Great Lakes Entrepreneur's Quest

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Michigan Venture Capital Association Executive Director, Carrie Jones talks to Fred Pieplow, Ambassador for the Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest about the investment climate in Michigan. 

Highlights include:

Jumping to 15th, from 25th, in 2012 investments by state

$242 million invested

29 VC firms in Michigan

106 VC backed companies in Michigan

40 active Angel & Pre-seed funded companies

and much, much more.

An extra big thank you to Carrie for talking to us while she was on vacation - shhh - don’t tell her boss!

Learn more about the Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest business plan competitions at GLEQ.org.

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Brian Abraham, Executive Director of the Spartan Innovation Center at Michigan State University spoke to GLEQ ambassador Fred Pieplow.   They discussed Spartan Innovations role in bringing promising new technologies to market and how they work with other entrepreneurial support and economic development organizations. Spartan Innovations provides the educational and financial support necessary to turn MSU research technologies into successful Michigan businesses — and spur entrepreneurship in the Michigan economy. Spartan Innovations is co-located with and complements the work being done now by MSU Technologies, the university’s technology transfer office organized in 2007, and Business-CONNECT, created in 2009 as MSU’s portal for engagement with the business community. All three units are part of the MSU Innovation Center. Learn more about the Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest business plan competitions at GLEQ.org.

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Amanda Chocko, Community Relations at Start Garden talks to Fred Pieplow, GLEQ Ambassador.

$5,000, an idea!

The type of idea we’re looking for is an idea that could, potentially, become a business.

Each week we invest $5,000 in two ideas. One is chosen by Start Garden. The other is the one with the most endorsements from the general public. We want to invest in what you like.

If you have an idea that might be a great business, check out Start Garden and submit your idea on Thursday after lunch!

Ideas must be 1) Desirable, 2) Feasible, and 3) Viable.

In addition to the initial investment, Start Garden may make additional investments and assist with intellectual and social capital resources.

Go to the GLEQ web site to learn more about their two business plan competitions each year.

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CASHMIB.COM & GLEQ Present “Whats Happening”

As Miche Suboski discussed, Entrepreneur Connect, the educational and awards event for the Spring 2013 business plan competition, will be held at the Henry Executive Center in Lansing on Tuesday June 18. For more details, go to entrepreneurconnectmi.org/

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Cashmib.com is proud to present the Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest.