Incubator Hatchling

For ambitious IT students with big dreams of starting their own companies, college incubators are providing that set of wings.

By Bronwyn Fryer

July 10, 2000 12:00 PM ET

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Computerworld - Without the resources to get goods and services to market, even the most innovative start-ups can miss the boat.

By bringing different start-ups together into large complexes with resources such as research labs, T1-wired office space and secretarial pools, business incubators lower costs and increase the survival rates of new companies. They also provide the contacts and business know-how that are vital for start-ups to seize opportunities in a world where time is of the essence.

			Just the Facts Name and job title: Andy Lufburrow, CEO Company and location: Digimo, at the UMBC Technology Center in Baltimore What he does: Provides both Web design and a pool of future employees to 20 clients, ranging from mom-and-pop businesses to Comcast Corp. in Philadelphia. How he got the job: Lufburrow successfully started a systems integration and consulting business in high school. By the time he was a senior, Lufburrow was raking in $130,000 annually. Skills required: "Drive, passion and a demonstrated ability to work hard," says Lufburrow. He had to present a business plan for his technology-focused business, outlining how the company would differentiate itself from other Web development businesses. Training needed: Lufburrow, who began programming in GW-Basic at the age of 7, was already familiar with C, C++, Unix, HTML, Visual Basic and various database programs. Salary potential: Digimo is pursuing a first venture round of up to $1 million; if the company is successful, Lufburrow's salary could qualify him for retirement at the age of 30. Career path: Once he graduates, Lufburrow says, "I will definitely be a serial entrepreneur. This isn't my last idea." Advice: "Whatever you do, do it well - and stay focused."

Among those jumping on the incubator bandwagon are an increasing number of universities. The transfer of technology from campuses to companies can yield lucrative intellectual property rights for universities, while also helping local economies, providing more jobs for graduates and generating tax revenue.

For students, there's an added bonus: the opportunity to get hands-on training in the high-tech industry while earning a degree. Here's one young student who went even further, using the incubator at his university to start a company of his own.

Andy Lufburrow
CEO
Digimo.com
Baltimore

If anyone is young and restless, it's 19-year-old Andy Lufburrow. Before he even graduated from high school, Lufburrow had already started a small systems integration company. So when he was looking for a college, his attitude was "What can you do for me?"

He found what he wanted at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). Not

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