Three companies begin operations at TTEC site
The first three private companies have moved into the Tri-Valley Technology
Enterprise Center (TTEC) at the Laboratory.
TTEC was created to help promote success of local start-ups and small
business, and to act as a bridge between the local national laboratories
and the region’s technology community. The center provides business
services, facilities, training, and access to advisers and mentors in
areas such as business operations and management, technical specialties,
sales and marketing, financial, legal and banking.
The center also assists the technology commercialization and transfer
programs of Livermore and Sandia labs by promoting and supporting Lab
commercialization efforts.
The three companies — ETARAN Instruments, SOX Systems and NanoLogic
— are now operating from the Livermore site.
"These companies represent a good cross-section of the type of companies
we’re planning to serve," said Michael LaLumiere, TTEC’s
executive director. "While we plan to do a lot of work with companies
that aren’t affiliated with the labs, these three companies all have
a connection to the national labs, which make them prime candidates for
TTEC."
ETARAN Instruments, headed by Ed Tarver, a Sandia scientist, develops
new methods to improve performance in Ion Mobility Spectrometry. The technology
is used in chemical detection and identification and has several current
military applications.
SOX Systems has licensed solid oxide fuel cell technology from Livermore
and is developing neighborhood fueling stations for hydrogen-powered vehicles.
Experienced entrepreneur and CEO Alvin Duskin is hiring an engineering
team and seeking funding.
NanoLogic, led by Robert Schmieder, a former Sandia scientist, is developing
a hybrid computing system using nanotechnology-based engineering.
TTEC will begin its Entrepreneurial Seminar Series Feb. 4 with a presentation
by Bruce Whitley, an attorney with Crosby, Heafey, Roach & May. His
talk will cover the selection of appropriate investors, investment disclosures,
securities law implications of investment, the difference between equity
and debt, and stock purchase agreements.
At the same time, TTEC will unveil a new outreach program called TTECnet,
a service for companies interested in using TTEC services but do not need
to move into the facility.
TTEC is a joint effort between the Tri-Valley Business Council, Livermore
and Sandia labs, Pacific Gas & Electric Company, the City of Livermore,
the office of Rep. Ellen Tauscher and the Department of Energy.