One of my fondest memories as an entrepreneur were the early days at BlueBridge Networks when the four original founders were conducting business literally around a card table with four cell phones and four laptops.

At our backs was a 20,000 square foot data facility - one of the finest built during the great Internet expansion prior to the dot.bomb meltdown in 2001. The four original players at BlueBridge were Dan DeSantis (now with Cisco), Michael Bennett (now with Asurint), Neil Adelman (still El Presidente of BlueBridge) and myself (I am chilling these days at FIT Technologies).

Of course, there were some great investors as well - but they would rather remain nameless. But great men nonetheless.

These were exciting days, my friends, as we were trying to turn on a facility that had been down for almost three years at that point and make it a profitable venture. The stress was a bit overwhelming at time, but the days were always rewarding.

I believe our first big executive decision was leasing a copier - but more important decisions loomed. I left BlueBridge to assume the "tech czar" role under then Mayor Jane Campbell. But it always had a special place in my heart.

Truth is BlueBridge started the tech revolution in Playhouse Square. There were few tech companies in Playhouse Square at the time, but after the start of BlueBridge a whole slew of tech companies and their employees joined this growing area of town - Pantek, Foundatia Technologies, Platform Lab, Easy2 Technologies, Pathfinder, SchoolOne/FIT Technologies, ASM International, JurInnov, Thommen Medical, Asurint, e-Ventus, Bounty Technologies, ASMGi, Intellinet, Game Communications, Cleveland365.com, Portfolio Magazine Online, Lendable.com have all spent time or call Playhouse Square home after BlueBridge started.

BlueBridge Networks is the perfect example of company building an industry cluster. BlueBridge is a tenant in the Sterling Building - and in just the Sterling Building alone prior to BlueBridge starting the building was at a 56% occupancy rate. The Building now enjoys an 85% occupancy rate and counts five tech companies as its tenants.

Over 600 employees - just in this one building alone. Amazing. BlueBridge has had a profound effect on Playhouse Square and, yes, the City of Cleveland.

This is a perfect example of why we should be investing in tech-based start-ups and then clustering them in a tight geographic expanse. These tech companies then act as a magnet for other like-minded tech companies. It is a wonderful occurrence.