Clark University to help with startups; College, MBI to collaborate

1/18/12

By Lisa Eckelbecker TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
leckelbecker@telegram.com

WORCESTER

— A small business center at Clark University is teaming up with a local business incubator to offer services to entrepreneurs starting life science companies.

The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center at Clark will offer free services such as business planning to tenants and potential tenants of Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives, which operates four business incubators in Worcester.

“They have the kinds of business development expertise that we don’t have the time or staff or expertise to do,” said Kevin O’Sullivan, MBI president and chief executive.

MBI is a nonprofit economic development entity that manages and leases laboratory space to startup companies. It has 15 tenants at its four sites, according to Mr. O’Sullivan.

Business incubators allow entrepreneurs to get started in small spaces while sharing facilities and sometimes services with other entrepreneurs. Earlier in its history, MBI offered business development services to tenants, but in recent years the organization has focused on managing and leasing spaces.

Peter D. Marton, senior business adviser and technology specialist for the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center at Clark, said the center can help entrepreneurs put together financial projections, make useful business contacts and point them toward government programs.

“I know that the companies being incubated over at MBI gain substantial benefits by the space and the guidance they can get from Kevin and the staff,” Mr. Marton said. “We just felt there’s a great opportunity to help them if we can bring our services to the incubators, as well.”