Michigan Microloan Fund receives payback on successful start-up loans
The Michigan Microloan Fund Program got its start two years ago loaning seed capital to start-ups, and the first of those loans are starting to come due. One has even been paid back early. "We have $400,000 in loans that are due between now and the end of the year," says Skip Simms, a senior vice president of Ann Arbor SPARK and manager of the Michigan Microloan Fund Program. The $1.5 million fund got its start in the wake of the financial... [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...]
Three Companies Receive Combined $145,000 From Michigan Microloan Fund Program
Three Michigan companies recently received a combined total of $145,000 through the Michigan Microloan Fund Program, bringing the total amount invested through the Fund to over $1.8 million. FamilyMint, Fusion Coolant Systems and Shepherd Intelligent Systems received the funding to support commercialization of their core products. FamilyMint, based in Ann Arbor, is an online budgeting tool that helps parents guide spending and helps kids develop... [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...]
Three More Companies Receive Microloans
Three Michigan companies recently received a combined total of $140,000 through the Michigan Microloan Fund Program, bringing the total amount invested through the Fund to over $1.4 million. Detroit Electric, Ergun Technologies, and Local Orbit received the funding to support commercialization of their core products. Read about the companies. Read More →
Eastern Leaders Group Summer Update
The Eastern Leaders Group just released a summer update on activities in Eastern Washtenaw County. It includes information on the SPARK East Business Incubator and profiles of businesses that have received microloan funding. Read the update. 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...]
4 Companies Receive Michigan Microloan Funding
The Michigan Microloan Fund Program recently awarded four Michigan Companies a combined total of $122,000. Akervall Technologies, Blaze Medical Devices, Ellison Corp. and Waste Water Heat Transfers Systems all received the funding to support commercialization of their core products. Akervall Technologies are based in Ann Arbor and have developed the Protech Dent™ mouth guard. Blaze Medical Devices is also based in Ann Arbor and is developing... [Read More...]
SPARK Wins Midwest Collaboration Award
At the 2010 Midwest Collaboration Awards, as presented by the Midwest Technology leaders, Ann Arbor SPARK was honored for its collaboration with the Michigan Life Science and Innovation Center (MLSIC). The award identifies, creates, supports, and honors impacting partnerships between Midwest companies and local individuals/groups benefitting the technology community. The award was a result of SPARK’s work on vital entrepreneurial programs... [Read More...]
