Mission Critical Partners teams up with cities, states, schools, and companies around the country to help improve policy, systems, and processes in life-threatening emergencies. The company de¬livers top quality technical, operational consulting services to help prepare managers for mission critical challenges. 

It all began here in Innovation Park in 2009, and it was quite a risk according to President and Chief Executive Officer, Kevin Murray. 

“It was Groundhog Day in 2009,” said Kevin Murray. “[Our team] had just started our own com-pany. We left very well paying jobs and a secure environment to jump out in the worst time ever to start our own company.” 

Though their original plan to base their startup in North Carolina fell through, a friend of Kevin’s provided a solution. “They said ‘Hey, did you ever hear of the Ben Franklin program?’” recalled Kevin. 

The team put in their grant application and quickly took the offer for some space in the incuba¬tor. “[The incubator] gives you an address and it’s a nice looking building… It kind of gave us a place to put down some roots,” Kevin said. 

Kevin speaks highly of the Ben Franklin TechCelerator and the incubator, citing them as a critical resource during their startup period. “Getting started is difficult,” Kevin said. “You forget how much work that it is… You’ll be talking to a client, putting furniture together, going to the bank, coming up with names, trying to do marketing—you’re kind of everything when [you] get started.” 

Ben Franklin served as resources for IT support, facilities, and networking opportunities. “[Ben Franklin] put us in touch with a lot of local resources we needed to kind of get self-established,” Kevin commented. “It was a good place to go—when you’re doing your own business, where do I get IT support? Who do you know that does printing? You could go to [the TechCelerator] and someone could answer your questions.” 

“They had great conference rooms and facilities,” Kevin continued. “[At one of the CBICC events held at the park], I met two of the county commissioners and got to introduce my business to Chris Exarchos and Steve Dershem.” 

Following this introduction, Kevin and his team partnered with the county. It’s through events like these sponsored by Ben Franklin Technology Partners that startup companies like Mission Critical Partners can create a network. 

“For us, [Ben Franklin] was part of the recipe for success,” Kevin said. 

Mission Critical Partners has taken it one step further though. Since they have graduated from the Incubator program, they continue to foster a sense of community between entrepreneurs and fellow startup companies. They’re truly grateful for the resources that Innovation Park provided and are paying it forward to fellow entrepreneurs. 

While in the incubator, Kevin’s team got some office supplies from people who had equipment for sale. “We donated [some of our equipment] to companies that were moving in and starting up,” said one member of Kevin’s team. “We are still tied into the network today… I make time to make sure we’re giving back,” Kevin said.