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A specialty bakery, a green living consulting firm and an electronics design company with a home automation solution are the first ‘client companies’ of the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ÊÓƵÎÞÏÞÖƹۿ´ Accelerator and Mentoring Enterprise, an endeavor that aims to help idea makers become successful entrepreneurs and business owners.

The promising entrepreneurs behind those business ideas were introduced at a grand opening ceremony for the new business incubator, also known as FAME, held this week at the FAME Suite in downtown Fairfield, an event attended by governmental officials, business leaders and the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ÊÓƵÎÞÏÞÖƹۿ´ community. An effort to nurture start-ups and foster economic development, it is a collaboration of ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ÊÓƵÎÞÏÞÖƹۿ´’s Charles F. Dolan School of Business, the Town of Fairfield Economic Development Department, and Kleban Properties.

“Welcome to the Connecticut innovation ecosystem,” Catherine Smith, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, said at the event. “I applaud ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ÊÓƵÎÞÏÞÖƹۿ´ for taking this bold step, and for being a part of this exciting initiative to accelerate the creation and growth of innovative companies and industries in our state.”

FAME aims to offer innovators the tools they need – from guidance to funding to prime downtown office space behind the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ÊÓƵÎÞÏÞÖƹۿ´ Bookstore – to turn their ideas into realities.

The first group of FAME clients (pictured) were chosen by a review board in a competitive selection process. They are:

Daphne Dixon, of Fairfield, Conn. “I founded ‘Conscious Decisions,’ a socially responsible business venture to educate the public on sustainable and eco-friendly living practices,” said Dixon, a UCLA graduate who describes herself as an eco-entrepreneur.

Nicole Juliano Peranick, of Stamford, Conn., is a graduate of the Dolan School of Business and the French Culinary Institute with a background in corporate brand marketing. She describes “With Love From The Cupboard, Inc.” as “a ‘baked to order’ dessert purveyor that unlocks old world, secret family recipes...”

Jamie Ramerini, of Fairfield, Conn., a 2013 Fairfield graduate, and Fairfield’s School of Engineering senior Diego Mamani are collaborators on BluStrip by Watt U Control, an electronics design firm with a low cost home automation solution. The technology had its origins in the student Business Plan Competition at Fairfield.

Donald E. Gibson, Ph.D., dean of the Dolan School, said, “There are many incubators in the state. Many are University-run, some are commercial enterprises, some driven by cities. This incubator is different. It is a true partnership between a University, the town of Fairfield, and the business community. This initiative represents a new model in how collaboration can help to foster vital economic growth ideas for Fairfield County and beyond.”

During the three-month programs, the clients will be mentored by business community members and faculty led by Chris Huntley, Ph.D., associate professor of information systems & operations management, and Diane Salerno, of Kleban Properties. These mentors will help the client companies develop their business plans so they can eventually present them to angel investors and venture capitalists.

Those attending the opening includedÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ÊÓƵÎÞÏÞÖƹۿ´ President Rev. Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J.; Michael Tetreau, First Selectman of Fairfield; Albert Kleban and Ken Kleban who came up with the incubator idea; State Sen. John P. McKinney; Rep. Kim Fawcett; Rep. Brenda Kupchick; aides to U.S. Senator Chris Murphy and U.S. Congressman Jim Himes; Mark S. Barnhart, director of Community and Economic Development for the Town of Fairfield; Chris Bruhl, of The Business Council of Fairfield County; and Paul Timpanelli, of the Bridgeport Regional Business Council.

Pictured: (L-R) Jamie Ramerini,  Daphne Dixon, Nicole Juliano Peranick.