Notebook

Statistics and miscellaneous information about start-ups.

In Toronto, a dejected inventor came up with a solution to his problems: a store that sells nothing but bizarre stuff that is not yet available from other retailers. New manufacturers pay to get displayed -- more if they keep 100% of sales, less if they share a percentage -- in return for a shot at proving themselves. The New Product Store is slated to expand to Beverly Hills this fall.

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Who's Sponsoring Incubators?

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Economic development agencies 30%

Universities

/colleges 17%

For-profits 14%

Local govts. 9%

Hybrid of above 20%

Other 10%

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Source: National Business Incubation Association, Athens,Ohio, from a survey o f 385 U.S. and Canadian incubators.

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Depending on the sponsor, small-business incubators may have different goals: job development, technology transfer by university professors, or pure for-profit rental of office space.

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Meanwhile, the Wisconsin Women Entrepreneurs association is looking into developing a women's service firms incubator in the old Allis Chalmers headquarters. Nationally, 21% of incubator tenants are women.

-- Leslie Brokaw

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