TechConnect and Kickstand Sign Licensing Agreement

BOISE, ID ?É‚Äö?Ǭ??ɬ¢?¢‚Äö¬¨?¢‚Ǩ?ì MAY 14, 2007 ?ɬ¢?¢‚Äö¬¨?¢‚Ǩ?ì Idaho TechConnect has signed a licensing agreement with Kickstand, a Boise-based entrepreneurial network, aimed at replicating the program throughout the state. In addition to an up-front licensing fee, Kickstand will receive a percentage of membership fees from licensees created in other Idaho cities.

?ɬ¢?¢‚Äö¬¨?Ö‚ÄúKickstand?ɬ¢?¢‚Äö¬¨?¢‚Äû¬¢s success during the nearly seven years of its existence has sparked an interest in other parts of the state with growing entrepreneurial communities,?ɬ¢?¢‚Äö¬¨?Ǭù noted Rick Ritter, president and CEO of Idaho TechConnect, Inc. ?ɬ¢?¢‚Äö¬¨?Ö‚ÄúWe already have a timetable in place for setting up Kickstand networks in Moscow and eastern Idaho, and I expect their first meetings will be underway by this fall.?ɬ¢?¢‚Äö¬¨?Ǭù

Since its creation in 2001, Kickstand has created a network of hundreds of entrepreneurs, business innovators, professional services providers, investors and economic development experts. Kickstand?ɬ¢?¢‚Äö¬¨?¢‚Äû¬¢s founders and board members assess and discuss Idaho?ɬ¢?¢‚Äö¬¨?¢‚Äû¬¢s ?ɬ¢?¢‚Äö¬¨?Ö‚Äúentrepreneurial ecosystem,?ɬ¢?¢‚Äö¬¨?Ǭù the interwoven fabric of assets that foster and sustain business life for young companies. Kickstand was formed to fill a void in this ecosystem?ɬ¢?¢‚Äö¬¨?¢‚Ǩ¬ùto provide an organization that enables entrepreneurs to come together to network, learn, and grow. Through monthly meetings and special events, such as the recent Kickstart conference at Boise State University, the organization fulfills its mission to nurture a climate for successful business start-ups across a wide range of market segments.

?ɬ¢?¢‚Äö¬¨?Ö‚ÄúThe synergies between the objectives of Kickstand and goals of TechConnect prompted discussions between our organizations several months ago on how we might extend the Kickstand mission to other areas of Idaho that would benefit from a stronger entrepreneurial infrastructure,?ɬ¢?¢‚Äö¬¨?Ǭù said Ritter. ?ɬ¢?¢‚Äö¬¨?Ö‚ÄúWhile TechConnect provides an excellent economic development resource with links to both the private and public sectors, Kickstand adds another critical element: the ability to harness the collaborative power of the free market and foster an entrepreneurial gestalt beyond the Treasure Valley.?ɬ¢?¢‚Äö¬¨?Ǭù

?ɬ¢?¢‚Äö¬¨?Ö‚ÄúWhat Kickstand has been able to accomplish in the last seven years has been remarkable,?ɬ¢?¢‚Äö¬¨?Ǭù said Meg Carlson, President of Kickstand, ?ɬ¢?¢‚Äö¬¨?Ö‚Äúbut as an all-volunteer organization, we are limited in our reach beyond the Treasure Valley. By combining TechConnect?ɬ¢?¢‚Äö¬¨?¢‚Äû¬¢s resources with Kickstand?ɬ¢?¢‚Äö¬¨?¢‚Äû¬¢s mission and infrastructure, we can expand this successful model to other areas of the state.?ɬ¢?¢‚Äö¬¨?Ǭù

About Idaho TechConnect
Idaho TechConnect is the state?ɬ¢?¢‚Äö¬¨?¢‚Äû¬¢s first and only private-public non-profit organization focused solely on technology ?ɬ¢?¢‚Äö¬¨?¢‚Ǩ?ì its development, transfer and commercialization ?ɬ¢?¢‚Äö¬¨?¢‚Ǩ?ì all of which impact the state?ɬ¢?¢‚Äö¬¨?¢‚Äû¬¢s economy. Formalized in April 2006 as a statewide entity, Idaho TechConnect, bridges the gap between ideas, research and patents and the enabling people, money and facilities. Four regional offices assist Idaho entrepreneurs and businesses in turning ideas into products, establishing and growing R&D programs, seeking funding and competing in the global marketplace. More information is available at www.idahotechconnect.com.

About Kickstand
For additional information on Kickstand, please visit www.kickstand.org.

For more information, contact Rick Ritter, Idaho TechConnect (208) 562-3700 rick.ritter@idahotechconnect.com.

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