Overview
USC Columbia Technology Incubator
The USC Columbia Technology Incubation Program is currently home to both
regular and student companies. Since its inception in November 1998, It
has provided opportunities for entrepreneurs to
commercialize their ideas, produced successful, financially viable and
freestanding businesses, and created hundreds of additional jobs in the
community
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Our mission
The mission of the USC/Columbia Technology Incubator is to increase the
vitality of the regional economy by recruiting and nurturing start-up
companies that advance technological development, employ highly skilled
workers and contribute to the economic development of the area.
Our Companies
The Incubator hosts three different types of businesses:
- Standard: For USC Professors, USC staff, or
non-USC individuals interested in starting a company
- Criteria:
- Need to use the University of South Carolina, Midlands
Technical College students, faculty, staff, or facilities (on a
non-interference basis)
- Company is a technology company
- Company has a business plan
- Company pays rent
- Company should graduate from program in three years
The USC Research Foundation receives 1% equity in the company.
- Student: For USC or Midlands Technical College undergraduate or
graduate students interested in starting a company
- Criteria:
- University of South Carolina, Midlands Technical College students,
faculty, staff, or facilities (on a non-interference basis)
- Company is a technology company
- Company has a business plan
- Company should graduate from program in two years
The USC Research Foundation receives 10% equity in the company.
- Landing Parties: Companies anywhere who wish to move (or open a subsidary) to Columbia, SC and need the University of South Carolina
or Midlands Technical College interaction
- Criteria: - Company information provided
- Company is technology driven
- Company should graduate from program in eighteen months
Admission Criteria
- Technology-based Product or Service.
The product or service should be based on new technologies or
technology innovative concepts and should seek to develop a proprietary
position.
- University Interaction
The company should have a substantial interaction with the university
R&D enterprise and/or contribute to the educational mission. Enabling
master agreements are recommended.
- Entrepreneurial Capabilities
The entrepreneur should have adequate technical education or business
experience to exploit the technology. The entrepreneur should exhibit
integrity, dedication, and commitment.
- Job Creating Potential
The company should create jobs that contribute to South Carolina's
economic development.
- Growth Potential
The product or service should have the potential to reach
significant revenue levels, graduate from the incubator in two or three
years, and continue growing.
- Documented Business Plan
The business plan should include market analysis, financial
projections, funding requirement, background on the management team and
related information.
- Team Building Potential
The entrepreneur should be willing to accept guidance, share
management responsibility with others, and possibly give up equity to
make the company successful. A management team may be developed for a
particularly promising technology.
Our objectives
- To promote, stimulate, and support economic development in the
Columbia Region, and the South Carolina Midlands.
- To focus on emerging technology-driven companies, corporate
spin-offs, faculty-owned companies, and non-South Carolina and
international firms.
- To provide a broad scope of services including cost-effective
space and support, prototype manufacturing facilities, product
realization and development services and business consultation.
- To stimulate interaction with University of South Carolina and/or
Midlands Technical College resources such as student interns,
faculty and staff expertise, unique research and development
facilities and business management expertise.
- To provide real-world experience for faculty, staff, and students
in curricular innovation, research, and technology development.
Our facility
- Location: Downtown Columbia. 7-8 blocks from USC
Columbia Campus Center. 1225 Laurel Street, Columbia, SC. 29201
- Space: Approximately 43,000 square feet includes offices and
potential laboratories.
- Tenant Requirements: Need to use USC or MTC Students,
Faculty, Staff or Facilities. Technology Oriented. Have Business
Plan.
- Management: Managed by the USC Research Foundation, under
memorandum of agreement with the University of South Carolina.
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