01/30/2015 09:44 AM
BATON ROUGE – The Louisiana Business & Technology Center, or LBTC, recently hosted
Latin American entrepreneurs from Chile, Peru, Columbia and Mexico for a two-week,
specialized training session. The visitors were participants in the Latin American
Idea Partnership, or “LA Idea,” Incubator Program, which was designed to support new,
innovative companies with high-growth potential.
The Latin American participants arrived at the LBTC on Monday, Jan. 12, where they
began their vigorous two-week training, and were immersed into the Louisiana culture.
The LBTC invited prominent Louisiana businessmen to educate the entrepreneurs on business
operations in the U.S. and provided valuable networking opportunities.
“This has been a great interchange between our Latin American partners that will bring
commerce and possibly new businesses to Louisiana through our Soft Landings Program,”
LBTC Executive Director Charles D’Agostino said. “The relationships developed in those
two weeks with Louisiana businesses and LSU faculty has been invaluable to all involved
and will certainly result in commerce in the state.”
Highlights from the two-week program included a tour of the Tabasco Hot Sauce and
Pepper Plant, a trip to the Port of Greater Baton Rouge, a tour of LSU’s campus, a
visit with Mike the Tiger, and a seminar hosted by LSU’s President and Chancellor
F. King Alexander.
The entrepreneurs completed their training with a better understanding of the U.S. and local business environments, as well as the legal and tax requirements for conducting business with the U.S. The LBTC staff will follow-up with the Latin American visitors for up to three months of mentoring through a virtual platform.
About the Louisiana Business & Technology Center
The Louisiana Business & Technology Center is a 26-year-old technology business incubator
that is located on the LSU Innovation Park and has 34 businesses and 31 student owned
businesses in its 60,000 square foot incubator. The LBTC focuses on science and technology
that parallel the strengths of LSU in engineering, advanced materials, agriculture,
food technology, electronics, digital media, energy, chemistry, veterinary medicine
and bio-technology. The LBTC offers business counseling and access to LSU resources
and support for businesses to compete for and win Small Business Innovation Research
grants from the federal labs. For more information, visit www.lbtc.lsu.edu.
Ernie Ballard
LSU Media Relations
225-578-5685
eballa1@lsu.edu
Posted on Friday, January 30, 2015