Michigan Capital Available
Next Tuesday we are updating everyone on all the state funded programs that can put cash in the bank account of start-ups and early stage companies. Andy McColm at U of M Office of Tech Transfer, Ned Staebler from the MEDC and Iwill explain the ins and outs of the many programs available. We will explain the qualifications for eligibility and processes to apply. The program will be streamed on the web live for those who cannot attend. Go to http://www.annarborusa.org/start-ups/pre-seed-fund/live/ to watch the presentation. You will also be able to ask questions from this site. A few days after the presentation ...
Business Incubator Company Profile: Hygieia, Inc.
Ann Arbor SPARK welcomes Hygieia, Inc. to SPARK Central, the Ann Arbor business incubator. Founded in 2008, Hygieia, Inc. is developing an endocrinologist-to-go, called Private-Doc, a glucose meter with unique software that interprets a patient’s blood sugar data. This allows the patient to change insulin dosages right away rather than waiting to be assessed by a physician. By managing their own dosage changes with Private-Doc, diabetics can consistently maintain control of their blood-sugar levels, a key to optimal diabetic care. Dr. Eran Bashan was studying electrical engineering when he partnered and co-founded Hygieia with Dr. Israel Hodish, an Endocrinologist and ...
Open Source Economic Development and Statewide Cooperation
At Ann Arbor SPARK, our immediate goal is to promote economic development in the Ann Arbor region. But our larger focus is ensuring long-term growth and viability for the entire state of Michigan — something that can best be achieved through a process we call Open Source Economic Development. We don't view any place in the state of Michigan as competition to us. We view the rest of the state as partners. If there are things that we can do or things that we're doing that will allow the rest of the state to improve at a more rapid pace, we ...
Welcome to the SPARK East Open House
SPARK East is hosting its official open house. This business incubator blends affordable office space, essential business services and business development guidance to new businesses. SPARK East is the third business incubator in SPARK's Regional Incubator Network. Our other incubators include the Michigan Life Science Innovation Center north of downtown Ann Arbor and SPARK Center, located on Liberty in downtown Ann Arbor. Our press conference and ribbon cutting is scheduled to begin in just a few minutes. It's a packed house here – it's exciting to see so many people who are interested in business start-up and acceleration here in the region. Mike ...
Eastern Leaders group has ambitious plans for 2009
Hoping to build on the success of the Spark East business incubator, the Eastern Leaders group unveiled an ambitious plan Thursday for 2009 that includes training workers for new jobs, launching a micro-loan program and developing a land bank. Read the Ann Arbor News article
Boot Camp & ACE
As a long time Boot Camp drill instructor I have had the good fortune to work with a number of early stage companies that have gone on to commercialize their technologies. An important step in that path is often soliciting and securing funding for the new business. One of the critical lessons that Boot Camp teaches is distilling the important elements of your business into a concise two minute presentation or “elevator pitch”. Armed with this tool bootcampers are able to get potential investors attention and (hopefully) secure that important meeting. Here in South East Michigan, a premier forum for such activity ...
SPARK East Awarded $250,000 Grant
Washtenaw County, in partnership with Eastern Michigan University and Ann Arbor SPARK, has been selected by the Michigan Strategic Fund to receive an award of $250,000 in grant funding through MEDC and the state of Michigan. The grant will support SPARK East, the third business incubator in SPARK’s Regional Incubator Network; located at 215 W. Michigan Avenue in Ypsilanti, SPARK East offers affordable office space, and critical start-up services, to new businesses. Check out the good news: http://www.annarborspark.org/growth-expansion/news-of-note/Index.cfm?i=2958
Entrepreneur Boot Camp Reunion
We recently held our first Entrepreneur Boot Camp Reunion. It was primarily a networking event where sixty campers and mentors shared their experiences with entrepreneurship. We had representatives from some of the earliest camps going back to 2002. Based upon the feedback from this event, we decided that we should hold an annual reunion as the participants value the opportunity to continue to network with other campers and mentors. One of your suggestions was to profile a successful company. For our initial profile, we choose Polytorx and Luke Pinkerton. Polytorx is a maker of helix fibers that replace rebar in concrete. http://www.polytorx.com/ Luke was ...
“Open Source” Economic Development
Economic development in Michigan should take a page from the playbook of the ever-evolving software industry. Its “open source” philosophy – the source code that drives development should be open and available to all – is a model that can propel Michigan’s success in growing, retaining, and attracting business. [caption id="attachment_146" align="alignright" width="120" caption="Michael Finney, SPARK President & CEO"][/caption] Ann Arbor SPARK has taken steps to pilot this approach to economic development by designing initiatives and committing resources that are meant to be openly available and shared statewide. These resources include business incubation, talent enhancement, pre-seed funding, and cross-region assistance with development ...
Ann Arbor USA Posts
The Business Accelerator Network for Southeast Michigan, a new region-wide network for building and retaining new business in...
TIME On Accelerating DetroitThere are exciting things happening in Southeast Michigan. TIME blogged about the New Economy Initiative for Southeast Michigan...
Show Your Love for DetroitWhat do you love about Detroit? Terry Bean, founder, Motor City Connect has initiated a movement to move Detroit forward. He wants...
Three More Companies Receive MicroloansThree Michigan companies recently received a combined total of $140,000 through the Michigan Microloan Fund Program, bringing...
Angel Tax Credits better than a Capital Gains Tax CutThere are some politicians who actually get it. I’m not talking about a certain gubenatorial candidate. I’m...
Eastern Leaders Group Summer UpdateThe Eastern Leaders Group just released a summer update on activities in Eastern Washtenaw County. It includes information on...
Final California BlogI want to go back to “Google land” where the toilet seats are heated and you are never more than 150 feet from food. My...
Area News
Offering a Word for the web solution for the
pains of website maintenance are Mike Monan and Stephen Colson, the founders of Switchback, an internet business based on Drupal technology. This week they dish with Concentrate’s Jon Zemke on downtown workspaces and the wilds of entrepreneurship.
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- Pure Entrepreneurship: A Q&A with Catherine Juon and Linda Girard
- Know Y: Michigan, The Nation’s Ex
- Concentrate Speaker Series Event: Young & Sticking Around
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