Intelligent fosters fledgling companies

By Douglas Sams
doug.sams@gwinnettdailypost.com
Staff Photo:
Bonnie Herron, above, is the CFO of Intelligent Systems Corp. and serves as the director for the company’s incubator program, where upstart companies receive the opportunity to grow.

NORCROSS — Just like home owners, companies that have more room than they need usually find a smaller piece of real estate to occupy.

After spinning off its computer hardware divisions more than a decade ago, Intelligent Systems Corp. in Norcoss could have downsized its spacious headquarters. But it took the extra room and turned it into a nest for upstart companies, then helped them get off the ground.

In return, Intelligent Systems often sees the very beginning of a winning business concept — and can invest in it before someone else has a chance. Known as an incubator program, it has already raised a brood of successful local high-tech companies such as Peachtree Software, ChemFree, Corecard, Cirronet and CSI.

Intelligent Systems provides the office space, phone systems, software and other capital the young company needs. Also, Intelligent Systems CEO LeLand Strange, CFO Bonnie Herron and Peachtree Software President Bill Goodhew hold roundtable discussions with the leaders of the emerging companies in the incubator.

Herron, director of the incubator, said the program is somewhat like raising a promising teen who goes on to make waves in the business world.

“We give them advice when they ask for it,” Herron said. “They seem to appreciate it even more after they’ve left home.”

Only one other incubator in metro Atlanta — Georgia Tech’s Advanced Technology Development Center — is known to have similar scope and resources. Intelligent Systems has been ranked in the top 10 best performing technology incubators in the United States by the National Business Incubation Association.

Intelligent Systems is adding up to 20,000 square feet to accommodate more demand for small and mid-sized high-tech start-ups — an indication the Gwinnett high-tech industry is rebounding from the dot-com crash a few years ago.

The incubator, which includes 16 companies now, has fostered more than 50 since the program started. Paul Ismail, CEO of software development firm ViewCentrix, is one of the newer companies in the incubator.
Not only is it helping reduce the initial capital costs that could stifle his company, but Ismail says he also benefits from the business knowledge of Herron and Strange.

Last week, they paired ViewCentrix — whose strength is presenting data — with another young company whose strength is gathering information.

“We’ve had initial meetings, and we’re looking at a pilot customer,” Ismail said. “We’re hopeful that now both of our companies can grow.”

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