SPRINGBOARD TO SUCCESS

Entrepreneurial startups are three times more likely to make it if their founders receive coaching and mentoring in their companies’ early stages, according to Bill Kalivas, chief executive officer and president of Connect Northwest. A Spokane nonprofit, Connect Northwest provides that kind of hand-holding, working with entrepreneurs, CEOs and angel investors to stimulate the region’s economy. The organization spun off less than two years ago from the now-defunct INTEC, the Inland Northwest Technology Education Center, a nonprofit primarily devoted to work force development. Modeled after the highly successful Connect San Diego, the Spokane-based organization strives to “connect people, technology and capital to drive innovation,” its mission statement says. From its office in the University District, Connect Northwest offers a trio of programs with a staff of three, which includes a support person and Dennis Leidall, a business development expert recruited from the California Connect program. He is director of programs and will become interim director when Kalivas steps down Thursday to join the private sector.

Connect Northwest’s Springboard program nurtures entrepreneurs who – after a rigorous staff screening — appear to possess business ideas considered to be viable, marketable and likely to spur the Inland Northwest’s economy.

Those accepted into the program usually spend between six and eight weeks being coached by Connect Northwest’s staff. The time is spent beefing up business plans, assessing financial needs and eliminating potential obstacles to success.

Along the way, the companies’ founders may call on Connect Northwest to schedule consultations with attorneys, bankers, public relations pros, human resources specialists and others.

Springboard culminates with a 15-minute PowerPoint presentation made by entrepreneurs before a panel of experts, who are selected by Connect Northwest from its network of 4,000 professionals, Kalivas said.

A networker by nature, Kalivas has amassed the resource during stints in sales and marketing and business development.

The big presentation is the last step an entrepreneur makes before he or she starts scouring for funding.

To date, seven young companies, mosly high-tech, have graduated from Springboard. They are: Maplewood Software, Blue Water Technologies, TriGeo Network Security, A Perfect Web, IT-Lifeline, Ascension Snowboards and Guardien Technologies.

Connect Northwest also hosts Executive Connect, a bimonthly business meeting for corporate executives. A guest speaker addresses the group and answers questions.

Meanwhile, the Emerging Growth and Innovation Series brings into town pioneers in such fields as biomedicine, technology, manufacturing and research as part of a free lecture series. Washington State University and Sirti are partners in the effort.

Spokane County provides the bulk of Connect Northwest’s funding.