Seven Ann Arbor Companies Receive FastTrack Awards, Honored for Business Growth
Seven businesses in the region are winners of this year’s annual FastTrack awards. The FastTrack awards recognize companies that have demonstrated consistent growth. Several of the 2011 FastTrack award recipients were multiple year winners, demonstrating long-term business growth. Recipients of 2011 FastTrack awards were required to have revenue of at least $100,000 in 2007, with an annual growth of 20 percent for the following three years. ... [Read More...]
Akervall Technologies Repays $15,000 Michigan Microloan Fund Program Award
Sassa Akervall, COO of Akervall Technologies, and Skip Simms, senior vice president of Ann Arbor SPARK Akervall Technologies recently repaid its Michigan Microloan Fund Program award, making it the first microloan recipient to repay funding. The company, whose work on the innovative Protech Dent™ mouth guard was also awarded phase I SBIR funding, repaid its $15,000 microloan in just 15 months, nine months before it was due. “Akervall Technologies... [Read More...]
Lakeside Software to Expand with New Ann Arbor Facility
Lakeside Software will grow its software development operations in Michigan, with a new location in Ann Arbor and an expansion to its existing operations in Bloomfield Hills. The company recently received a Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA) tax credit totaling $731,244 to help encourage the expansion. Lakeside Software plans to invest $6.1 million to expand existing operations in Bloomfield Hills, as well as locate operations in Ann... [Read More...]
Michigan’s Getting It Right
“Simply put, Job One is jobs,” said Governor Rick Snyder tonight at his State of the State address. What a refreshing voice for the people of Michigan! Open Source Economic Development ® Michigan Dashboard Metrics-real results for real people Economic growth Health & Education Value for Government Quality of Life Public Safety Pure Michigan Talent, entrepreneurs, employers, universities, funding, incubators = JOBS. Read More →
Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund Invests $2.5 Million in 2010
Several Michigan companies recently received investments from the Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund, pushing the total investments made through the Fund to over $11.6 million. To date, 52 Michigan companies have received seed funding from the Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund, a collaborative effort of Michigan’s SmartZones. “Companies that received support from the Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund are currently employing 285 people throughout... [Read More...]
Get Face Time with a big Michigan VC
Many entrepreneurs want to get in front of a VC. Well here’s your chance. The folks at Beringea, Michigan’s largest Venture Capital firm, will hold ‘Office Hours’ in 2011 in several communities around the state. Similar to the office hours format used by university professors, these sessions will provide the Michigan entrepreneurial community open access to Beringea venture capitalists for their perspective, feedback... [Read More...]
California’s Innovation Model… Michigan?
A great article in the San Fransisco Business Times talks about how California can get its “innovation game back,” it should follow Michigan’s example. Photo courtesy of San Fransisco Business Times Noted venture capitalist Tom Baruch offers insight on where we’re getting it right and what other states can learn from Michigan. The article notes Michigan’s robust entrepreneurial eco-system as having an impact on our... [Read More...]
Three Companies Receive Combined $110,000 From Michigan Microloan Fund Program
Three Michigan companies recently received a combined total of $110,000 through the Michigan Microloan Fund Program, bringing the total amount invested through the Fund to over $1.69 million. GreenSand Corporation, iQ-Telematics and MyBandStock Corporation received the funding to support commercialization of their core products. Since the Michigan Microloan Fund Program was established in July 2009, 42 companies have received over $1.6 million... [Read More...]
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...]
