This presentation is the blueprint for building an incubator on a community college campus; the case study is the Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation (CEI) in Phoenix, Arizona. Topics include: how to acquire funding, internal support from college faculty and staff, and program best practices. (Presented at NACCE Conference, Tuesday, October 14, 2014, by Susie Pulido and Jeff Saville)

1. A FOR BUILDING AN INCUBATOR
AT YOUR COMMUNITY COLLEGE

2. Susie Pulido,
Vice President, Business Development
Maricopa Corporate College
With 28 years of experience in higher education
leadership positions, Susie is Vice President of
Business Development where she delivers strategic
direction and continued business development of
external workforce partnerships. She also provides
leadership for the Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation
and the sales and marketing teams. Previously, she
was Director of Institutional Advancement and
Entrepreneurial Programs at GateWay Community
College.
Susie has a master’s degree in Educational Leadership
from Northern Arizona University and a Certificate in
Incubation Management from the National Business
Incubation Association.
susie.pulido@maricopacorporate.com

3. Jeff Saville,
Executive Director
Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation
As CEI Executive Director, Jeff has utilized his 5+
years of experience in leadership positions within
technology-based business incubators to recruit 20
biotechnology, software development, and renewable
energy startups to CEI as well as build an elite mentor
program comprised of over 50 leading subject matter
experts. Previously, Jeff was the Vice President of
NACET, a Flagstaff, AZ incubator and received his
Certificate in Incubation Management from the National
Business Incubation Association.
Jeff has a Bachelor of Science in Communications
from Northern Arizona University and is also an
entrepreneur in his own right, having started and sold
multiple businesses.
Jeff.saville@ceigateway.com

4. From entry-level to executive training, Maricopa
Corporate College (MCOR) delivers market-relevant,
customized workforce solutions and education for
employees in virtually every industry sector.
President: Dr. Eugene Giovannini
Launch: Summer 2013
maricopacorporatecollege.com

5. The Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation (CEI) is a
comprehensive business incubator that provides
services, space and support for early-stage and
startup companies in the biotechnology, medical
device, software development and renewable energy
industries.
Executive Director: Jeff Saville
Launch: Spring 2012 (Soft Opening)
ceigateway.com

6. The History
2002: Arizona Bioscience Roadmap
2006: City of Phoenix RFP
2007: Meeting with Economic Development
Administration
2010: Groundbreaking Ceremony
2012: Soft launch
2013: Formal grand opening and ribbon cutting

7. The Reasons
To determine if your community college
is the right place for an incubator,
assess the following:
• College role / services
• Needs of the surrounding community
• National and local trends

8. The Funding
Sources for funding an incubator project
might include:
• Grant funding
 Local Municipalities (e.g. City of
Phoenix)
 Federal organizations (e.g.
Economic Development
Administration)
• Local philanthropic organizations
/ donors

9. The Funding
Best practices for responding to an RFP
or submitting a grant proposal:
• Leverage existing funds raised
• Research needs and mission of
granting organization
• Align project mission / goals with
those of granting organization
• Leverage university and other
partnerships
• Obtain letters of support

10. The Support
How can you gain support internally
among faculty/staff at your college for
an incubator?
• Educate the uninitiated
• Recruit strategic group of “internal”
champions from various departments
• Tell the story / paint the vision

11. The Support
How can you gain support externally
among faculty/staff at your college for
an incubator?
• Form project advisory committee
• Partner with strategic community
organizations
• Hire incubation consultant

12. The Model
How and why should you deploy a
management contract to assist in the
launch of your program?
• Helps ramp up program quickly
• Find an organization with a proven
record of success in incubation
• Find an organization with a strong
network of mentors and other subject
matter experts

13. The Model
What incubation best practices should
your program follow?
• Rent vs. Equity-based model
• Client-driven services
• Targeted industries of focus
Resources:
• National Business Incubation
Association (NBIA)
• NACCE
• Feasibility studies
• Existing incubation programs

14. The Model
Staffing considerations:
Lean Staff Model
• Executive Director
 Experience over academics
 Business ownership / incubation
experience
 Ability to assemble key partnerships
• Creative staffing
 Build program on VALUE to create
sponsorship opportunities
 Identify grant opportunities to hire
additional staff
• Strong reliance on mentors, business
counselors and/or executive(s)-in-residence

15. The Design
What are critical features to consider in
designing the physical space of your
incubator?
• Rentable space
• Collaborative / meeting areas
• Technological infrastructure

16. The Metrics
Some key indicators of success include:
• Job creation
• Economic impact
• Educational opportunities
• Relevant services

17. The Future
New Services:
• CLIA Lab
• Competitive Intelligence
• Rapid Prototyping
Growth and expansion
Changes in the ecosystem

18. The Recap
• Identify local and national funding
opportunities in the form of grants and
private/corporate fundraising
• Strategic partnerships can help build
support, strengthen funding proposals and
accelerate program growth
• Synchronizing incubator mission / goals with
needs of surrounding community builds
value and can yield lasting success

19. SEE YOU AT 3:00PM FOR THE TOUR!