The Tech Garden announced today that three clients have achieved graduation status and will be elevated to "Acceleration" status within the Syracuse Technology Garden facility at a ceremony to be conducted on February 11th. Clients are eligible for graduation from The Tech Garden if they: Achieve one or more of these criteria: $2 million in annual revenues; or employ 20 full time employees; are acquired by another company; or conduct an Initial Public Offering; or, raise an investment round of $2 million or more; or successfully complete three years in residence. The three companies being elevated from incubation to Acceleration status are: AT2A, LLC, principal: Richard Kampas; CollabWorx, Inc., principal: Marek Podgorny; Tony Baird Electronics, Inc., principal: Tony Baird.

Richard Kampas (AT2A) was the first client to move in to The Tech Garden in 2005 when his business Plant Defense Boosters, Inc. (aka SmartScience®) - a portfolio of organic and all natural agricultural products - leased a 500 square foot space. Global marketing immediately became essential for the growth of SmartScience® since sustainability had not yet fully penetrated American business consciousness. Sales in Japan and several marketing and licensing transactions with corporations including Merck KGaA (Germany) and ADM, among others, allowed SmartScience® to expand their bio-pesticide products and intellectual property ownership.

As a result of global marketing experience and with diverse product opportunities at hand, Kampas in early 2008 formed another company with a partner from Bangalore, India, called AT2A, LLC (American Technology to Asia or Agricultural Technology to Asia). AT2A is involved in environmental remediation of water and soil as well as the sales of the SmartScience® products, and much more. AT2A now has a corporate entity in Malaysia and offices in Kuala Lumpur and Bangalore, India. Kampas, a serial entrepreneur, recently moved into a 1,700 square foot Tech Garden space and he anticipates corporate combined global sales in 2009 will exceed $3 million. Kampas said "my personal mantra has been and remains: "Wisdom is knowing what to do...Skill is knowing how to do it...Success is doing it."

CollabWorx, Inc., is a leading provider of secure real-time collaboration and conferencing over internet protocol (CoIP) solutions in the Government, Health Care, Education, and Green Technology markets. CollabWorx specializes in supporting both synchronous and asynchronous communications to facilitate secure collaboration within the most demanding environments. CollabWorx principal, Marek Podgorny, reported sales of almost $900,000 and an increase in staff in 2008; in addition, CollabWorx is now working with the Syracuse University Co-Op office to recruit additional work force in anticipation of further growth. CollabWorx has received major federal contracts since moving its offices to The Tech Garden. Most recently the company had a major success securing a major F.B.I. contract which expands CollabWorx business relationships outside of their traditional Department of Defense market and toward the broader Homeland Security government market. The new contract spans calendar years 2008 and 2009 and includes options for years 2010-2011. In securing this contract CollabWorx competed with major industry players like IBM and Adobe, and won the contract on product merits. Further positive momentum was evidenced in 2008 by its partnership with Govsphere, another Tech Garden company with an office in Washington DC. The partnership will extend CollabWorx access to the government market considerably with the anticipation of robust business growth in the next two years. CollabWorx has also established a European outlet for its products E-Private Office, a Dutch company also operating in France and Germany, selected CollabWorx software as the basis of their WebEx-like conferencing service which focuses on the small business sector. President Podgorny said, "The future for CollabWorx looks very bright. We are engaged in pursuits that have great potential for revenue growth and job creation. We are delighted to receive this Tech Garden recognition."

Tony Baird Electronics (TBE) is a veteran-owned, minority small business specializing in value added testing, certification and verification of electronic devices and assemblies. TBE's strategic partnerships with reputable manufacturing companies allow TBE to supply circuit boards, fiber optic cables, sheet metal, cables and harness assemblies. TBE president Tony Baird stated that the company has generated $16 million in revenue in the three years since TBE started. It has also increased the number of employees from one to four. Additionally, major contracts now include a partnership with IPLogic, Inc., SRCTec, Inc., Telephonics Corporation, Omega QSE, and Fort Drum. Baird was runner-up for the Minority Small Business Person of the Year Award in 2008; he serves as a member of the City of Syracuse Governance Board for Economic Development; the WCNY Board; a supporter of Junior Achievement of CNY and Partners for Education and Business Incorporated; and, received the Trailblazer Award for Black History month from the Syracuse Chamber of Commerce on February 9, 2009. Since joining the Tech Garden TBE has earned these certifications: 1) Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB); 2) HUB zone; 3) City of Syracuse MBE; 4) State of New York MBE; 5) Empire Zone status; 6) Empowerment Zone company; and, 7) Service Disadvantaged (Small) Business SDB/8(a).

The Tech Garden's mission is to stimulate high-tech entrepreneurship, foster the development of emerging growth companies and support technology commercialization throughout the region. Start-up technology businesses are offered business plan assistance, mentoring and marketing advice, targeted referrals, networking opportunities and state-of-the-art office space from which to grow their businesses.

Contact: Paul Brooks, VP of Entrepreneurial Programs Syracuse Technology Garden
Phone: (315) 474-0910, x2918 235 Harrison Street
Fax: (315) 474-0915 Syracuse, NY 13202

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