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Posts Tagged ‘First Flight Venture Center’

RTP-based First Flight Venture Center names Andrew Schwab president

Monday, April 11th, 2011

First FlightRESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC - First Flight Venture Center has appointed Dr. Andrew Schwab as President of First Flight Venture Center.  Schwab has served in an interim capacity since the passing of former Executive Director John Draper, in early summer.

Schwab is a successful entrepreneur with over 20 years operational experience in early stage startups. He has led two RTP based companies to Triangle Fast 50 awards over the last 10 years and has participated in two successful exits.

His management skills cover all phases of technology development, funding and commercialization. Dr. Schwab received his BSEE from Duke University and PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Virginia.

Schwab’s extensive management and operational skills “make him an ideal candidate for the position,” according to Dr. Terry Kane, Chairman of the Board.  “During his time at First Flight, he has worked to help build and support FFVC’s expansion into the life science arena and support emerging technology companies.  These are critical missions for the State of North Carolina,” said Kane.

“I hope to bring positive changes to First Flight,” says Schwab. “To be an effective resource for all start-ups, we are creating new programs, courses and networking opportunities to emerging growth companies at all stages. We want all striving entrepreneurs to have the resources to make their venture a successful one.”

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First Flight Venture Center Director, John Draper, dies

Thursday, July 8th, 2010

First FlightRESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC – John Draper, director of the RTP-based First Flight Venture Center and an attorney, has died.

Draper, 63, was found dead in his apartment Wednesday morning, reports say.

Draper, who was also CEO of the North Carolina Technological Development Authority, took over the First Flight Center and NCTDA in 2001  following a state audit that was highly critical of the Center. He slashed staff and expenses and rebuilt its reputation.

In 2007 it won the prestigious overall “Best Science Based Incubator,” award from the international organization, the Science Alliance.

Draper also chose to look to the strengths of the Research Triangle, where the incubator is located and focus solely on technology companies, including providing some of the most affordable, flexible wet-lab space around for biotech and pharmaceutical start-ups.

“John will be missed,” says Fred Hutchison, of Hutchison Law, who chairs the First Flight Center’s board.

“We wouldn’t have a technology incubator in the Triangle if it weren’t for John,” he tells us. “He loved what he did, loved early stage startups and wanted them all to succeed.”

Hutchison notes that the Center was home to spinout companies from all the Triangle’s major universities.

“A lot of companies and entrepreneurs are indebted to John,” he adds.

We knew Draper well and observed the way he turned First Flight around. A serial entrepreneur himself, he was a sharp observer of the startup scene.

The Center, in operation since 1991, incubated 170 companies, including Radar Find, Ganymede Software, and Mi-Co.

Current startups in the Center include:

* Accurate Electronics, Inc.; ElectroChemical Systems; Endacea, Inc.; Endls Optics; Envigen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Fonebag/Groopd; Galaxy Diagnostics, Inc.; HomeHealthNetwork; Inanovate; Instrumentation Associates; Jenken Biosciences, Inc.; Learning Machines, Inc.; Network Development Group; OC3 Entertainment; Ribonomics, Inc.; Ridge Diagnostics; Sirga Advanced Biopharma; Spratt Financial; TechVerse; The Seven Soft Corp.; ViraSource; Visual Network Design/(Rackwise)
* Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton; Zoe Health Care System; Zumatek, Inc.

Previously on TechJournal South:

TDA and First Flight Reemerge