Incubator Off To Fast Start With Six Diverse Clients
Phoenix Business Journal
by Adam Kress
8/27/2004

The Business Journal A new business incubator has gotten off the ground in Phoenix by landing its first six clients.

Arizona Business Accelerator , led by president Quentin Smith, signed on with AbTech, Horizons, nFocus, PowerOneData, Shelters Worldwide and St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center. AzBA's work with these clients is at various stages that range from product development to capital formation to revenue development.

Smith said interest from local companies seeking assistance is high.

"In our first four months of operation, we have received 21 client referrals from various sources, including chambers of commerce, bankers, attorneys, investment bankers and universities," Smith said. "Of those referrals, six thus far have qualified to become clients of Arizona Business Accelerator because of the uniqueness of their projects and the sound basis that they were proposed."

The six accepted proposals cover a wide range of products from diverse, local companies. They are:

• AbTech, a clean-water solutions company.
• Horizons, a consumer entertainment firm.
• nFocus, a software maker.
• PowerOneData, an energy metering outfit.
• Shelters Worldwide, which makes retractable transportable fabric shelters.
• St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, for a medical training system and medical device project.

The accelerator is a privately funded business incubator created to encourage innovation and the development of knowledge-based products and services that are based in Arizona.