The Commercial Appeal
Mar 5, 2009
By Daniel Connolly

Memphis has another new organization to help small companies develop: The Memphis Bioworks Foundation has hired former venture capitalist Jan Bouten to lead TECworks, an organization that helps turn technology and bioscience ideas into businesses.
This may sound familiar - Bioworks , a nonprofit group that aims to build up science-based industries in Memphis, also backs Innova Memphis Inc. , a venture-capital fund that invests in small science- based companies.
But the organizations have different purposes.
Ken Woody, Innova's president, said many of the small companies that ask him for money to expand aren't ready for it.
"They need education, they need support, they need mentoring," he said.
That's the role TECworks will play. Bouten expects to offer seminars as well as one-on-one coaching to help with the basics, such as writing a business plan. For now, he is TECworks' only employee and will work in the Bioworks office.
Some businesses under his tutelage might move into new lab space in the Bioworks building at 20 South Dudley.
Bioworks president Steve Bares said TECWorks serves the larger goal of using science-based businesses to bring capital, jobs and investment to the region.
"The community becomes a very desirable place to live," Bares said.
TECworks is just one of several new organizations meant to help entrepreneurs in Memphis.
For instance, the University of Memphis hired Kevin Boggs last year to help professors and students turn science and technology ideas into businesses and the organization LaunchMemphis worked closely with business incubator Emerge Memphis to lead a series of exercises and seminars to support small companies.
TECworks plans to work with these and other groups to make sure they're not duplicating services.
"I think there's a much bigger demand than is currently being served," Bouten said. "You could probably have 10 more TECworks."
The Tennessee Technology Development Corporation , a state group that supports science and technology startups, gave Bioworks $270,000 to start TECworks. The group will seek more funds once the grant runs out in July 2010, Bouten said.
Originally from Venlo in the Netherlands, the 38-year-old Bouton was working for the venture capital company Aurora Funds in Durham, N.C., and recently came to Memphis because his wife, cancer researcher Leta Nutt, landed a job at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital .
In the short term, Bouten's plans include creating a network of "angel investors" - private citizens who want to put their own money into startup companies.
He sees potential in Memphis.
"There's a lot of raw talent here."
- Daniel Connolly: 529-5296
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TECworks
Jan Bouten is the group's leader and only employee.
Telephone: 448-3633
Many of the organization's coaching and consulting services will be free, but the group may charge for big jobs.
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