ANN ARBOR – The Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest is a nonprofit educational program designed to accelerate the formation of high-growth companies across Michigan. Anyone who lives, works or attends school in Michigan can participate in the competitions and educational programs at no cost.

More than $10.7 million was recently awarded to GLEQ alumni from the 21st Century Jobs Fund, bringing the total investment into GLEQ companies to more than $30 million.

The GLEQ sponsors two statewide business plan competitions each year. The Quest is structured into two distinct maturity ?paths?: companies with more developed businesses compete in the Emerging Company (EC) path while teams with new or less developed business ideas compete in the New Business Ideas (NBI) path.

The EC teams must complete and submit an 8 to 12 page business plan, while the NBI teams must develop and submit a five-page executive summary describing their business or business idea. The GLEQ provides the assistance of coaches and educational programs to help all entrepreneurs with their business plans. Cash awards up to $25,000 and in-kind awards are provided to the EC and NBI winners. In addition, Innovation Awards sponsored by Automation Alley, NextEnergy and Southwest Michigan First provide investment amounts up to $12,500 for teams meeting the sponsor criteria.

The GLEQ is currently sponsored by the Ann and Carman Adams Fund of the Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan, Wayne State University, Apjohn Group, Southwest Michigan First, Automation Alley, NextEnergy, the Samuel Zell and Robert H. Lurie Institute at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business and Lambert, Edwards & Associates. Additional cash sponsors include MPI Research and The Right Place.

Founded in 2000, the GLEQ has provided over $800,000 in contributed services from volunteer coaches, educators, judges and in-kind sponsors. It has provided over $700,000 in cash to promising technology companies through its statewide program which is aimed at encouraging and educating entrepreneurs on the creation, start-up, and commercialization of high-growth businesses within the state of Michigan.

Additional information is available at GLEQ.Org