NBIA Partners with NSTL to Provide IT Testing Services to Start-up CompaniesOctober 18, 2001ATHENS, Ohio—The National Business Incubation
Association (NBIA) and National Software Testing Labs (NSTL) have
partnered to bring discounted information technology (IT) testing
services to start-up businesses.
Under the agreement, NBIA member business incubators
and their client companies will receive substantially discounted
rates for all NSTL testing services. These services include hardware
and software quality assurance testing, IT consulting, Web site
testing, IT procurement and logo certification programs. Member
business incubators also will profit from a revenue-sharing plan
when their client companies use NSTL testing services.
"This partnership will allow our
member incubators and their clients to purchase IT testing services
at rates they can afford when they need it most," Dinah
Adkins, president and CEO of NBIA, said. "Oftentimes,
young companies do not pursue third-party product evaluations
because they believe they cannot afford them when, in fact, they
cannot afford to overlook the value of these services."
Outside product testing provides start-up companies
with objective data to back up statements in their marketing literature,
which can assure customers their products meet a high standard
of quality and help young firms get a foothold in the markets
they want to reach, Adkins said.
Emerging businesses also can use IT
testing services to guarantee their products function as designed,
Lloyd Holder, chief executive officer
of NSTL, said. "Having products tested by an objective source
can help start-up companies level the playing field with their
competitors-even those from larger, older businesses," he
said.
Business incubation catalyzes the process of
starting and growing companies. A proven model, it provides entrepreneurs
with the expertise, networks and tools they need to make their
ventures successful. Incubation programs diversify economies,
commercialize technologies, create jobs and build wealth. Today,
there are more than 900 of these programs in the United States,
up from 12 in 1980.
With about 1,200 members from 50 nations, the
National Business Incubation Association is the world's leading
organization advancing business incubation and entrepreneurship.
It provides information, education, advocacy and networking resources
to bring excellence to the process of assisting early-stage companies.
Established in 1983, NSTL is the world's leading
independent IT testing organization. It is the first organization
dedicated to testing the functionality, usability and performance
of hardware and software.
NSTL sets the standard for high-quality, objective
testing of information technology products for vendors, corporations
and government agencies.
|
