Services | Dayton RFID Convergence Center

Providing valuable business services to help you succeed.

The Dayton RFID Convergence Center (DRCC) is the premier center providing business acceleration and intelligence to entrepreneurs and early stage companies in the radio frequency identification (RFID), sensor, data management and mining technology industries. Part of a regional effort to grow the emerging RFID sector, or cluster, in Southwestern Ohio, the DRCC is located in a new, $6 million state-of-the-art facility in Dayton’s Tech Town development. The DRCC is a public-private partnership between the City of Dayton, Citywide Development Corporation, and EPC Technologies, Inc. As a business incubator, the DRCC provides value-added services and flexible facilities to accelerate the formation and growth of early-stage technology ventures and to increase their likelihood of success. The services include:

Industry-specific expertise
One-on-one coaching by staff and experienced mentors
A network of business and professional assistance
Access to an investor network and assistance with financing

The facilities include Class A office space and shared labs for development, testing and demonstration and shared meeting rooms. Space is available on a year lease, which includes space and services.

The DRCC will work with 10 – 15 Resident companies, in addition to another 10 companies through an Affiliate, or non-resident, program.The DRCC is located in a HUBZone that offers incentives for agencies of the U.S. Federal Government to contract with HUBZone small businesses.

Dayton’s emerging RFID cluster includes the presence of significant RFID technology providers and users such as Alien Technologies, Procter & Gamble, Kroger, Smuckers, NCR, Paxar (Avery Dennison), Teradata, CDO Technologies and the Advanced Sensors Directorate at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Dayton and its 90 minute market is the convergence point for 80% of RFID focused companies in the United States.The DRCC is actively building relationships with leading RFID players in this region.

Services & Programs

Facility

Furnished, hard walled offices of various sizes
Each office complete with furniture from the donated furniture provided by Key Bank
Two medium sized shared conference rooms (shared between ALL tenants of building including DRCC tenants, IDCAST, Weston and available on a scheduled basis only)
One large conference room shared only with DRCC members that is capable of hosting events with up to 40 people
One dry laboratory specially designed to work with RFID fit-up with including benches, anti- static properties, and humidity control. (A future build out will include an anechoic chamber for use by resident companies)
Two shared break rooms total, available on 3rd and 2nd Floors
Free parking

Office Services

General customer service
Filtering of solicitors
Security infrastructure for 24/7-hour access
Security camera recordings of front door and parking lots during office hours and after-hours
Execution of service requests for service/maintenance of equipment, equipment purchases, data lines, keys, security cards, new employee orientation, movement of furniture, some at additional costs
Free coffee service
Access to roof top terrace available off 3rd Floor

Business Support Services

Assistance with developing adequate business plans in order execute the business’s vision
Assistance with entrepreneurial development of key management person(s)
Assistance with an effort to obtain outside financing for the company including but not limited to bank, angel investor or venture capital investment
Introductions to potential collaborators, and partners, and customers
Introductions to advisors (legal, regulatory, financial, tax, marketing, etc.)
Accounting advice and leads to other accounting, insurance, payroll and other services through third party vendors
Promotion in the DRCC collateral and on DRCC web site
Consultation and assistance from TEC and IDCAST on business plans, strategic planning, marketing, product commercialization and equity financing
Business assistance through a network of interns, volunteers, mentors and other members of the business community
Access to Southwestern Ohio companies using RFID
Access to a network of contacts in both emerging and established technology companies in Dayton area, as well as the military, universities and research institutions
On-site events to facilitate networking in the RFID industry

The Entrepreneur’s Center’s (TEC) Assistance Services

The Entrepreneur’s Center’s (TEC) purpose is to “graduate” successful tenants who will continue to contribute to the economic health of the region through the creation of jobs.

TEC researches, identifies, teaches and disseminates the critical skill and values that enable entrepreneurs to succeed. In order to foster economic development, TEC maintains a network of other successful technology-based entrepreneurs for self-help and peer support.

Examples of assistance being offered to businesses that have a credible business concept with prospects for growth include but are not limited to:

Guidance mentors
Free and reduced-cost outside services
Access to debt and equity financing
Business management and technical assistance
Quarterly review of financials
Centralized office and administrative services
Annual evaluations

Detailed summaries of TEC services:

Know-How Network – TEC maintains a professional Know-How-Network that connects client companies to experts such as lawyers, bankers, accountants, consultants, professors, technology experts and others who provide products and services to businesses. These experts make a commitment to provide these services at a reduced rate, or in some instances, free of charge.

Networking – Informal networking can be a powerful way to connect entrepreneurs to the right people who can help the company land sales, establish strategic partners, or simply solve a common problem. All TEC clients benefit from knowing and participating in these networking events, referrals and meetings.

Financial – TEC does not provide direct financing or take an equity position in tenant companies. Rather, we provide client companies with counseling and advise as the most appropriate local, state, federal resource for business financing. In addition, the TEC will refer companies to the Dayton Investment Network (DIN), Entrepreneur Signature Program (ESP) or other appropriate financial resources.

Strategic Business Management – Companies are more likely to grow and succeed when strategic goals are established and benchmarked. Therefore, TEC conducts annual reviews of all clients. These reviews analyze “planned vs. actual” performance, perceived needs, obvious weaknesses, and long-range strategies. These reviews also seek to evaluate if the company is making progress at positioning itself in target markets. Included in this area is an annual review of financials that is provided by a financial professional.

Mentors – When appropriate and on an as needed basis, TEC provides companies with highly experienced individuals that will provide the company with strategic direction when acute challenges occur.

ESP Services – Under the Entrepreneurial Signature Program (ESP), the target market for this initiative is technology companies, specifically those in advanced materials, particularly composites, nano-materials and sensor applications seeking to commercialize a new product.

Companies that are eligible for ESP can receive funding to cover the cost of TEC and/or another provider’s services. These qualifying companies can receive funding for outside consulting services to move the company toward a “strategic” decision. Companies can also obtain capital under the ESP program.

Morning Mentoring offers business owners the opportunity to vet new business ideas with successful business professionals. There is no cost to participants, but you must complete a one-page application and meet other program requirements.

Advance to Profit is a better way for you to manage and turn your commercialization ideas into profit. The Entrepreneurs Center has launched a new set of tools to implement and fast-track your journey to business growth and sustainment.

IDCAST Assistance Services

The Institute for Development and Commercialization of Advanced Sensor Technology (IDCAST) provides the framework to bring together technologies, innovations and collaborations to develop and integrate advanced sensor technology in areas such as defense, homeland security and commercials applications.

IDCAST offers a truly non-profit environment with a staff that provides exceptional expertise in the advancement of sensor and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology.

You will have the opportunity and access to the many benefits that IDCAST has to offer.

Three separate facilities located within the Dayton Region
World-class intellectual capital
Financial funding sources

50,000 SF Wetlab of World-Class Collaborative Laboratories

15,000 sq ft LADAR-LOCI
5,000 sq ft Wet Lab
5,000 sq ft Terahertz Lab
2,500 sq ft Human Signature Sciences
2,000 sq ft AFRL RF Sys Integration
3,000 sq ft Laser & Optics
2,500 sq ft Sensor Integration
2,000 sq ft Visualization
3,000 sq ft Electronics
25,000 sq ft Collaborative RF Space
6,000 sq ft Roof Top Test Facility

World Class Sensor Test Beds

World’s largest IR sensor – 25 MP MWIR
RADAR and RF
Signature Sciences
Sensor exploitation
UAV Payload Integration
Terahertz
Visualization
EO
Reconfigurable Computing
80 MP and 48 MP color panorama surveillance systems

Equipment at IDCAST 444 E. Second Street Facility

Education Stems Technology

Education is important to IDCAST and the University of Dayton. So important that collaboration has become a key factor in furthering the development of Sensor related technologies by working together.

Starting with the 8 Universities who are a part of that development.