USU Opens eStation at Innovation Campus

Utah State University opened an eStation at its Innovation Campus to provide Cache Valley entrepreneurs affordable office space needed to start a successful business.

eStations focus on making start-up companies successful businesses by renting cubicles, phone lines, copy machines and high speed Internet access to its tenants. Office space at the eStation is open to all Cache Valley based companies. 

 

“USU is excited to host an eStation at the Innovation Campus,” said Utah State University President Stan L. Albrecht. “Creating valuable partnerships with Cache Valley start-up companies is important for economic development in the area. As one of two research institutions in the state, USU is committed to providing a place where growth and innovation prosper. ”

 

USU’s Innovation Campus provides an environment with facilities, technology, services, programs and expertise that stimulate and support the creation and growth of research and technology-based enterprises. Additionally, eStation tenants receive the same benefits as other Innovation Campus tenants, including access to libraries, exercise facilities and bookstore accounts. The eStation will initially occupy 1,600 square feet with the possibility of expansion into neighboring office space if needed. 

 

“The eStation brings many startups together which aids in networking and idea sharing,” said Christian West, vice president of technology at Meosphere, a Web application development company and first tenant at the USU eStation. “It encourages local individuals to start companies and aids them in doing so by allowing them to allocate their resources to areas that will help grow their business, so it’s not all locked up in rent, equipment, etc.”

 

The Innovation Campus helps eStation by subsidizing the cost of the space. In turn, the eStation will produce successful businesses that have the opportunity to expand into other space at the Innovation Campus.  

 

“The USU eStation will be the first business incubator on the Innovation Campus,” said Ned Weinshenker, vice president of Strategic Ventures and Economic Development at USU. “Partnering with Grow Utah Ventures has allowed us to provide a service that is already a proven success in other venues. We look forward to a stimulating environment for entrepreneurs that will help them grow their businesses and experience the synergy of similar enterprises in close proximity.”

 

Grow Utah Ventures is a privately funded, not-for-profit organization dedicated to stimulate, unlock and develop the entrepreneurial talent and early stage business opportunities for value creation across Utah. All tenants at the Innovation Campus eStation will benefit from the Grow Utah Ventures philosophy of providing meaningful mentoring, business conditioning and a circle of resources. 

 

“There are so many great start-ups and business opportunities in Cache Valley,” said T. Craig Bott, president and CEO of Grow Utah Ventures. “We want to take part with and help these businesses reach their full potential by supporting, funding and mentoring entrepreneurs.”     

 

For more information about the eStation, contact Monica Neilson at 435-797-1355. For more information about USU’s Innovation Campus, visit its Web site.