Apr 13 2009
The Planet, the global leader in IT hosting, and Dell today announced a joint donation to the Houston Technology Center (HTC). The two companies are providing 23 new laptop computers, monitors and docking stations valued at more than $25,000 to support HTC's growth and mission of serving technology entrepreneurs and their burgeoning businesses.
HTC is a nonprofit organization that enables and accelerates the growth of emerging technology companies to create jobs and promote economic development in the greater Houston region. Since its inception in 1999, HTC has raised nearly $750 million in capital for its client companies and assisted hundreds of local emerging technology companies. HTC is currently working with approximately 70 client companies in broad-ranging fields, including energy, life sciences, information technology, nanotechnology and aerospace.
“HTC performs a tremendous service for our community by fostering young companies and supporting their early-stage operations,” said Douglas J. Erwin, chairman and CEO of The Planet. “Houston is a pro-business city, and HTC works to build the city’s reputation as a good environment for building new technology companies.”
“We believe organizations like the HTC are core to the business community, and in particular to Houston as one of the brightest cities for business in the country,” said Donna Troy, vice president and general manager in Dell’s Large Enterprise Division. “By joining forces with The Planet, we’re able to support the HTC’s vision of Houston as an important technology market.”
“Dell and The Planet are technology champions in our community, and we appreciate their shared vision of the Houston Technology Center’s work,” said HTC President and CEO Walter Ulrich. “The new technologies they have generously donated enable us to support our core business operations and the entrepreneurs who count on the HTC to support their new companies.”
The HTC provides a broad range of resources for entrepreneurs. HTC University, which meets quarterly, helps early-stage companies with the necessary tools to write and develop their business plans. It also offers access to seasoned industry executives, networking opportunities and seminars, including its popular Web-Based Startup School.
The Houston Technology Center (HTC) is a non-profit business accelerator that assists Houston-based emerging technology companies within several key sectors: Energy, Information Technology, Life Sciences, Nanotechnology and NASA/Aerospace technologies. HTC also serves as the Gulf Coast Regional Center for the Texas Emerging Technology Fund, providing funding for small to mid-size companies to expedite the commercialization of new technologies.