The Technology Entrepreneur Center (TEC), a non-profit information and communication technology business incubator in downtown St. Louis, has announced completion of a high-speed fiber optic connection to Washington University and other local institutions served by the St. Louis Internet Access Consortium (SLIAC). This connection will enable TEC client companies to interface with Washington University's research facilities, engineering departments and students, as well as those of the other SLIAC member institutions. Such collaboration is critical for the formation of new start-up companies that will create a new wave of entrepreneurial excellence in St. Louis' nascent downtown technology corridor.

"This is a great step forward for our region's capabilities to jump-start new IT companies," said Jim Brasunas, President of TEC. "The ability to have TEC companies interface at very high speeds with the University's engineering labs opens exciting new opportunities for our entrepreneurs. Washington University is being very innovative in making this connection possible, and they're setting a creative example as we craft our collective future as a great city."

Jan Weller, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Network and Library Technology at Washington University and SLIAC Treasurer said, "TEC is the first incubator to join SLIAC and we are very pleased to welcome them. This connection also supports a University goal of becoming a catalyst for entrepreneurial activity in the wider community." "TEC is a great partner in our efforts to spin off leading-edge IT research into the business sector," added Mike Douglas, Associate Vice Chancellor in the Office of Technology Management, "TEC is a new and important asset in our efforts to move technology developed in the university out into the community. With this new connectivity, you'll see the collaboration between Washington University and TEC continue to develop."

Connection between Washington University's point of presence downtown and the Bandwidth Exchange building, where TEC is located is enabled through the facilities owned and operated by Switch and Data, Inc., a collocation company with facilities in the Bandwidth Exchange building at 210 North Tucker. Switch and Data has donated its services to this project in the interests of helping TEC and supporting its mission. "We believe in what TEC is trying to accomplish and see this as a significant opportunity for Switch and Data to give back to the St. Louis community," said Ross Warrington, Director of Operations for Switch and Data's central region. "We'd like to see St. Louis' IT sector emerge as a major strength of the region's economy, and support of this innovative connectivity between TEC and Washington University is our contribution towards its realization." The Technology Entrepreneur Center is the premier regional incubator for information technology and communications technology start up companies. With a mission to educate entrepreneurs and foster economic development, TEC provides unparalleled access to business mentoring, high-speed connectivity and cost-effective office amenities to help new companies become successful.

The St. Louis Internet Access Consortium (SLIAC) is a high-speed, advanced network creating new opportunities for collaboration and information sharing among the region's leading research and commercialization institutions. In addition to economical Internet and Internet 2 access, SLIAC manages an advanced network test-bed - allowing for the development of next-generation network technologies. SLIAC was founded in 2002 by Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis University and the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center.

For questions or more information please contact:

Jim Brasunas
President
Technology Entrepreneur Center
210 North Tucker Blvd., suite 600
St. Louis, MO 63101
Ph: 314-436-3500
Fax: 314-333-0409
Email: jbrasunas@tecstl.org
www.tecstl.org