ROCKVILLE, Md. (Map, News) - An assortment of political and business leaders gathered Tuesday in Rockville to commemorate the opening of Montgomery County’s newest business incubator network.

Like the three previously opened county incubators, Rockville’s provides a host of perks to start-up companies — from discounted rental space to intellectual property programs — that otherwise might struggle in their early stages.

The network, though, improves on the earlier centers in several significant ways, development officials told The Examiner.

Rockville Economic Development Inc. Executive Director Sally Sternbach, who oversees the project, said for the first time several established businesses have signed on as sponsors and mentors to the newer companies.

These established businesses include Adventist Hospital and Montgomery’s largest law firm, Shuman, Rogers, Gandal, Pordy & Ecker.

“They will be involved in picking the companies and helping to offer advice ... it’s not just a one-time sponsorship,” Sternbach said.

The focus of the state-of-the-art facility is on companies with a technology or proprietary focus, she said.

So far 10 have been selected, with about 25 more to go. These businesses will occupy offices of varying sizes within two floors of a building that overlooks Rockville’s new Town Square.

One such company is Live Healthier, which founder Mary Moslander designed as a health and wellness company that provides online access to fitness and wellness experts for businesses both nationally and internationally.

Moslander said without the support that the business incubator network provides, her group would never grow as rapidly as it is, nor would it be “cash flow positive within two years.”

Statistically, incubators have proven “extremely targeted,” Sternbach said, with a majority of companies graduating within two to four years of being in the network and then staying within a five-mile radius when on their own.

“Rockville is 13 square miles, so we hope we can keep all these companies in the city and contributing to the economy,” she said.

dlevitz@dcexaminer.com