Entrepreneurs mentor startups

EmergeMemphis puts pros in house for help

At EmergeMemphis -- where helping startups grow up is the order of the day -- a new resource for inexperienced business owners is off to a solid start.

The organization has launched its "Entrepreneur in Residence" program, which will feature a successful business executive volunteering up to 30 hours a week to mentor at Emerge.

The first participant is Bently Goodwin, an Emerge graduate and founder of RemitDATA. He will work out of an office at the site and serve in the role for at least six months, possibly longer. His tenure will depend on his own business ventures and availability of other executives.

The aim is for the program to be self-sustainable, with subsequent Emerge successes returning in the years to come to share their expertise with new generations of entrepreneurs.

"Being around other entrepreneurs was very helpful to me when I was at Emerge, but one thing that was lacking was having a mentor around who I could just go to with any questions I had," Goodwin said. "Now that I've achieved success, I want to give back to this community that nourished me by doing the same. My hope is that it'll inspire future generations to do the same."

Goodwin's new role will vary from offering professional guidance to budding CEOs to developing workshops and seminars aimed at specific business issues. He also plans to host a monthly roundtable forum where Emerge entrepreneurs will brainstorm, share ideas and help each other work through challenges.

And it's that sort of hands-on education that John Dugan, founder of custom software development company Coroutine, is excited about.

Dugan and business partner Tim Lowrimore moved to Emerge a few months ago and want to maximize the time spent there.

"The goal is ultimately to make the transition from here to our own successful company and because Bently has done that, he's the perfect mentor to have here to guide us through the process," Dugan said. "He can tell us what works, what doesn't and how to tell the difference."

Goodwin started RemitDATA in 2000 and began renting space at Emerge a year later. After a few years, his company received substantial venture funding and moved to a suite at Brinkley Plaza. Today, he serves on the firm's board of directors.

Founded in 1998, Emerge functions as a business and technology accelerator for high-growth, early-stage companies. Currently there are more than two dozen startups housed at the facility.

And the new program is guaranteed to generate even more enthusiasm at the site, the organization's leader added.

"This is going to be an amazing blend of creativity and experience that will support the entrepreneurial community in Memphis," said Gwin Scott, president of Emerge Memphis. "Sharing that passion and know-how is key and this is a great way to do that."

Emerge board member Jay Keegan agreed.

"The overall effort of Emerge is to increase the number of knowledge jobs and workers in Memphis and programs such as this should attract them," Keegan said. "This is one more arrow in Emerge's already considerable quiver."

Emerge, located in a renovated four-story Downtown warehouse, rents space to about two dozen small companies at a time. Rent ranges from $300 to $3,000 a month. Average occupancy is four years, after which time most firms "graduate" and relocate to their own independent offices.

-- James Dowd: 529-2737

Emerge Memphis

Founded: 1998

Leadership: Gwin Scott, president

Location: 516 Tennessee

Phone: 312-7700

Companies: 25

Online: emergememphis.org