Like many Internet users, Mike O'Neal and Marcus Morton
experienced the low-quality audio and video when viewing webcasts.
But unlike typical Internet users, they knew how to fix it. Their
solution prompted them to start Network Foundation Technologies, or
NFT.
The problem with webcasting has always been cost. NFT's
technology promises to change the nature of Web broadcasting by
delivering an affordable, easy-to-use, around-the-clock,
television-style Internet broadcast.
O'Neal and Morton have obvious ties to Louisiana - the former is
a computer science professor at Louisiana Tech University, and the
latter is a Louisiana Tech graduate - and both are committed to the
state and growing its high-tech, knowledge-based economy. But
opening NFT in Ruston, La., wasn't just a sentimental choice; it
was a solid business decision.
"The state possesses a readily available, high-tech workforce,
which made our decision easy," said Morton.
O'Neal said the availability and skill level of Louisiana's
workforce could fuel development of a bustling high-tech
economy.
"We truly believe that with the quality schools of Louisiana
Tech, LSU, Lafayette and all the other great schools that graduate
engineers, there are plenty of educated people here to advance an
infrastructure for high technology and have what would be the
equivalent to the Silicon Valley," he said.
To get started, the company used Louisiana Economic
Development's Angel Investor Tax Credit Program, which enhances
Louisiana's entrepreneurial business environment by rewarding
qualified individual investors for investing in wealth-creating
businesses.
