998, globalspeak, creator and the exclusive producer of the digital video distribution network, TAG TV and TAG Radio, has pioneered cutting‐edge new media marketing and interactive video communications platforms. At the forefront of the Web Media 2.0 industry evolution, Globalspeak launched a global channel for the U.S. Dept of Commerce and pioneered the first live webcast of a World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial from Seattle in 1999.

Hundreds of subsequent public as well as private sector client projects have resulted in a spectrum of innovative Web Media 2.0 custom solutions for any marketing, communication or collaboration challenge. While Business Launch finalist will be individually taped by Globalspeak during the finals live event for TAG TV, the winner will be offered 20 hours of new media marketing consulting including requirements analysis, strategic and creative consultation as well as complete new media design overview with company or product video syndication plan. Contact: [email protected]. Estimated value: $4,000.

Payroll Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADP), with nearly 570,000 clients, is one of the world's largest providers of business outsourcing solutions. Leveraging 60 years of experience, ADP offers the widest range of HR, payroll, tax and benefits administration solutions from a single source. The ADP Resource bundle helps you manage your common HR related tasks leaving you time to focus on more strategic goals. While these basic services may seem straight‐forward, they can quickly become cumbersome and time‐consuming. Worse, if not handled properly, these HR management issues can lead to tax consequences or regulatory punishment. In the litigious era we live in, you simply cannot afford to make a serious mistake. The competition participant will receive $1,500. Contact: [email protected] . Estimated value: $1,500.

Public Relations W. B. Marks Partners LLC is a public relations consultancy offering strategic communications services to technology companies. W. B. Marks Partners will work with the winner to create a public relations strategy including developing a key messaging framework as well as writing and distributing one press release on a key company initiative. Contact: Bill Marks, [email protected]. Estimated value: $5,000.


Carabiner Communications helps startup and high‐growth technology companies connect to their prospects, customers and partners. From strategy development and messaging to content marketing, we drive comprehensive campaigns, as well as project‐based campaigns, that support your business objectives and goals. Carabiner will

provide the winner with a Messaging Session and Report; and a “get‐the‐word‐out” StoryTeller (one month) campaign. Services must be used in the 2010 calen‐dar year. Contact information: Peter Baron, [email protected]. Estimated Value: $5,000.

Public Relations Headquartered in Atlanta with offices in Charleston, SC and Washington, DC, Trevelino/Keller Communications Group is a communications firm specializing in public relations, branding and social marketing. Its areas of practice include Technol‐ogy, B2Business, Lifestyle and GreenWorks, each supported by online communities. In 2005, Trevelino/Keller founded the Atlas Alliance, made up of likeminded boutiques that bring cultural, geographic and specialty expertise to the firm’s cli‐ents. A sampling of Trevelino/Keller’s clients include Verizon

Wireless, SITA, Ritz & Wolf Camera and Image and Paymetric. Trevelino/Keller will provide the participant a launch strategy. Contact: Genna Keller, [email protected]. Estimated value: $5,000.

Revell‐Pechar, Inc., founded in 1993, is a PR and Marketing Communications firm focused on intro‐ducing innovation. We have launched nearly 120 products and worked with nearly 90 entrepre‐neurs and venture capitalists since our start. Our offering for you include a communications needs analysis/timeline, and then your choice of the following: messaging strategy session; PR 101 Package: a basic, get‐started press kit and list of journalists to target; media training/spokesperson prep and public speaking training. Contact: Ann Revell‐Pechar [email protected]. Estimated Value: $5,000.


Web Development

Other Services

What’s Up Interactive (www.whatsup.com) is an interactive marketing agency that focuses on strategic ways to grow our clients’ businesses online. We begin with a thorough assessment of a client’s goals, values and opportunities. That forms the foundation of how we proceed with interactive marketing strategy that includes design and technology, multimedia (video and podcasts), search engine marketing, social media, e‐commerce and mo‐

bile platforms. Our partnership leads to an effective ongoing, measurable strategy. What’s Up Interactive’s clients include the Coca‐Cola Company, Chick‐fil‐A, Fox Broad‐casting and the Georgia Aquarium. For this year’s Business Launch Competition winner, What’s Up will develop a micro‐site that conveys the winner’s strategic vision and value. Estimated value: $7,500.

The Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) is a start‐up accelerator that helps Georgia technology entrepre‐neurs launch and build successful companies. Founded in 1980, ATDC has helped create millions of dollars in tax revenues by graduating more than 120 compa‐

nies, which together have raised more than a billion dollars in outside financing. ATDC has provided business incubation and acceleration services to hundreds of Georgia startups—most of which are not based on Georgia Tech research, but which benefit from the close proximity to the university. Each of the finalists will receive an annual membership (or renewal if already a member). Contact: Paul Freet, [email protected]. Estimated value: $200.

ATDC/TAG CapVenture is a unique and powerful training program to educate and equip early stage company executives for smarter and more productive capitalization of their business. The program is optimized for those seeking their first institutional round of financing. Each finalist will receive a spot in the program. Contact Amanda Shook, [email protected]. Estimated value: $2,000.

Venture Atlanta, Georgia's technology innovation conference, has officially open its call for presenters for this year's event on October 12 ‐ 13 at the Georgia Aquarium.

Organizers are seeking technology or technology enabled businesses in all stages of growth that are currently raising or looking to raise capital within the next 12 months. Finalists will receive special consideration by the Venture Atlanta selection team.

2010 marks a new direction for StartupLounge. We are shifting our conversation away from funding businesses to

building businesses. This doesn’t mean that we think that funding businesses is unimportant. However, other grassroots organizations are picking up that banner and our voice, frankly, is no longer needed in that particular discussion. For any organization to remain relevant, it must evolve. The StartupLounge podcast has approximately 18,000 subscribers around the world. The Atlanta StartupLounge community has 2,000 companies and will expand to Savannah, Tampa and Research Triangle by the end of this year. Estimated value $5,000.

Other Services

The Technology Association of Georgia hosts a weekly interview of leaders in the technology community and features it on TAGtv.com, which gets almost 30,000 unique visitors a month. TAG also blasts a link to the video to its 16,000 person database. TAG will be conducting interviews with each of the finalists on TAGRadio, an estimated value of $5,000 per finalist.

Rapidly Expand Your Network in Georgia’s Largest Technology Community. Connect with peers and decision makers at every level of an organization. With over 10,000 members—and with over 150 meetings and special events every year—TAG gives you a unique opportunity to quickly expand your network of personal and professional contacts. All finalists will receive an annual membership (or renewal, if already a member). Contact: [email protected].

Estimated value: $1,000.

About the GRA/TAG Business Launch The Georgia Research Alliance (GRA) and the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) joined forces to support the creation and growth of new companies that will strengthen and expand Georgia's strategic high‐tech clusters. This is an event designed to help a local start up technology‐based company launch its business. The contest winner and finalists will receive over $400,000 in cash and prizes. This is GRA and TAG’s way to reward high‐tech entrepreneurship and assure a deserving Georgia start up company has everything in place to be successful.

Purpose The purpose of the GRA/TAG Business Launch Competition is to support economic development in Georgia by encouraging and supporting the creation and growth of new companies that will strengthen and expand Georgia's strategic high tech clusters. To accomplish this, the competition has two specific goals:

to motivate and support entrepreneurs in creating new high tech businesses in Georgia that will support and expand existing strategic clusters, and

to create greater awareness within the investment community that Georgia is a great place to launch and grow high tech businesses.

Program Entrepreneurs interested in launching a new Georgia company within targeted technologies and industries are invited to compete for a cash prize and a suite of related professional services that is valued at more than $200K. The competition offers entrants the opportunity to be mentored by a successful high tech entrepreneur. Entrants must legally reside in the State of Georgia. All awards will be conditioned on the company launching and/or maintaining its operations in Georgia.

How to Get Involved

The GRA/TAG Business Launch competition is held each year, with the culmination being with the Finals competition in the beginning of June. Information about the event can be found year‐round on our website,

www.tagonline.org.

For immediate information on how to get your company involved—contact Melanie Brandt, TAG’s Chief Operating Officer, at

404.920.2037 or [email protected].

2010 business launch services directory 6 4_10 pdf

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