Endowment helps entrepreneurial U-M students to go from idea to biz
There's little doubt that the university is an incubator for big ideas. But how many of those ideas can be translated into business? And what is the process for doing that? Tim Mayleben, CEO of biotech firm Aastrom Biosciences and former COO of Esperion Therapeutics, decided to help that process along. Excerpt: "“There’s this gap between ‘I have this cool idea,’ which is not a business, but it’s a cool idea,... [Read More...]
LanguageMate opens office in downtown Ann Arbor
New York City-based LanguageMate has opened an office in downtown Ann Arbor and plans to grow it significantly over the next year. The 50-person firm has a team of five people in the Ann Arbor SPARK incubator in downtown Ann Arbor and is working with SPARK to find permanent offices in the city. The nine-year-old company is also looking for interns and plans to flesh out its staff soon. “By the end of the first year, we want to have 7-8 employees,”... [Read More...]
Congrats to Lycera: Biotech Company Moves to U-M’s NCRC
Congratulations to Lycera on graduating from our Michigan Life Science & Innovation Center biotech incubator to U-M’s North Campus Research Complex (NCRC)! The move will accommodate the growing company’s need for more space; in the fall, Lycera will move into 14,000 square feet at NCRC. Lycera, a biopharmaceutical company and University of Michigan spinoff, pioneers innovative approaches to the discovery and development of novel... [Read More...]
Kauffman Study Shows Impact of Business Accelerator Efforts on SE Michigan Start-Ups
A new Kauffman Foundation study shows the results of business accelerator efforts by Southeast Michigan’s economic development organizations. Combined, Ann Arbor SPARK, Automation Alley, Macomb-OU INCubator and TechTown , collectively known as the Business Accelerator Network for Southeast Michigan, have: Created more than 1,000 jobs Invested approximately $18 million in hundreds of start-up companies Secured more than $101.2 million in... [Read More...]
Buycentives Cites Microloan Funding in Article About its Success to Date
In a recent interview with Xconomy, local start-up Buycentives cites Ann Arbor SPARK’s microloan funding program as critical support for its growth. Buycentives also mentions its time as part of our incubator as having impacted its evolution to date. “The startup, founded in 2009 and incubated at the Ann Arbor SPARK program, is talking with potential customers in the auto space and is looking to begin a pilot program in the coming... [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...]
The Michigan Daily Covers Entrepreneurs and Incubators
Ann Arbor, Venture Capital is the headline of a great article written by Addie Shrodes of The Michigan Daily. The article covers entrepreneurialism in Ann Arbor and includes information about SPARK and the work we do assisting start-ups as well as on the student incubator, TechArb. Read the article. Read More →
Michigan Municipal League article about SPARK
In the current issue of the Michigan Municipal League magazine and e-newsletter there is an article about SPARK and our ‘open source economic development’ model. Check it out here. This issue is mostly about entrepreneurism in the state. It’s very encouraging. We’re in good company with communities all around the state. Included in the publication are articles about the new incubator in East Lansing and a new initiative... [Read More...]
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... [Read More...]
