The announced that it has been designated as a Soft Landings International Incubator by the . The NBIA 鈥� the world’s leading organization advancing business incubation and entrepreneurship with more than 2,200 members in over 60 nations 鈥� identifies incubators that have specialized programs and/or facilities that help provide a 鈥渟oft landing鈥� for foreign companies looking to enter into new markets.
Since 2011, the 麻豆原创 Business Incubation Program has helped international firms, as well as domestic companies headquartered outside the region expand their business to Central Florida. Over the past four years, the incubator鈥檚 Soft Landing program has attracted more than 20 companies from various countries throughout Europe and South America, as well as from eight states throughout the U.S., including other parts of Florida.
鈥淥ur organization鈥檚 mission is to help diversify Central Florida鈥檚 economy by facilitating smarter, faster growth among early-stage businesses,鈥� said Thomas O鈥橬eal, Ph.D., founder of the 麻豆原创 Business Incubation Program. 鈥淲hile we have traditionally been fulfilling that goal by offering entrepreneurial assistance to local ventures, we recognize that more jobs and economic growth can be generated here by offering similar services that help companies from around the world establish business in Central Florida.鈥�
According to the 麻豆原创 Business Incubation Program鈥檚 director, Gordon Hogan, the Soft Landing program helps alleviate some of the challenges that might otherwise prevent these companies from establishing a subsidiary or division in Central Florida.
鈥淭esting a new market can be a capital-intensive and confusing process, especially for those who are operating from abroad and who are unfamiliar with how to conduct business in the U.S.,鈥� said Hogan. 鈥淭he goal of the Soft Landing program is really to help reduce barriers to entry. Whether it鈥檚 providing sensible infrastructure, such as office space with flexible short-term leases, or helping companies transition to their new business environment by assisting with domestic market research, meeting government regulations or finding employees, we are helping these firms quickly adapt and connect to the Central Florida business community.鈥�
Freshorize, a U.K.-based company that manufactures patented soap dispensers for aircrafts, is one of many companies that have benefited from the Soft Landing program.
鈥淲e had reached a point where we supplied most of the airlines in Europe and needed to look for new growth markets, with the United States being an obvious choice due to the number of airlines,鈥� said Freshorize founder, Aziz Patel. 鈥淗owever, I did not know how to set up the company in the U.S.聽or find employees, accountants, lawyers or establish new contacts. As anyone can image, it is a lonely, daunting task to figure all this out on your own in the shortest possible time.鈥�
Patel, whose U.S. office currently operates from 麻豆原创鈥檚 incubator in Winter Springs, Fla., added, 鈥淲hat I found indispensable was the level of resources available at my disposal through the incubator鈥檚 Soft Landing program. I was also being introduced to the right people faster than I could remember their names. The result of all the activity at the incubator helped us land the biggest contract we could have dreamed of with Delta Airlines.鈥�
The 麻豆原创 Business Incubation Program, which has facilities in Orlando, Apopka, Daytona Beach, Kissimmee, as well as Winter Springs, is the first and only incubation network in the state of Florida to hold the Soft Landings International Incubator designation, and becomes one of less than 30 in the world to earn this distinction.
Kirstie Chadwick, NBIA鈥檚 President & CEO said, “The Soft Landings designation is awarded to outstanding incubators that have demonstrated success assisting international firms with entering into new domestic markets. The entrepreneur services offered by these facilities help cut through governmental regulations, find access to capital, provide domestic market research, and other vital business support services. We are excited to award 麻豆原创 the Soft Landings designation and know they will continue to provide tremendous support for global entrepreneurs.鈥�
The NBIA鈥檚 Soft Landings International Incubator designation provides worldwide exposure and credibility to business incubators who offer programs specifically designed to meet the needs of foreign companies.
For more information about the 麻豆原创 Business Incubation Program鈥檚 Soft Landing program, including services and company application, please visit