Technology Incubator lives up to its name with NETGEAR ProSAFE Wireless System

CASE STUDY: TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS ACCELERATOR
TECHNOLOGY INCUBATOR LIVES UP TO ITS NAME WITH
NETGEAR® PROSAFE® WIRELESS SYSTEM
BACKGROUND
Established in 1999, the Houston Technology Center (HTC) is a technology business incubator and
accelerator, serving the entire Houston Metropolitan area. The not-for-profit organization helps emerging
technology companies grow and move towards commercialization by providing them with in-depth
strategic and tactical business guidance, fundraising advice, and connecting them to opportunities, allies,
and capital. As the largest technology business incubator and accelerator in Texas, HTC’s mission is to
enable and accelerate the growth of emerging technology companies for the purpose of creating jobs and
promoting economic development in the greater Houston area.
HTC’s headquarters consists of a pair of three-story, 50 thousand square-foot buildings. In addition to
offices for HTC staff, the two buildings also include a conference center and event space from which
the organization frequently hosts client and sponsor events. HTC also rents office space to several HTC
members.
PROBLEM/OBJECTIVE
UNRELIABLE WIRELESS CONNECTIVITY WITH INADEQUATE COVERAGE
Over the past several years, the Houston Technology Center has evolved its network to facilitate
expanding connectivity needs and advancing technology requirements. “We were completely cabled up
throughout both buildings,” says Chuck Flournoy, IT Director for the Houston Technology Center. “But
as years went by, we needed Wi-Fi connectivity to keep pace with our needs, as well as those of our
members.” HTC had added wireless to its network a little at a time, as budget allowed. As a result, the
organization had a wide range of equipment from different vendors which did not work together and
provided wireless coverage that was inadequate and unreliable. “We had different sign-ons for each
conference room and connections would regularly drop in between rooms,” says Chuck. “People would
do a site inspection and ask about the Wi-Fi; I’d just hang my head. It was downright embarrassing, and
certainly not befitting an organization that has ‘Technology Center’ in its name.”
To encourage continued growth, HTC needs to draw new members to his facility, but the lack of
adequate, reliable wireless connectivity presented a major obstacle. The organization even had to procure
temporary switches and access points for a recent event that would entail a few hundred simultaneous
users. But Chuck knew that it was just a temporary fix to a larger problem. He needed to find a permanent
solution to avert a significant decline in membership.
COMPANY NAME:
Houston Technology Center
INDUSTRY: Technology Business
Accelerator
COMPANY WEBSITE:
www.houstontech.org
GEOGRAPHIC REGION:
Houston, Texas
www.netgear.com
The installation was remarkably
easy ... I can have one mounted
on the included rails in less than
five minutes.
Chuck Flournoy,
IT Director, Houston Technology Center
CASE STUDY:
Houston Technology Center