ANN ARBOR – The Annual Collaboration for Entrepreneurship (ACE) will be celebrating its 10th year on January 21, 2010. The event, which is expecting 750 attendees, is one of the largest single-day entrepreneurial events in the region.

ACE is the event where Great Lakes region entrepreneurs gather to network, learn, and connect. Each year at ACE, participates can join an exciting, forward-thinking community of innovators, entrepreneurs, and business leaders who have the vision and drive to build new ventures for a new future.

ACE began in Michigan in 2001 as a joint meeting hosted by the New Enterprise Forum (NEF) and the MIT Enterprise Forum of the Great Lakes. Today, several additional organizations have joined to participate in organizing, supporting, and promoting the event. These organizations include:

Butzel Long

Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest

Michigan Economic Development Corporation

Bank of Ann Arbor

Michigan Venture Capital Association

Ann Arbor SPARK

Automation Alley

Samuel Zell & Robert H. Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies

MITechNews.Com

PitchCorner.Com

The scope of ACE has grown to encompass participants from the broader Great Lakes region. The MI-SBTDC has lent its support and assistance throughout the history of the event. MI-SBTDC counselors have served on the ACE planning committee and have coached participating entrepreneurs.

This single-day event will offer a variety of different opportunities for entrepreneurs. Activities scheduled for this year include: educational sessions, entrepreneur exhibitions, the GLEQ competition awards. The event features two elevator pitch competitions: one intercollegiate competition and another open competition. This year’s showcase presentation will feature James Herbert, CEO of Neogen Corporation. Participants will also have the opportunity to network with fellow entrepreneurs, investors and business advisors from across the region.

The event will be held Thursday evening, January 21 at Skyline High School in Ann Arbor. For more information or to register for the event, please their web site at click on ACE-Event.Org

a>>