Géraldine Quetin
The challenge is to identify among the promising early-stage firms which are the most appropriate candidates for a particular community and the soft-landing resources being offered.
Portland, ME (PRWEB) March 07, 2013
Many communities have established business incubators and accelerators in an effort not only to support local entrepreneurs but to attract early-stage companies from around the world. The goal is to provide international start-ups with a "soft landing" to enable them first to establish themselves, and then to grow, prosper and add employees in the region.
The challenge faced by many incubators, however, is knowing where to find the right early-stage companies, how to qualify them, and then how to attract them. The competition is fierce, and it's easy to expend significant sums pursuing start-ups that may not have the best prospects for success, or may not be the best "fit" for the incubator or the region.
Atlantica Group LLC, an international business development firm based in Portland, Maine, understands these special challenges and has joined forces with an industry expert to support the efforts of incubators and economic development organizations in this challenging sector.
The firm announced today that Géraldine Quetin, one of Europe’s leading authorities on business incubation and early-stage company development, will join Atlantica Group as a Senior Adviser.
Quetin, who is based in Nice, France, has an extensive background in business incubation and early-stage company strategy. She launched one of the first technology incubators in the Paris region, managed a highly successful incubator in the south of France and led the French government’s Young Entrepreneur Initiative in the Boston area for two years. She holds a Master’s degree in Innovation and Technology Management, awarded jointly by the Université Paris-Dauphine, the École normal supérieur de Cachan, Mines ParisTech and the French Atomic Energy Commission.
“It’s well-known that early stage companies need a kind of ‘ecosystem’ of support, and business incubators provide many of the necessary resources comprising that ecosystem,” said Quetin. “But not all incubators are the same, and certainly not all companies are appropriate for every incubator. Well-managed incubators with a clearly-defined mission and strategy stand the best chance of attracting the early-stage technology companies that are the best “fit.”
Perry B. Newman, president and founder of Atlantica Group, agrees.
“Many incubators, communities and economic development organizations are seeking to attract early-stage companies on an international basis and to offer them a “soft landing” within an incubator. The challenge, of course, is to identify among the myriad promising early-stage firms which are the best, most appropriate candidates for a particular community and the soft-landing resources being offered,” said Newman.
“Géraldine Quetin has an exceptional background and we are delighted she’ll be working with us to help our clients focus their efforts and maximize international opportunities. With Géraldine’s input, we believe incubators, economic development organizations and early-stage companies can make the best use of their resources to achieve their international goals.”
Founded in 2000, Atlantica Group is an international business development firm based in Portland, Maine. Atlantica Group has worked with clients to develop international business development opportunities throughout North America, Europe, India and Israel.
