The Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation (CEI) incubator and the Maricopa Community Colleges Small Business Development Center (SBDC) have partnered to amplify each other's resources. The SBDC provides on-site business counseling and expertise to CEI clients. In return, the SBDC gains access to high-tech entrepreneurs and expertise. This partnership has helped 18 companies create 85 jobs with $50,000 average salaries. Both organizations elevate their programs and support entrepreneurs through all stages by sharing limited resources and a variety of programming.

1. PIONEERING
PARTNERSHIPS
WITH YOUR LOCAL SBDC
Greg Bullock, Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation
Nancy Sanders, Maricopa Community Colleges SBDC

4. #FACT:
PARTNERING WITH YOUR LOCAL SMALL
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER
(SBDC) CAN AMPLIFY THE LIMITED
RESOURCES OF YOUR ENTREPRENURIAL
PROGRAM(S) TO THE BENEFIT OF BOTH
ORGANIZATIONS

5. The Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation is a
business incubator located in Phoenix, Arizona.
Our mission:
Job Creation
Our industries:
• Bioscience / Medical Device
• Emerging Technology / Software Development
• Clean Energy / Sustainable Industries
Our program:
• Business Counseling
• Mentors
• Executive-in-Residence
• Student Research Teams
• Collaboration

6. The Maricopa Community Colleges
SBDC provides advising, training,
online courses and resources for
businesses throughout the Valley.
Our mission:
Economic Impact
Our industries:
We work with businesses in every
industry and at every stage of growth
Our offerings:
• One-on-one advising
• Training workshops
• Online resources

7. HOW IT ALL BEGAN…
Historically, many incubators simply
house SBDC offices, failing to capitalize
on the specialized skill sets the SBDC
can provide. Out of necessity, a more
robust partnership emerged for CEI and
the AZSBDC (statewide network).
At the time of CEI’s launch:
• Maricopa Community Colleges SBDC
was located in Downtown Phoenix
• CEI needed onsite counseling support
and additional resources for its
incubation program

8. HOW IT ALL BEGAN…
GateWay Community College President
Dr. Eugene Giovannini offered rent-free
space to relocate the Maricopa
Community Colleges SBDC on campus.
• Maricopa Community Colleges SBDC
gained access to high-tech
entrepreneurs and the entire
Maricopa County Community College
District
 No overhead cost / rent savings
 Additional economic impact
• CEI gained onsite business
counseling and support for its student
incubation program

9. OUR PARTNERSHIP

10. INITIAL SUPPORT
Pre-incubation Process
• Screening potential clients
• Selection committee meetings
Seminar Speakers
• Helped secure speakers for first (6) months
of Lunch & Learn workshops
• Held SBDC programming at CEI facility
(Profit Mastery, TechEDge, Brown Bag
Workshops)
Promotion of News/Events
General Facility Management
• Assistance managing events/seminars

11. ONSITE COUNSELOR
Monthly / Quarterly Meetings
• Core of CEI business incubation program
• Strategic guidance enhances growth potential of clients
SBDC Counselor Role:
• Initial benchmark reviews upon acceptance
• Monthly meetings to establish goals and review progress
• Quarterly meetings to assess overall traction
Pre-incubation / Selection Process
• Thorough screening protocol (30-90 days)
• Validates business model, coachability, job creation potential
• Improves client retention and accountability
SBDC Counselor Role:
• Provides initial screening of potential clients
• Reviews business plan and other business documents
• Participates in monthly selection committee meetings
Student Research Teams
• Liaison between students and client company
• Accountability and reporting for better results

12. TOM SWANN, BUSINESS ANALYST
MARICOPA COMMUNITY COLLEGES SBDC
Education:
MBA University of New Mexico
BS Mechanical Engineering University of Michigan
Professional Experience:
Founder & President, Optomec, Inc.
Co-Founder & Business Manager, Bonanza Convention, Inc.
Founder & President, EM Optomechanical, Inc.
Co-Founder & Operations Manager,
Bonanza Investments LLC
Expertise:
Business Formation
Business Planning
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grants
Technology Commercialization & Licensing
Government Contracting
Technology Marketing & Sales
Event Planning

13. CONTINUING GROWTH
CEI has gained tremendous progress
since launching in 2012. Currently:
• 18 client companies
• 85 jobs created
• Average salary: $50,000
Tom Swann recorded overall economic
impact in 2013 (SBDC and CEI clients):
• Jobs created/retained: 43
• Capital formation: $6.8 million
• Increased revenue: $1.8 million

14. Full-service human tissue bank that
develops innovative allografts for
transplant into human recipients
CEI/SBDC Client:
August 2013
Assistance:
Reviewed investor pitch for “Venture Madness”
Assisting with SBIR Grant application
Economic Impact Reported:
$30,000 cash prize from Venture Madness
$1 Million revenue month reported recently
Added 25 new jobs in 2013

15. FAHRENHEIT LABS
STUDENT INCUBATOR
Fahrenheit Labs is the first and only
business incubation program available to
students of the Maricopa Community
Colleges.
The core services we provide include:
• Physical space
• Business development
• Entrepreneurial education and resources
• Access to partner networks
Launched Fall 2013

16. MARICOPA COMMUNITY COLLEGES SBDC / FAHRENHEIT LABS OPEN HOUSE
AUGUST 27, 2013

17. DR. MARIA HARPER-MARINICK
EXECUTIVE VICE CHANCELLOR & PROVOST
MARICOPA COMMUNITY COLLEGES
“ IT IS A VERY WELL ALIGNED MISSION. WE’RE HERE TO SERVE THE
COMMUNITY AND FOSTER AND PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
”

18. JEFF SAVILLE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL INNOVATION
“ WE’RE HERE TO CREATE JOBS AND GOOD OPPORTUNITIES FOR THESE STUDENT
ENTREPRENEURS, AND WE COULD NOT DO THAT WITHOUT THE SBDC.
”

19. PRINCESS CARTER
FOUNDER, LIVING ANGELS
FAHRENHEIT LABS STUDENT COMPANY
“ THE SBDC COUNSELORS ARE REALLY HANDS-ON. IT IS SO AMAZING
THAT WE HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY BE ON CAMPUS AND
DEVELOP OUR BUSINESS PLAN IN A STUDENT INCUBATOR.
”

20. EARLY TRACTION
Accepted first two companies in Spring 2014
• Living Angels: nonprofit that provides transitional
housing for homeless and other disadvantaged
individuals.
 Dually-enrolled in Seed Spot, a socially-focused
incubator
• Banique Unique Shop: online shop that sells
handcrafted banana artwork images in various
mediums, including jewelry, stationary, posters,
apparel, and more.
Fall 2014: With assistance of new Maricopa
SBDC leadership (Nancy), we will identify new
ways to grow program

21. HOW WE MANAGE IT
CEI manages the partnership with:
Monthly / Quarterly Assessments
• Tracking goals / benchmarks
• Identifying obstacles
• Job Creation
CEI staff assists in operations, development,
and recruitment efforts for student incubator
Mentor Network
• Assistance in vetting new mentors
• Important part of traditional incubation program
• Referral of clients to targeted mentors
“Part of the Team”
• Inclusion of counselor during all-staff meetings
• Bio and photo on CEI website

22. HOW WE MANAGE IT
Maricopa Community Colleges SBDC
manages the partnership with:
All incubator clients sign up with SBDC
Economic Impact
• Job creation
• Investment
• Revenue
• New businesses created
Accountability and Reporting
• Annual and as-needed reporting
of economic impact
• “Wildly Important Goals” and
All-Hands meetings

23. THE BIG QUESTION:
WHY?
Elevate both programs
• Higher caliber / impact clients for SBDC
• Broader range of Subject Matter Experts
for incubator clients
Amplify limited resources
• Lean incubator staff
• Programs would not exist without the
partnership
Layers of support for entrepreneurs
• Variety of programming / curriculum
• Support ALL stages of entrepreneurs /
companies

24. THE BIGGER
QUESTION: HOW?
Learn the skills of SBDC counselors
• May or may not be listed in their bios
• Tom Swann: 3D printing pioneer,
pilot, optics specialist
Understand and respect each other’s
mission, values and objectives
• CEI: Job creation
• Maricopa SBDC: Economic impact
Get all parties involved early in the
conversation

25. CONTACT US
Nancy Sanders
Director
Maricopa Community Colleges SBDC
108 N. 40th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034
Phone: 480.784.0596
Email: nancy.cruikshank@domail.maricopa.edu
Web: maricopa-sbdc.com
Greg Bullock
Marketing Specialist
Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation
275 N. GateWay Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85034
Phone: 602.286.8958
Email: bullock@ceigateway.com
Web: ceigateway.com