For Immediate Release

AZ TechCelerator welcomes first two tenants

Surprise AZ (October 23, 2009) Two start-up information technology companies will become the first tenants of the new AZ TechCelerator, following Surprise City Council approval Thursday night.

Athena Wireless Communications, Inc. and w8ter.com LLC, will occupy almost 2,500 square feet of space at the AZ TechCelerator, a business incubator site, over a three-year timeframe.

"The Council's approval certifies that the AZ TechCelerator is open for business," says Economic Development and AZ TechCelerator Manager Jeanine Jerkovic. "Both Athena Wireless and w8ter.com are energetic start-up companies with great ideas and solid growth plans. The City of Surprise needs jobs, so these companies can be certain the community is rooting for them and will work to help them succeed."

Athena Wireless Communications, www.athenawirelesscommunications.com, provides solutions to applications requiring high capacity connections and transmissions of data. The company currently has four patents pending. Athena's CEO Eduardo Tinoco is somewhat of a business incubator veteran, having previously served as COO of Loea Corporation, now a prominent company headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii with roots in a local university-led incubator.

W8ter.com, www.w8ter.com, has propriety communications software dedicated to managing customer wait times, appointments and reservations for restaurants, salons, medical offices, etc... through low-cost service packages.  According to w8ter.com CEO Jonathan Janas, "The City of Surprise was a great fit for our goals as a new growing market, and the AZ TechCelerator has the right tools in place to help us grow and succeed." 

The City Council also voted to allow the Economic Development Department to administratively approve facility use license agreements with qualified companies, giving the City the flexibility to sign up companies without a formal City Council meeting.

Now until the end of the year any company that is approved for AZ TechCelerator space will have rent fees waived through June 30, 2010. After June 30, 2010, rents start at $2 per square foot and accelerate over time until a company is able to graduate into commercial space. All AZ TechCelerator companies also pay a modest common area maintenance fee and pay their own utilities.

For more information about leasing space or volunteering at the AZ TechCelerator, visit www.aztechcelerator.com or contact Jeanine Jerkovic at (623) 222-3322, or jeanine.jerkovic@surpriseaz.com.

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