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BizTech has assembled a team of economic development partners and has worked with them to establish BizTech as a highly visible, credible place where successful young companies are found. BizTech is located in Huntsville’s Cummings Research Park, and its association with various local and national organizations, agencies, and institutions include:

• NASA
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory
• The University of Alabama In Huntsville
• Calhoun Community College
• Alabama A&M University
• the Tennessee Valley Authority
• the U.S. Army
• The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs
• The Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce
• The City of Huntsville
• Madison County
• The Huntsville Angel Network

While a client of Biztech, a business will benefit from its association in the public’s eye with the other client companies involved now, in the future, and in the past with BizTech’s incubation program.

Group Experience
While a client of BizTech, you will benefit from the "group experience" that exists among the clients on a daily basis. This experience includes the many contacts you will have with other clients in the hallways, break room, conference rooms, and rest rooms and at the various organized and informal events that Biztech conducts from time-to-time. These contacts will result in exposure to new and different ways of doing things and people who have different experiences that can be brought to bear on your situation.

Clients regularly benefit from the synergy of their situations. Often one client’s daily challenge will have been met recently by another client, who shares the experience. One client often can provide the solution to another’s problem, leading to instant partnerships, joint ventures, or temporary alliances.

Complete Office Infrastructure
All tenant clients of BizTech have access to the following office infrastructure items in consideration of their monthly lease payment:

Access to leased office space at approximately the same rates as local Cummings Research Park office complexes, but in a modular fashion, allowing the client to add or subtract space conveniently, as their needs rise or fall. Space can be literally added or subtracted overnight.

Access to BizTech-owned rental office furniture to the extent of BizTech’s inventory and prior rentals.

All utility and janitorial costs are included in the monthly lease rate.

Telephone service based on BizTech’s VOIP switch, voice mail system and intercom system. Client will be charged monthly per telephone instrument. Long distance service is charged per call. BizTech’s local service carrier is Knology.

Our receptionist will answer your telephone if you wish, for a monthly charge, or you may set up the auto attendant customized to your needs.

Local Ethernet infrastructure for the client’s networking needs, including access to BizTech’s pool of high speed digital printers and copiers. Clients are required to provide their own paper supplies.

Receptionist services from 8 AM until 5 PM five days a week to greet your visitors and assist visitors upon your request.

BizTech receives and sorts incoming mail for BizTech companies, and can accept Federal Express, Airborne, UPS, and other deliveries. A loading dock is available, capable of accepting a full 18-wheeler. A lift truck is available for loading and unloading service.

A Break Room Equipped with Dishwasher, Refrigerator, Soft Drink and Snack Vending Machines, Icemaker, Microwaves, A Toaster, Filtered Water, Cups, Dishes, and Utensils, Free Coffee Service, Pest Control Service, Electronic Key Entry System, Electronic Security Surveillance System (at all exits).

All tenant and affiliate clients of Biztech have access to the following office infrastructure items in consideration of their monthly lease payment or monthly affiliate service fee:

BizTech's conference room, which can accomodate 35-40 people, is available to BizTech companies at no cost on a scheduled, first-come, first-serve basis. The room can also be configured as a classroom. The room is equipped with an electronic white board, projection screen and podium with microphone system.

Other, less formal conference rooms are located conveniently in the client office spaces.

BizTech has audio/visual equipment available at no cost to BizTech companies for meetings, product demonstrations, group presentations, employee training, and customer/partner/investor presentations. This equipment includes a laptop computer, projector, digital camera, overhead projector, and large-screen television with VCR.

BizTech currently provides direct T1 Internet access utilizing Knology’s extensive fiber network. The cost of broadband Internet access is included in the Service Fee.

Use of the office resources room, where we have located copiers, high speed printers, fax machine, postage meter, binders, punches, staplers and other necessities and conveniences. Copies, postage and fax service are billed monthly per the Client Services Fee Schedule.

BizTech maintains a central mail room, and receives and distributes all local mail to a box allocated to each Client.

BizTech maintains a Notary service that is available free of charge.

Access to Contacts
BizTech has assembled a distinguished Board of Directors, a roster of over 150 volunteer mentors and advisors, and a roster of professional service providers from all walks of business life. These people know what Biztech’s clients represent and are prepared to extend their contacts into the local, regional and national business community on our Client’s behalf. Any Biztech staff member can initiate the search for a client’s contact need into banking, accounting, government, business or most any target audience. The great benefit to the Client is that the contact usually comes with the built-in credibility of having been made by someone who is known to the contact and whose telephone calls get returned, and who can prepare the contact to receive the Client’s contact positively.

Building the Management Team
BizTech uses mentors as one of its key tools for building strong companies. Most Clients do not have a Board of Directors when they arrive at BizTech. As part of the Admissions process Biztech assembles a team of mentors selected for their strengths in areas where the client has perceived weaknesses. These four or five mentors form an Advisory Board that meets with the Client monthly for one to two hours for a strategic checkup. BizTech coordinates and supervises these meetings to assist the Client in causing them to happen as expected by all, and to help them serve the Client’s needs to pull themselves up out of the details of the daily life of their business to spend some concentrated ?high quality? time on the strategy of their business model.

As time goes by and the Client’s needs change, so will the members of the Advisory Board. Sometimes, members of a client’s Advisory Board go on to become members of the client’s legally-required corporate Board when it is constituted. Mentors usually serve on a volunteer basis, a year at a time. Occasionally, an unusually attractive mentor will be offered warrants or other financial incentive. There are no prohibitions against investments by mentors in clients, although all such investments must be disclosed to Biztech in accordance with its Conflicts of Interest Policy.

The costs of coordinating the Advisory Board meetings are included in the Client’s monthly Service Fee.

BizTech regularly holds seminars, courses, and group events designed to provide opportunities for self-improvement. These short courses are conducted by or sponsored by our economic development partners, including the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Alabama A&M University, the Owen School of Management at Vanderbilt; by professional firms in the fields of intellectual property law, finance, accounting, taxes, labor law, sales and marketing and most other fields of interest to young businesses. Some of these courses have some nominal fee associated with them; others will be free of charge. Biztech attempts to offer at least one such course each month.

Discounts on Services and Products
Clients have access to the BizTech Provider Network, a directory of professional service providers and product suppliers who offer their services at discounted rates to assist the start-up ventures at BizTech. This service network includes individuals and companies across a wide range of areas such as legal, accounting, human resources, payroll, insurance, and many others. Details on the service providers, such as contact information, services offered, and rates & discounts, are provided to BizTech companies in the Client Manual.

Access to Capital Sources
As part of the Comprehensive Business Development Program, Clients have access to BizTech’s network of capital providers. This network includes traditional banking and leasing sources, angel investors and venture capital firms. Depending on the Client’s needs and suitability for each type of capital, BizTech will assist in preparing for and contacting the appropriate capital sources.

Client’s Agreement to Participate Actively in Biztech’s Programs
Client agrees that it will actively participate in BizTech’s programs and activities as follows:

• Client will actively and conscientiously utilize the Board of Advisors made available by BizTech.
• Client will actively and conscientiously pursue the Comprehensive Business Development Program made available by Biztech.
• Client will establish an appropriate accounting and bookkeeping system, and will provide income and balance sheet statements to BizTech on a quarterly basis.
• Client will actively participate in Tenant Networking opportunities, Roundtable discussions, the Annual Open House, and the workshops offered by BizTech.
• Client will complete necessary legal actions including incorporation and protection of intellectual property via patents, trade secrets, copyrights, trademarks, or otherwise.
• Client will obtain necessary business insurance, including liability insurance.
• Client will cooperate with BizTech to fully and accurately complete an Annual Client Survey with statistical data on employment and finances, such data to be used in summary form by BizTech in evaluating and publicizing its operations and services.

Client Agrees to Move Toward Graduation
Client agrees that BizTech provides incubation services to clients only with the objective of helping clients to grow and solidify their business models to the point where they can move out of the incubator program to be on their own, and to make room for new clients in BizTech’s programs. BizTech anticipates that admitted clients will take up to 36 months to successfully complete the BizTech program and enter Graduate status. Clients that fail to progress satisfactorily toward Graduate status may be terminated or graduated at any time prior to the 36 month point.

Client agrees to cooperate with BizTech to conduct an annual review of Client’s business within 30 days of each anniversary of Client’s admission to the BizTech program. This review will be with respect to:

• Client’s past compliance with terms of the Client Agreement and Lease Agreement or Affiliate Services Agreement.
• Client’s future ability to generate employment in the local area.
• Client’s preparation and presentation of an operating plan and cash flow projection to chart future objectives and performance targets.
• Demand for space in BizTech’s incubation programs and the Client’s potential compared to competing demands and availability.
• Client’s future needs for and likely use of incubation services provided by BizTech.
• Client’s ability to stand on its own in a commercial facility.
• Client’s relationship with other businesses located in the incubator.