You're Gonna Wonder What a Boules Is

The Rice Alliance was recently recognized as “the leading university entrepreneurship center in the United States for the creation of successful new enterprises" by the National Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers (NCEC).

Since inception in 1999, the Rice Alliance has assisted in the launch of over 205 technology companies that have raised more than $300 million in funding. By comparison, UCF’s Technology Incubator was also opened in 1999 and has served over 80 emerging technology companies, which have generated more than $200 million in annual revenues. That’s pretty good (though one should note that data difference between $300 million in funds raised and $200 million in annual revenues - not exactly a solid state laser crystal boules to solid state laser crystal boules comparison.)

But as emerging companies are created – and exit into the real world – where do they go? High rise downtown office space? Suburban office parks? Popular opinion would say that neither are sufficiently attractive or synergistic or supportive for the workforce needed for success. Hence - big QED coming here - the value of a creative village. Square footage for emerging technology companies is not enough. Nurturing the next Microsoft is the goal.

And - for playing along - your prize ... the definition of boules.