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High-tech companies are taking a second look at “fly-over-country” as fertile ground for basing their businesses. Tech-friendly Tulsa is attracting – and retaining- a growing number of high-tech companies because its central location can lower the cost of doing business with clients from coast to coast. As the founder of a digital forensics and e-discovery company, Avansic, I have dealt with the questions high-tech companies face when looking for the right place to relocate or launch a business. I found there are four factors for our business that make an area potent for growth potential: competitive business costs, solid job growth, a progressive technological climate, a high-tech workforce and business mentors.
First, consider the cost of real estate. As a startup, our company had few resources, and expensive office space was not a priority. It soon became clear that Tulsa’s office lease rates are a bargain at about $13 per square foot, compared to the national average of $47.31. now, our corporate offices are located at one of the premiere buildings in downtown Tulsa, giving us access to courts and the majority of Tulsa’s attorneys. Job growth is the second key for determining the location of a business. Despite a weakening national economy, Oklahoma’s job market remains solid with an unemployment rate that is two points below the national average. Furthermore, Forbes ranked Tulsa seventh for income growth and sixth for job growth in 2008. In the last decade, Oklahoma has excelled in information security, particularly in digital forensics. The state is consistently on the leading edge of fighting cyber crime in the Midwest with numerous cyber crimes units being established within local police departments and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. In addition, Tulsa is home to one of the premier information security research institutions in the country, the Institute for Information Security at The University of Tulsa. Its talented information security graduated work both locally in private companies and fill a substantial number of government information security jobs. Oklahoma’s universities continue to generate talent for growing high-tech companies, including Avansic, where most of our employees can be directly linked to local schools. This emphasis on education has resulted in a deep pool of talent for staffing positions at high-tech companies. Additionally, the support infrastructure for businesses large and small is growing with a number of mentors available to entrepreneurs. In fact, as chairman of the board at Avancis, Jim McGill’s vast experience in business development was key to procuring, financing and overseeing the expansion of our services. These five considerations were key factors in my decision to base my company in Tulsa. Founded in 2004, our digital forensics firm has seen dramatic growth in the last five years, including a $1 million investment from a Tulsa-based private investment group in 2008. That capital has allowed our rapidly growing company to expand into new markets outside the state. I’m a proud resident of Tulsa who has declined several chances to move in order to take advantage of local opportunities to establish a digital forensics business in Tulsa. I can hire qualified forensics investigators from the world-class community college system and know they have the requisite skills to support our professional services. By taking advantage of the talent available locally rather than outsourcing out of state, Avansic contributes to the vibrancy of both Tulsa and Oklahoma. As proven by my company’s cusses, Tulsa is ripe for launching or relocating a high-tech company. Overlooking our city as a potential hotspot is a mistake no business leader can affor – no matter how good or bad the economy. Editor’s Note: Gavin W. Manes, Ph.D., president and CEO of Avansic, is a nationally-recognized expert in digital forensics. |
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Copyright 2008 Avansic
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