Bak USA, a START-UP NY participant, will accelerate sales and production related to its expansion in Western New York.
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A new, multi-million dollar investment spearheaded by former Buffalo Sabres owners Thomas Golisano will enable Bak USA to expand its job creation in the region, with an estimated 167 new jobs being created and an additional 100 previously planned jobs being created ahead of schedule.
Bak USA, which is one of the first American firms to produce its own-branded electronic tablets, is located at Compass East and covers 10,000 square feet of space on the top floor of the former site of Sheehan Memorial Hospital at 425 Michigan Avenue.
Ulla Bak, president of Bak USA, said, "We are so pleased to have Tom Golisano as our partner. His unique perspective, contribution and experience will help us realize our goals much sooner than we anticipated. We couldn't think of a better partner to begin the next phase of Bak USA's expansion."
Bak USA is one of the first businesses to participate in the Governor's START-UP NY program in Buffalo. As part of its local efforts, Bak will engage SUNY Buffalo engineering students in a senior design course that will provide students with hands-on experience and help the company advance product development and efficiency.
The company also intends to collaborate with the School of Management's Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership on social entrepreneurship programs and activities.
While Golisano will not manage the company, he has agreed to lend significant strategic and valuable assistance to Bak USA as needed.
His important financial investment and expertise will enable Bak to accelerate its ambitious sales goals of 80,000 tablets before the year's end, and comes at a time when Bak USA has just completed its second recruiting drive, adding 13 new operators to their permanent staff.
Bak USA LLC is a social enterprise based in Buffalo NY that locally assembles their own "Bak Board" 8-inch PC tablets, which are fully customized and adapted to businesses, retail and educational customers.
Founded by the Bak family, this technological company plans to continue their roll-out of niche Tablet PC factories nationwide by employing dynamic members from local communities to assemble their unique devices. ■