PRESS RELEASE written for Technological Research and Development Authority   Florida’s Technological Research and Development Authority (TRDA) is pleased to announce the technology companies chosen as the first tenants for its new 30,000-square-foot TRDA Business Innovation Center in Melbourne, Fla. The start-up and expanding ventures selected recently completed the TRDA’s six-week ”Roadmap to Success” workshop series, which was designed to boost entrepreneurs’ understanding of key aspects of business formation, growth and continuing profitability. Tenants were chosen from among companies who vied for the opportunity by making business presentations and providing supporting documentation. The companies were thoroughly reviewed and judged by a panel of local business leaders, including attorneys, bankers, financiers and entrepreneurs. “Company leaders were evaluated on whether they appeared to have the ability to run a business and were offering a dynamic product that has market potential and will be a driver of change,” said Chester J. Straub Jr., executive director of the TRDA, the Florida agency that leverages federal, state and private resources to develop and implement technology-based programs to strengthen the economy and education. Tenants in the new center at 1050 West NASA Boulevard will have professional facilities, mentoring and product development support to ensure the best chances for success for their businesses. “The TRDA is pleased to have the opportunity to foster promising technology companies of such high caliber,” Straub said. The technology ventures selected are Adapt 4. The company has developed software and hardware that supports radio communications via licensed radio waves that aren’t in use in a network area. The cognitive radio technology operates within FCC rules to funnel radio signals to unused radio frequencies. It has numerous applications, including in the areas of utilities, public safety, homeland security, transportation and military. Adapt 4 will occupy 3,000 square feet at the center, including two high bays and office space. Its employment goal is 22 employees within about year. For more information, visit www.adapt4.com  Advanced Aero.  Company cofounder Chris Gagliano developed the Inverted V-Tail technology behind Advanced Aero’s high-performance, low-cost light sport aircraft. Prototype studies and testing have proven the concept and parts manufacturing is set to begin soon, Gagliano said. Based on FAA studies of demand projections in the new light sport category Advanced Aero expects to realize $8 million in annual revenues by 2012. “We’ve been working with the TRDA for awhile now and have benefited greatly from the relationship. We’ve been looking forward to the new center because it will provide us greater access to world-class mentoring talent plus the facility will be invaluable for presentations, conferences and networking,” Gagliano said. For more information, visit www.invertedvtail.com Audigence.  The company’s patented software will allow cochlear implant and hearing aid manufacturers to better tune their devices for clearer speech recognition in the hearing impaired. Lee Krause, president and CEO of the company, pursued the development of the technology because he himself has had a cochlear implant. Audigence continues to refine the software it shares a patent for with the University of Florida. The company has been testing the technology in clinical trials since 2003. “People don’t want to be able to hear paper rustle more clearly they want to be able to understand what someone is saying, especially on the phone,” Krause said. “The TRDA is assisting us in our noble struggle to help people hear more clearly.” ColorSculpt. The company has created a process to manufacture full-color sculptures of people. The unique technology uses images quickly taken by a series of high-definition 3-D camera in a process that leads to the creation of a dimensional portrait in sizes of up to 14 inches. The product is made of a composite material and has a matt finish. Sculptures of family, friends and colleagues can be encased in globes for display or use as Christmas ornaments. Relief sculptures can be framed. “This is a tremendously valuable opportunity for our company. The success rate of TRDA-affiliated companies is outstanding,” said Jeff Baloun, founder and chief operating officer. Internet Office. The company’s web-hosted software allows small companies to afford and easily access a sophisticated business software suite that manages sales, marketing, inventory, products, commerce and Web sites. The tried and tested Internet Office Suite software is ready for large-scale marketing. Currently more than 3,000 users are being served by the product.             Based on Small Business Administration and other research, the company estimates there are 3.7 Million businesses with less than 10 employees in their target market. For more information visit  www.internetoffice.biz Sea-Watch. Electronic monitoring in the aviation and train industries has become ever more sophisticated but the marine industry has tended to lag behind. Now Sea-Watch hopes to fill the gap by providing on-line monitoring and control to owners of marine vessels of 30-feet and longer. The company has developed and tested the hardware and software for its integrated system and now is looking to enter the emerging market. Competitors provide monitoring and control via a third party but the Sea-Watch system will be owner directed. “The TRDA has been of great assistance in the past, including helping us to obtain SBIR grants. Moving into the center will provide us with even greater resources,” said Loretta Kish, president of the company. For more information visit www.sea-watch.net   The TRDA Business Innovation Center was constructed by the Melbourne Airport Authority and is supported by the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration, the city of Melbourne and Brevard County. It’s expected to serve 30 to 35 new or expanding companies and create 70 to 100 jobs in the first four years of operation. For more information, visit www.trda.org