I just received the following from Ann Arbor SPARK and thought that I’d pass it along… If you’ve got an idea for a technology-based business, this might be a great opportunity to both get some exposure, and some free business development services.
On June 4, 3:30-6:30 p.m., Ann Arbor SPARK, the region’s driving force of business location, expansion and retention, is hosting a business plan competition in conjunction with EIC, the Eastside Innovation Campus. The pitch competition, hosted by SPARK East, will showcase five innovation-based entrepreneurs; 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 at SPARK East and up to $50,000 in business acceleration services.
“The EIC collaboration is helping to expand the region’s entrepreneurial success by delivering critical services to start-ups. The pitch competition is a celebration of that success to date and signifies a continued commitment by SPARK East and its partners to growing start-up businesses,” said Michael A. Finney, Ann Arbor SPARK CEO. “The EIC pitch competition provides opportunities for start-ups to pitch their business to investors and the community, and receive feedback that can further their business development.”
Pitch competition finalists will have three minutes to deliver a business pitch to the panel of judges. The winning pitch will be selected based on identification and articulation of market need, how the product meets the need and business model. Companies will pitch their business idea in front of an audience at SPARK East.
To qualify for the pitch competition, businesses must be registered as a Michigan business. The winner of the competition is required to establish the SPARK East business incubator as its primary business location.
Applications to compete in the EIC pitch competition are due by close of business on May 14, 2010. The five finalists who will compete at the pitch competition event will be notified by e-mail or phone by May 21, 2010. The online application is available here.
EIC is a collaborative effort of Ann Arbor SPARK, Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Regional Chamber, Small Business and Technology Development Center, Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), Washtenaw County etcs/Michigan Works!, and Eastern Michigan University’s College of Business. Drawing from these regional resources, EIC offers start-ups a unique combination of local expertise, business incubation, export assistance, meeting space, marketing services, and education.
The Ann Arbor SPARK EIC pitch competition is a free event. For more information, or to register to attend, click here.
So, who’s got a good idea for a business that could create some good-paying jobs, and help turn Ypsi around?
4 Comments
A good step in the right direction. Hopefully the competition generates some interest.
There are, I’m sure, lots and lots of good service oriented business ideas about, but what we need, and what Spark is probably looking for, are technology-based companies with high growth potential. And, given our existing infrastructure, it’s not going to be easy. We don’t have a research university like the University of Michigan in town. EMU, as good as it is, is a teaching university, and they don’t tend to generate a great deal of intellectual property.(EMU does have a respected coatings department, from what I’m told, so there may be some opportunity there.) Also, the kinds of companies we have, with few exceptions, aren’t high-tech. So, the puzzle as I see it isn’t so much growing our own technology entrepreneurs from scratch, but luring young entrepreneurs to Ypsi from Ann Arbor. Unfortunately, we don’t have an abundance of move-in-ready space for them. To further complicate matters, commercial space in Ann Arbor is more affordable than it has been in years. What we need is an office park on Water Street, but the economics don’t make sense. So, we’re stuck.
Here’s an update:
Eastside Innovation Campus (EIC) Hosts First Business Plan Competition
The Eastside Innovation Campus partners are committed to fostering and supporting entrepreneurship in Eastern Washtenaw County. The EIC First Pitch Competition will showcase five innovation-based entrepreneurs and will provide the winner of the pitch competition a number of gifts and services to support their venture including a one year incubator lease at SPARK East and up to $50,000 in business acceleration services. The pitch competition will be judged by a panel of noted funding and business experts. More information about the competition…
Applications to be selected to compete in the 1st EIC new business pitch competition are due by COB May 14th. Selected competitors will be notified by e-mail or phone by May 21st.
Date: Friday, June 4, 2010
Time: 3:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Event schedule:
3:30 – 4 – Registration and check-in
4 – 4:30 – Pitch Competition
4:30 – 5 – Community entrepreneur resource overview (during competition judging)
5 – 5:15 – Winner’s announced and pitch critique
5:15 – 6:30 – Networking reception
6:30 – midnight – Crossroads Music Festival and First Friday activities in downtown Ypsilanti
Location: SPARK East, 215 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti
Cost: There is no cost to enter the competition or attend the event.
Click here to register to attend the event.
Sponsored by:
Ann Arbor SPARK, Eastern Michigan University, MI-SBTDC, Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Regional Chamber, PTAC, Washtenaw County, Ypsilanti CVB, Michigan Works!/etcs
The competition is today.
More detail can be found here:
http://www.annarborusa.org/events/details?e=10416