In addition to some of the best public schools in the nation, thousands of businesses call Howard County, Maryland home, including the Columbia-based software development company, NextLOGiK. Nominated as a finalist for the 15th Annual Maryland Incubator Company of the Year Awards, NextLOGiK has its incubator, the Maryland Center for Entrepreneurship (MCE) to thank.
Getting Started
Part of what makes this county great are the thriving businesses, and the MCE helps the small one’s get started. When NextLOGiK came to the MCE in 2013, they had five employees and a handful of customers. Since then, they have grown to a company of 15 employees, more than quadrupled their revenue, and expanded to provide compliance solutions, website design, and IT support to industries across the board.
“The team at NextLOGiK are great thinkers and great doers,” said Peter Ettinger, Executive Director, Maryland Center for Entrepreneurship. “We’re able to present new opportunities to them that turn into useful applications and solutions that further our region and continue to establish Howard County as a hub for tech innovation.”
With solutions deployed nationwide, NextLOGiK hasn’t lost its roots and continues to see successes within the county. Through connections at the MCE, NextLOGiK developed a suicide education and prevention app, There is Hope, for Grassroots Crisis Intervention, Inc. that will provide easy access to crisis intervention and suicide prevention support for someone struggling with taking their life or those concerned about suicidal thoughts in others. This summer they are launching a newly designed mobile-friendly website for the Howard County Arts Council. NextLOGiK has also provided software solutions for the Howard County Department of Public Works Bureau of Facilities.
Giving Back
What sets NextLOGiK apart is their dedication to giving back to the community that fostered their growth. Kirk Couser, CEO, serves on the board of Rebuilding Together Howard County (RTHC) and the Howard County Police Foundation (HCPF) and provides social media management for both nonprofits. NextLOGiK also funded the overhaul of the RTHC website, including an online application for low-income homeowners to apply for free home repairs. The nonprofit has since tripled the number of applications they receive in a year, allowing them to provide repairs year-round instead of just during their annual Rebuilding Day.
“Our organization wouldn’t be where it is today without NextLOGiK,” said Ann Heavner, Executive Director, Rebuilding Together Howard County. “They have expanded our potential audience and reach through social media and our website, allowing us to help more homeowners in Howard County than ever before.”
Looking Forward
Currently, NextLOGiK is working closely with the Howard County Economic Development Authority’s agricultural development program, Ag Tech Center, to introduce their IoT temperature sensor devices to monitor and report temperatures for heightened food safety. Remote temperature monitoring is a growing need for food producers, being able to eliminate paper documentation of consistent food and storage temperatures will save these producers time and ensure a quality product is delivered to consumers.
The resources and stability provided by Howard County and The Maryland Center for Entrepreneurship have excelled NextLOGiK from a startup into an established, thriving small business leading to their recognition in this year’s Maryland Incubator Company of the Year Awards. The awards ceremony will be held on Tuesday, June 21, 2016 at the American Visionary Art Museum.
