• The if necessary. "We do everything from hand hold- ing to finding investors and strategic partners," says Lesley Anne Rubenstein, executive director of the Beersheba incubator, the Initiative Center of the Negev. In return, the innovators develop a prototype of their idea. After two years, projects leave the incubator and contin- ue alone, usually mobilizing govern- ment or private support to reach the next stage. For some this means more government support, for others, busi- ness investment. The incubators do not, however, offer easy cash. "We offer a sweet carrot, but there's a very hard stick," admits Ms. Pridor. "Just because you get approval, doesn't mean you can do whatever you want. You have to accept our discipline. We give timetables, demand reports, restrict budgets. If there's a difference of opinion, incuba- tor management resolves it. This isn't easy for often-brilliant inventors who don't take orders or advice readily. "We have to push them toward the nearest goal. They may have nine bril- liant ideas and one unexciting one, but if this one is the most marketable then they have to concentrate on that first." "Engineers don't consider the end- users," agrees Mr. Rubenstein. "They forget to take things out to the market because they want to add more func- tions. They don't stop to find out if people actually want these extra but- tons." One of the incubator program's recent successes is Elam Ltd., a compa- ny which graduated from the Har Hotzvim incubator in Jerusalem last year, and expects sales of $3 million by the end of 1997, though sales only began in the last quarter of 1996. Elam has developed a revolutionary electrolu- minescent (EL) fiber, called Livewire, which looks like a cable and has the same versatility. It can be used in a wide range of applications from hazard light- ing to safety jackets, signs and Christ- mas decorations. In two years, the com- pany expects to be making over $10 million a year. Livewire was the brainchild of two Russian scientists, both doctors in semi- conductor physics. On arrival in Israel, they took jobs as cleaners. to make ends meet, but in 1992, their proposal for the EL fiber was accepted. In 1994, Inventech Investment Company and a private U.S. investor funneled $500,000 into the project. Two years later, another $3 million investment was made. Lender for Commercial Real Estate Retail Senior Housing Hotels Multifamily Manufactured Home Communities Self-Storage Light Industrial Office Buildings Fixed and floating rate commercial mortgage loans $1 million and up BLOOMFIELD ACCEPTANCE COMPANY 260 East Brown Street Suite 350 Birmingham, Michigan 48009 (248) 644-8838 Fax (248) 644-5760 Email cmlreloans@bloomfld.com ! Bloomfield Acceptance Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bingham Financial Services f on all NEW Passbook Plus, 4o:fitment Plus and Classic Checking accounts • AFZ,A55"7"" ■ 111...._ '41111116,._ BANK 1! FOR THE FIRST ° MONTHS! 248.338-7700 or 148-351-7700 2600 Telegraph Road • Bloomfield Hills • Ail 48302 `Annual Percentage Yield is effective as of June 26, 1998. Restrictions apply. Offer is effective for a limited time only and is subject to change without notice. Valid on retail accounts only up to a maximum S100,000. Interest is earned on any balance and is paid monthly. APY's revert back to the regular posted rate after the initial three month period expires. Call or visit any Flagstar Banking Center for full disclosure of account parameters. Classic Checking. There is a $50 minimum balance requirement to open and a S5 monthly service charge if a minimum balance of $500 is not maintained. Passbook and Statement Plus Accounts. No minimum opening balance requirement. There is a $2 monthly service charge if minimum balance of $1,000 is not maintained. MEMBER FDIC. 6/26 1998 117