Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund Invests $585,000 in Three Start-Ups
Three Michigan companies recently received investments from the Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund, totaling $585,000. To date, the Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund, a collaborative effort of Michigan’s SmartZones, has awarded 63 Michigan companies with seed funding totaling more than $14 million. The Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund companies have attracted more than $18 million in matching grant and equity funds. In 2011, the Michigan Pre-Seed Capital... [Read More...]
Finding a Good Crop of Employees: NPR Offers Up Close Look at Michigan’s Agriculture Economy
A recent “Changing Gears” series on Michigan Radio explored Michigan’s agriculture economy. In part five of the five part series, SPARK president and CEO Paul Krutko offers that “prospective workers want to take jobs in places where they know there are more jobs.” With his insight, Krutko explains that agriculture talent — and the needs of this population — are no different that the needs of high tech workers... [Read More...]
MichAGAIN event in D.C. gathers large crowd
Some of the event organizers: LeRoy Newland, GE; Stefanie Ridenour, MEDC; Me; Valerie Furchi, GE; and John Hill, MSU What do you get when you mix a handful of Michiganders and 125+ alums from the great state? An amazing night filled with networking, laughs, rivalry talk and memories. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s MichAGAIN Campaign was in full effect last night at Policy Lounge in Washington DC. The group of state and... [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...]
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...]
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 →
Final California Blog
I want to go back to “Google land” where the toilet seats are heated and you are never more than 150 feet from food. My California journey is done and I am now back on eastern standard time. The last day of the trip was a perfect ending to a marvelous journey. Read more. Read More →
More Blogging from California
Read more about the companies that Ann Arbor SPARK is meeting with in the Bay Area in Jennifer Owens’ 3rd GLITR blog installment. Read More →
Three Companies Receive Michigan Microloan Funding
Three Michigan companies recently received a combined total of $104,000 through the Michigan Microloan Fund Program. This brings the total amount invested through the Fund to over $1.3 million. Terra-Telesis, KnowledgeWatch, and uwemp received the funding to support commercialization of their core products. Terra-Telesis is based in Okemos and received Microloan funding for the commercialization of emerging technology based on its unique low profile,... [Read More...]
