Reader Note From Rockville REDI: Congratulations INNoVATE Graduates

By Lynne Benzion, Associate Director of Rockville REDI:

Don Springer (PNC Bank), Sally Sternbach (REDI), Keith Nalepka (BioLOGIS)

Last week, 20 budding entrepreneurs gathered at Glenview Mansion to graduate from INNoVATE, a 9-month program that teaches people how to evaluate the commercial viability of a technology from a federal or university laboratory, prepare the business case for the technology, and start a company based on it. This is a special group, because it is the first INNoVATE class, and many of the graduates are postdoctoral fellows working in local federal and university labs. Postdocs have rarely been targeted for such intensive entrepreneurial training; the National Science Foundation funds this program.

Rockville City Councilman and entrepreneur Mark Pierzchala spoke to the class at the graduation. He gave them some marketing tips (never leave the back of your business card blank: you can summarize 30 years of experience in that space!) and described the increased respect he received from colleagues and friends after he started his company. He also advised the graduates to be prepared for surprises, as business is full of them.

Mark Pierzchala Addresses INNoVATE Graduates

Sally Sternbach, Executive Director of Rockville Economic Development, Inc., one of the key organizers of the program (along with The Johns Hopkins University Carey School of Business; the University of Maryland, Baltimore County; the Montgomery County Department of Economic Development; and the National Institutes of Health) emceed the program and read the Kauffman Foundation “Entrepreneur’s Pledge”. Among other things, entrepreneurs “bring something of value to society, making a job for themselves and others, and creating wealth that benefits the family, the community, the country and the world.”

Rockville is already seeing the benefit from the INNoVATE program, as one company, BioLOGIS, has formed, settled in Rockville, and has customers. BioLOGIS monitors the transport of high-value biologics and other valuable goods. A second business has launched, and 12 others are in various stages of formation.

Congratulations to the INNoVATE graduates, and to Rockville, for having the vision to seed tomorrow’s technology companies – and the high-paying jobs that go with them – today.

This is a Reader Note. We welcome submissions on all sorts of things — shopping, restaurants, performances, art, cultural events, and more. Rules: it should be in Rockville, and you should try to be nice. Get in touch with us us if you would like to submit something!

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