President's Greeting

Directing the operations of the First Flight Venture Center (FFVC) is a uniquely rewarding challenge that reaps vast benefits. A great sense of pride comes from seeing a tenant company grow from its one or two founding partners to a successful, viable business, graduating into the mainstream of North Carolina's economy.

We recognize the dilemma that most start-up companies face. Early-stage companies typically have a small number of employees and limited resources, but are poised to grow. The First Flight Venture Center provides an effective, low-cost launching pad for these struggling entrepreneurs and new technology companies.

Our goal is to furnish turnkey services that allow tenants to reduce both their initial capitalization requirements and their annual operation costs, while steadily progressing toward independent operation in traditional business facilities. It is our firm belief that our incubator services decidedly increase the probability of success for these companies — and our track record shows it. For over 14 years, FFVC has successfully converted research into economic growth, establishing a global model for successful business incubation.

FFVC has a highly qualified staff with extensive experience in managing an effective and proven incubation program. Over the past year, we have evaluated and monitored our tenant services and programs, implementing changes and initiating new programs that offer the most valuable assets and tools available to boost the growth of our entrepreneurs and early-stage companies. Our open door policy and hands-on approach has provided valuable feedback from tenant companies, allowing us to effect changes that have positively impacted the continued growth and achievement of the companies housed in the First Flight Venture Center.

We look forward to the future with great optimism and dedication. We will continue to seek new programs and services to better serve the needs of our tenant companies. We remain dedicated to strengthening the survival prospects of North Carolina's ‘companies of tomorrow.'