Building Resilience into America's Regional Economies
RIAN and the community of Venture Development Organizations (VDOs) are transforming regions across the United States through strategic investments in innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology - one company at a time, repeated hundreds of times over. Explore this site to learn more about VDOs, find examples of their client successes, join the discussion for improving regional economic development, and bring new thinking, new practices to your own economy.
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The nation's network of Venture Development
Organizations (VDOs) turning innovations into
companies with jobs to drive America's economy -
smarter, faster, forward




Venture Development Organizations (VDOs) sharing best practices
The Regional Innovation Acceleration Network supports the community of existing and emerging VDOs around the country by providing the means for peer-to-peer sharing of information and best/common practices and helping to identify funding opportunities for VDOs; and provide tools to help regions approach the creation of their own VDO.
A VDO is a business-driven, public or nonprofit organization that promotes regional growth by providing a flexible portfolio of services, including: assisting in the creation of high-growth companies; providing expert business assistance to those companies; facilitating or making direct financial investments; and, speeding the commercialization of technology.

Wages Paid
Average wage of all clients in 2009: $64,669 (twice the average local private sector wage).
Lawrence Regional Technology Center
Lawrence, KS
Jobs Created
Since 1999, supported companies by ECJC have created 829 new jobs.
Enterprise Center of Johnson County
Lenexa, KS
Jobs Created
Since 2006, 13,024 new jobs from the 2,533 companies assisted
Ann Arbor SPARK
Ann Arbor, MI
Revenues Earned
In 2010, clients produced $98 million in revenue.
Washington Technology Center
Seattle, WA
Jobs Created
Since its inception in 2002, eBizITPA has created 775 jobs.
Center for eBusiness and Advanced IT
Erie, PA
Investments Attracted
Since 1999, more than100 companies have used $10.2 million from the Concept Fund to leverage more than $253 million in private capital—that’s $29 of private capital for every public dollar invested through the Fund.
i2E
Oklahoma City, OK
Jobs Created
Since 2007, assisted companies have created 133 jobs.
Rocky Mountain Innosphere
Fort Collins, CO
Investments Attracted
$55.5 million leveraged through state and federal grants, equipment donation, foundations and other sources
Ann Arbor SPARK
Ann Arbor, MI
Jobs Created
Since start of operations in 1995, our programs have led to an increase in total employment of more than 2,400 positions.
Technology 2020
Oak Ridge, TN
Revenues Earned
Since 1999, client companies have realized $90 million in sales revenues, $18 million in the last year.
Enterprise Center of Johnson County
Lenexa, KS
Wages Paid
Since start of operations in 1995, total wages of client businesses amount to more than $152 million.
Technology 2020
Oak Ridge, TN
Wages Paid
Since 2002, clients have added more than 7,000 jobs with a payroll over $250 million as a direct result of our work.
Mississippi Technology Alliance
Ridgeland, MS
Jobs Created
More than 2,000 jobs have been added by clients over 10 years of operation.
TechRanch
Bozeman, MT
Investments Attracted
Between its Technology Commercialization, National Center for Defense Robotics, and business startup and support, Tech Collaborative companies have generated almost $83 million in additional funding between 2000 and the middle of 2009.
The Technology Collaborative
Pittsburgh, PA
Jobs Created
1,190 full-time employee positions were created by 93 client firms over the previous 10 years. An additional 262 part-time jobs were created, too.
SIRTI
Spokane, WA
Investments Attracted
Over 12 years, companies have obtained $1.25 billion in funding.
Center for Emerging Technologies
St Louis, MO
Investments Attracted
Since 2003, client entrepreneurs have raised $160 million in financing with our assistance.
Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center
Chicago, IL
Investments Attracted
Since 2004, portfolio companies have raised $512 million in risk capital.
JumpStart Inc.
Cleveland, OH
Investments Attracted
Since operations began in 2006, the cumulative amount of follow-on capital attracted by clients totals $201 million.
SC Launch
South Carolina
Investments Attracted
Since 2000, portfolio companies have raised over $100 million in equity funding.
Hawaii Business and Entrepreneur Acceleration Mentors
Honolulu, HI
Investments Attracted
The over 475 early stage companies which have received investments by BFTP of Southeastern Pennsylvania have raised over $1.2 billion in follow-on investment.
Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
Wages Paid
Average wages of portfolio companies in FY2012 were more than $70,000, 90% higher than the state average.
i2E
Oklahoma City, OK
Jobs Created
Over 25 years, the 400+ startups begun through the center employ more than 4,000 individuals.
Center for Innovation
Grand Forks, ND
Jobs Created
Between 1999-2011, clients and graduates have created 3,625 jobs.
Houston Technology Center
Houston, TX
Jobs Created
Graduated incubator tenants have created 2,278 jobs since 1989.
Louisiana Business and Technology Center
Baton Rouge, LA
Investments Attracted
Between 1999-2011, capital raised by clients and graduates total over $1 billion.
Houston Technology Center
Houston, TX
Investments Attracted
Since 2002, clients have captured more than $217 million in investment & equity.
OCTANe
Aliso Viejo, CA
Investments Attracted
Since 2006, $1.5 billion in new investments commitments made through SPARK partnerships
Ann Arbor SPARK
Ann Arbor, MI
Revenues Earned
Active and graduate clients generated $52 million in revenue in 2011.
TechTown
Detroit, MI
Investments Attracted
IW funding recipients generate annual revenues of more than $3.3 billion
Innovation Works
Pittsburgh, PA
Investments Attracted
Since 2006, the 29 companies receiving investments have obtained $63 million in additional private capital.
Automation Alley
Troy, MI
Investments Attracted
Between 1998-2008, a total of $200,582,440 of downstream funding attracted for program's total investment of $6,278,344 in 108 companies.
TEDCO
Columbia, MD
Jobs Created
In 2010, BIC activities created 93 new jobs. Over the past five years, activities have created 342 new jobs.
Boulder Innovation Center
Boulder, CO
Revenues Earned
In 2012, companies assisted by Innovation Works achieved $1.5 billion in revenues.
Innovation Works
Pittsburgh, PA
Investments Attracted
In more than 10 years of service, clients captured more than $40 million in VC.
TechRanch
Bozeman, MT
Investments Attracted
Between FY99-11, nearly $216 million has been leveraged for more than 1,500 projects..
Maine Technology Institute
Brunswick, ME
Jobs Created
In-house clients employ more than 100 individuals with an average wage of over $60,000.
Tampa Bay Innovation Center
Largo, FL
Investments Attracted
The more than 450 companies worked with have captured over $80 million in investments since 2007.
Innovate Saint Louis
St Louis, MO
Investments Attracted
i2E-assisted companies experienced 31 percent job growth in FY2013 with an average wage of $73,395 compared to 1.3 percent job growth statewide and an average wage of $38,250
i2E
Oklahoma City, OK
Wages Paid
During 2006-2010, staff involvement with businesses resulted in 10,338 jobs leading to $440 million in total payroll.
Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC)
Baton Rouge, LA
Jobs Created
29 companies receiving investments have created 550 jobs since 2006.
Automation Alley
Troy, MI
Revenues Earned
The portfolio of companies generates over $100 million in annual revenue.
Idea Village
New Orleans, LA
Investments Attracted
Since 2002, 66 life sciences companies in the investment portfolio have attracted over $730 million in additional capital.
Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse
Pittsburgh, PA
Jobs Created
Since 2007, supported companies have created 1,085 jobs.
TechTown
Detroit, MI
Jobs Created
In 2010, job growth at PCV financed and advised companies was 9%.
Pacific Community Ventures
San Francisco, CA
Investments Attracted
In 2011, clients and gradutes raised $67 million in capital.
Houston Technology Center
Houston, TX
Jobs Created
In 2011, PCV companies created 212 jobs – a growth of 8%.
Pacific Community Ventures
San Francisco, CA
Jobs Created
In less than a year, companies have created 85 jobs.
Florida Innovation Hub
Gainesville, FL
Investments Attracted
In ten months, companies secured $7.2 million in private investment.
Florida Innovation Hub
Gainesville, FL
Jobs Created
Between 1995-2008, investments created an annual average of more than 1,600 jobs.
Connecticut Innovations
Rocky Hill, CT
Investments Attracted
In FY2011 27 portofilio companies raised $35 million in investment capital.
i2E
Oklahoma City, OK
Investments Attracted
Over 25 years, 400+ startups have attracted more than $110 million in investment.
Center for Innovation
Grand Forks, ND
Jobs Created
Existing and graduated clients employ more than 50 people, including full-time, part-time and contractors over the past seven years.
Northern Arizona Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology
Flagstaff, AZ
Investments Attracted
Since 2007, companies have attracted more than $98 million in private co-investment.
CincyTech
Cincinnati, OH
Revenues Earned
Companies have generated over $50 million in annual revenue since 2007.
Innovate Saint Louis
St Louis, MO
Wages Paid
Since start of operations in 2006, average salary of the jobs created is $64,000.
SC Launch
South Carolina
Investments Attracted
Since 1980, ATDC has graduated more than 120 companies, which have raised more than $1 billion in additional funding.
Advanced Technology Development Center
Atlanta, GA
Wages Paid
Since 2004, 30 resident companies employ more than 100 people with cumulative total wages exceeding $4.5 million.
The Tech Garden
Syracuse, NY
Revenues Earned
Client and portfolio companies have reached annualized revenues of $78.6 million.
JumpStart Inc.
Cleveland, OH
Jobs Created
Companies have created more than 1,100 jobs in 2007.
Innovate Saint Louis
St Louis, MO
Investments Attracted
Since 1985, client companies have raised more than $700 million in funding.
CONNECT
San Diego, CA
Investments Attracted
Since 2005, companies receiving CIT GAP Funds have attracted almost $78 million in private equity.
Center for Innovative Technology
Herndon, VA
Jobs Created
More than 600 new net jobs have been created by companies in the Tech Collaborative incubation program since 2000.
The Technology Collaborative
Pittsburgh, PA
Investments Attracted
The Center has fostered the development of 670 startups, which employ more than 6000 people and have attracted over $140M in investment
Center for Innovation at University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, ND
Revenues Earned
From 2010-2011, clients achieved revenues of $333.9 million.
Small Business and Technology Development Center of North Carolina
Raleigh, NC
Revenues Earned
Client companies have earned $186 million in revenue since 2002..
Idea Foundry
Pittsburgh, PA
Revenues Earned
Between May 2007-October 2011, companies have achieved nearly $100 million in revenues.
CincyTech
Cincinnati, OH
Investments Attracted
Between 2003-2010, clients have raised $89 million in angel capital, $82 million in venture capital, and an overall total of $183 million in investment.
Lawrence Regional Technology Center
Lawrence, KS
Investments Attracted
In 2010, clients attracted $167 million in new investment.
Washington Technology Center
Seattle, WA
Jobs Created
From 2006-2010, an average of 301 net jobs were created annually, at a rate of 1.79 jobs created per client.
Center for Economic Growth
Albany, NY
Investments Attracted
Connecticut Innovations activities have resulted in more than $1 billion in private equity investments since 1995.
Connecticut Innovations
Rocky Hill, CT
Investments Attracted
i2E investment of $20.9 million in Oklahoma companies has leveraged an additional $478 million in private investment
i2E
Oklahoma City, OK
Revenues Earned
11 Oklahoma companies receiving $4.5 million in SEED Funding from i2E had an economic impact of almost $50 million, according to the Department of Commerce
i2E
Oklahoma City, OK
Jobs Created
In FY10/11, nearly 500 jobs were created as a result of BFTP/CNP efforts, and an additional 68 jobs were retained.
Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central and Northern Pennsylvania
University Park, PA
Investments Attracted
The angel funds have invested in 43 ventures which--with co-investment and syndication--have resulted in over $26 million of equity investing, an average investment of $600,000 per venture
Center for Innovation at University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, ND
Investments Attracted
In 2012, companies supported by Innovation Works' seed fund or accelerator raised $209 million in additional funding.
Innovation Works
Pittsburgh, PA
Jobs Created
In 2010, 121 net new jobs were created.
Washington Technology Center
Seattle, WA
Wages Paid
Since investment activity began in May 2007, portfolio companies have created nearly 340 jobs at an average annual wage of $63,000.
CincyTech
Cincinnati, OH
Wages Paid
Wages and salaries for clients' employees totaled $16.7 million in 2011. For the past six years, total wages earned exceed $69.4 million.
Innovation Center of the Rockies
Boulder, CO
Investments Attracted
More than $1.3 billion in funding has been attracted by 110 companies created, recruited, and accelerated since July 2002.
BioEnterprise
Cleveland, OH
Wages Paid
Tech Collaborative have recruited more than 125 full-time employees for member companies, with an average salary of $70,000.
The Technology Collaborative
Pittsburgh, PA
Wages Paid
In 2010, PCV engaged with 200 companies, helping to support 3,000 jobs with total wages exceeding $50 million.
Pacific Community Ventures
San Francisco, CA
Jobs Created
In 2009, clients created 1,275 jobs.
Small Business and Technology Development Center of North Carolina
Raleigh, NC
Jobs Created
Portfolio companies have created almost 2,000 jobs in the New Orleans area.
Idea Village
New Orleans, LA
Jobs Created
More than 600 people have been employed by the 42 companies of OEN's Angel Oregon program since 2005.
Oregon Entrepreneurs Network
Portland, OR
Investments Attracted
Seed capital investments have been leveraged into over $100 million from private investment since 1994.
Wichita Technology Corporation
Wichita, KS
Investments Attracted
Client companies were able to secure an additional $40 million from investors in FY 10/11..
Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central and Northern Pennsylvania
University Park, PA
Jobs Created
IW funding recipients currently employ more than 18,000 people in the Pittsburgh region
Innovation Works
Pittsburgh, PA
Revenues Earned
Since 2003, client entrepreneurs have secured $268.5 million in revenue with our assistance.
Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center
Chicago, IL
Investments Attracted
Since 2002, client companies have raised more than $166 million in follow-on funding.
Idea Foundry
Pittsburgh, PA
Jobs Created
Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania has helped create more than 15,000 jobs since 1983.
Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania
Bethlehem, PA
Jobs Created
In 2012, 583 jobs were created and retained through Innovation Works assistance.
Innovation Works
Pittsburgh, PA
Investments Attracted
OEN's Angel Oregon program companies have accumulated $75 million in investments since 2005.
Oregon Entrepreneurs Network
Portland, OR
Revenues Earned
OEN's Angel Oregon program companies have earned $109 million in revenue since 2005.
Oregon Entrepreneurs Network
Portland, OR
Jobs Created
Between 2003-2011, total cumulative net jobs created: 106
Lawrence Regional Technology Center
Lawrence, KS
Jobs Created
Since 2002, client companies have created more than 550 jobs.
Idea Foundry
Pittsburgh, PA
Jobs Created
Funded companies created 110 new jobs in 2010, and total of 1,566 jobs between July 2004 and June 2011.
JumpStart Inc.
Cleveland, OH
Revenues Earned
In 2011, center clients reported $26.2 million in total revenues. The six-year total is $137.3 million.
Innovation Center of the Rockies
Boulder, CO

STATS America
Know Your Region
Determining Regional Strengths
A Guidebook For Conducting Regional Innovation Assessments
VDO Characteristics
Assessment ToolResource Guide For Technology-Based Economic Development
Is Your Organization Fit for Funding?
The Strategic Role of Accelerators in Regional Innovation
Financing Your Client Firms: The EB-5 Model
VDO Profile Tool
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