Most states provide assistance to start-ups located within their states. This assistance can include direct financial aid, but more typically includes technical assistance, helping start-ups find private sources of funds, arranging contacts between the start-ups and potential backers, and generally providing advice. This presentation will focus on the activities of the Illinois Technology Development Alliance, but will also cite analogous organizations in the neighboring states. The presentation will also include a discussion of the difficulties and pitfalls of getting a new technology off the ground to the point of being successful.