FastTrack Award Applications Open Until October 15
Ann Arbor SPARK is now accepting applications for the 2010 FastTrack business awards. Applications are due by October 15. Click here to apply. FastTrack awards are presented to companies with consistent records of growth. For the 2010 FastTrack awards, companies are required to have revenue of at least $100,000 in 2006, and average growth of 20 percent for the following three years. To qualify, companies must report 2009 revenues greater than... [Read More...]
Join us for our new series: Business Law & Order
On September 20, we’re kicking off our newest series in our Entrepreneur Education & Training Resources: Business Law and Order. The nine-session series will give entrepreneurs insight into important legal issues surrounding company formation and growth. Topics planned for Business Law & Order include: Business structure Intellectual property Doing business overseas. Compensating founders Hiring employees versus contractors Understanding... [Read More...]
Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition Announced
The Business Accelerator Network for Southeast Michigan, a new region-wide network for building and retaining new business in southeast Michigan, today announces the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition, an international business plan competition designed to highlight Michigan as a robust and vibrant venue for innovation and business opportunity. read more>> Read More →
SPARK’s Jennifer Owens Blogs from California
SPARK’s very own Jennifer Owens headed out to west to California this week on a business and talent attraction trip. She has organized two events during the time she will be visiting the Palo Alto area and has set up meetings with business leaders. The hope is to educate businesses about all the opportunities that are available for them in the Ann Arbor area. While out in California, Jennifer will be blogging through the Great Lakes Innovation... [Read More...]
New Economy Initiative Awards $3 Million to Business Accelerator Network for Southeast Michigan
This picture is from the press conference announcing the new Business Accelorator Network for Southeast Michigan The announcement of the new Business Accelerator Network for Southeast Michigan, a region-wide collaborative effort dedicated to attracting and retaining business in southeast Michigan, took place on Monday, June 21st. The New Economy Initiative for Southeast Michigan, an innovative philanthropic effort to accelerate the transition... [Read More...]
Ann Arbor Green Fair Continues A2Fiber Momentum
The tenth annual Ann Arbor Green Fair took place on Friday, June 11th along Main Street. SPARK attended the event in hopes to maintain and increase community support, interest and awareness of the A2Fiber campaign. The A2Fiber campaign is the community organized initiative created when applying to be chosen by Google to place high speed fiber cables around the city for faster internet. SPARK teamed up with the University of Michigan and the... [Read More...]
Energy Technology Forum on Energy Conservation
Conserving energy isn’t just about using different light bulbs. There are vast policy changes that are reshaping the landscape and creating business opportunities for savvy entrepreneurs. Come to this interactive event where you can hear from leading policy makers and business leaders and learn about key policy initiatives that are driving business development in the private sector. Register for the event. Read More →
What’s in a Term Sheet?
Not often discussed in presentations about starting a company, particularly an innovative high growth company raising private equity from angels and VCs, is the term sheet. The New Enterprise Forum and Ann Arbor SPARK are presenting a two part program about the various aspects of a term sheet. An attorney, investor and CEO will discuss the many elements of a term sheet and the ramifications of each. The first program is in two weeks, Thursday... [Read More...]
Local Group Battles Illiteracy to Build a Stronger Michigan
(Excerpted from Washtenaw Literacy) In Washtenaw County, statistics point to an illiteracy rate of 12%, about 27,000 citizens. Washtenaw Literacy matches adult learners with trained volunteers who provide individual and group tutoring in reading and writing skills. Its core program is one-on-one tutoring, which holds an impressive success rate: more than 90% of the adults in these programs reach at least one of their goals. World in a Basket is an... [Read More...]
Local Entrepreneur Launches T-Shirt Company
University of Michigan basketball star and co-captain turned local entrepreneur, David Merritt has announced that he’s starting a new line of “feel good” t-shirts. The IMU Brand t-shirts not only feature street-savvy designs but also boast a community give-back component, where proceeds from the launch event will be donated to Mott Children’s Hospital, employees of I Miss You commit to weekly community service and purchasers of the product... [Read More...]
