Alpha Loft and NH High Tech Council to Form Alliance

The boards of two prominent nonprofits that serve the state’s business sector, Alpha Loft and the NH High Tech Council (NHHTC), have voted to move forward with an alliance between the two organizations, with the goal of integrating Alpha Loft into the NHHTC by year’s end. The organizations have worked closely together for several years, offering complementary programs and services to help startups in NH.
 
“Alpha Loft’s programs have had great success over the past several years, increasing the prospects for startups to grow and thrive in New Hampshire. The highly regarded Accelerate NH program has served twenty companies over the past three years, the bulk of which are continuing to grow. Recognition for our successes has come from the startup ecosystem and in being named a 2017 Business of the Year,” says Matt Rightmire, Alpha Loft board chair. He continues, “I believe the alliance with the NH High Tech Council will set the stage for even greater successes in the future.”
 
“The Board is excited to welcome Alpha Loft programming and resources into the Council fold. Over the past five years, Mark Kaplan and his team have built an outstanding and essential resource for the start-up community," says Toral Cowieson, chair of the NHHTC Board.
 
Startup programming will continue under the Alpha Loft brand. Over the next several months, Alpha Loft and the NH High Tech Council will continue to work towards a deeper integration, ensuring support and resources for startups in the tech ecosystem. "While the Council has had some startup programming, our focus has been later-stage companies through large, mature organizations. By bringing the two organizations together, we can offer distinct value propositions to serve companies at all stages of growth in New Hampshire’s tech ecosystem,” Cowieson says.
 
Mark Kaplan, the former CEO of Alpha Loft, will continue to work with Alpha Loft and the NH High Tech Council during a period of transition. Two other Alpha Loft employees, Joshua Cyr and Kristen Crawford, will continue in their roles and be the lead contacts on Alpha Loft programming and services. Matt Cookson will continue to serve as the NH High Tech Council’s executive director.
 
Alpha Loft is dedicated to accelerating the development of early-stage, scalable businesses, commercializing the intellectual capital developed at leading educational institutions, and creating sustainable employment opportunities in the state of New Hampshire. Alpha Loft supports and provides resources to entrepreneurs, improving their prospects for successfully launching and scaling innovation-based businesses. The NH High Tech Council engages, connects, and supports member companies throughout NH. Formed in 1983, the Council has supported education, research, innovation, and economic development efforts that have helped New Hampshire become a national leader in entrepreneurship and business. For more information, visit nhhtc.org.