Ann Arbor SPARK Launches CEO Podcast Series
Ann Arbor SPARK, a public-private partnership whose mission is to advance innovation-based economic development in the greater Ann Arbor region, is launching Ann Arbor SPARK CEO Podcasts: Conversations on Economic Opportunity, featuring Paul Krutko, its president and CEO, speaking with regional business leaders. “Since joining Ann Arbor SPARK, I’ve met with more than 80 business owners who are advancing our region’s economy; there’s an incredible... [Read More...]
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...]
Happy Labor Day!
Let's face it, we all need a day off. Especially with the start of school. Concentrate will be taking a break next week as we get used to homework, after school clubs, returning U-M students, and the generalized chaos that follows Labor Day. But look for a new issue on September 14th, when we return with more stories of innovation and growth. News from Concentrate Read More →
Once upon a time U-M was the 8th most visited site on the Internet
The year was 1996, and the Internet was the innovation too many wrote off as a passing trend. Business Insider offers a website by website comparison of what sites were hot then, and what’s hot today. The results are pretty surprising. All I can say is: At least we beat out Penthouse. Check it out here. News from Concentrate Read More →
5 Reasons to Start a Business in Ann Arbor
We love this article from Inc, that talks about the 5 reasons to start a business in Ann Arbor. From the fact that “innovation is in the air” to support abounds, we think the author hit the nail right on its head. Post to comments the reasons why you think this is a great region to start a business! 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...]
Mobile Sign Language Wins EIC Pitch Competion
Mobile Sign Language Systems CEO, Jason Gilbert took home the prize at the Eastside Innovation Campus Business Pitch Competition on June 4th. Mobile Sign Language Systems has developed smartphone software that translates spoken English into a video of sign language in real time. The software is designed to help deaf people, who often struggle to communicate with their counterparts in the hearing world, most of whom do not know sign language. Jason... [Read More...]
Join us for a business pitch competition on June 4
Five innovation-based entrepreneurs will pitch their businesses for a chance to win incubator space & business acceleration services on June 4 at SPARK East. The business pitch competition, hosted in conjunction with EIC, the Eastside Innovation Campus, will run from 3:30-6:30 p.m. The competition winner, as judged by a panel of noted funding and business experts, will win prizes to support their venture, including a one year incubator lease... [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 →
