SAN JOSE, Calif. — The National Business Incubation Association has again awarded the NBIA Soft Landings International Incubator designation to the US Market Access Center in San Jose. This was the Center’s first renewal of the designation it earned in 2006.

Through its Soft Landings program, NBIA recognizes incubators that are especially capable at helping nondomestic companies enter the incubator's domestic market. The US Market Access Center was selected for the program because of its slate of business services for nondomestic firms and its demonstrated success at helping firms enter the U.S. market, said Randy Morris, NBIA director of membership.

Business incubation programs like the US Market Access Center catalyze the process of starting and growing companies by providing entrepreneurs with the expertise, networks and tools they need to make their ventures successful. Incubating nondomestic firms takes more than the standard set of incubation services, however. "The Soft Landings designation recognizes an incubator's focus on welcoming nondomestic firms into its domestic market with translation services, help cutting through governmental red tape, access to capital, domestic market research and other programs," Morris said.

A panel of experienced NBIA-member incubator managers evaluated the Soft Landings applications. According to Morris, the judges were impressed with the US Market Access Center’s unique support for nondomestic firms.

The US Market Access Center accentuates its standard incubation services with assistance tailored specifically to nondomestic companies, including market research, corporate finance advisory service, and full market entry review to assess and validate their clients’ potential in the U.S. market.
NBIA’s Soft Landings designations are effective for two years; programs must reapply biennially for continuing designation. There is no cap on the number of designations available in a given year or over time. The US Market Access Center is one of only 12 business incubation programs from around the world that have earned the designation since NBIA began the program in 2005.

The National Business Incubation Association is the world’s leading organization advancing business incubation and entrepreneurship. For more information about the NBIA Soft Landings program, visit http://www.nbia.org/resource_center/soft_landings/index.php.