YPSILANTI ? Michigan is rapidly evolving from a heavy manufacturing, unionized state into one where an entrepreneurial-oriented population understands each has the responsibility for manifesting their own future, said David Brophy, founder of the Michigan Growth Capital Symposium.

?Historically, people in this state never thought that way,? said Brophy, a professor at the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. ?Before the attitude was ?what is the union doing for me?? Or ?what GM does for me?? Now it is ?if I can get off the dime, what can I do for my family.? ?

Since Brophy started the Michigan Growth Capital Symposium in 1981, the symposium has become not only the state?s, but the Midwest?s premier investor event for startups seeking money. Once again this year, it attracted a collection of prominent national investors, many of whom were Brophy?s students earlier in their careers. Like MGCS opening day keynote Jason Mendelson, co-founder and managing director of Founder Group in Boulder, Colorado.

Mendelson took Brophy?s business school classes in 1996 and 1997, he said. In between he earned a bachelor?s degree in economics in 1993 and a law degree in 1998. He said Michigan?s entrepreneurial climate has come a long ways since he came back for a look-see in 2005.

?When I came back in 2005, there was nothing that interested me,? he said. ?I?m a software and IT guy. But when I came back in 2009, I felt like seeds of entrepreneurship had been planted. Now Ann Arbor and Michigan have everything except financial capital and a history of success. When you get those two, you guys will be rocking.?

But, Mendelson said, all things are point up.

?Michigan has visible leaders,? he said. ?Michigan has real companies in real sectors. The Michigan undergrads are getting involved. Michigan is becoming a very special place with many centers of entrepreneurship. The Angel investors are a growing community. Out-of-state VC firms are opening offices here. You have strong biotech companies. Grand Rapids is becoming a hub.?

Mendelson applauded the entrepreneurial efforts underway in Detroit as well. He pointed to Detroit Venture Partners ? an accelerator in downtown Detroit backed by Josh Linkner, Dan Gilbert, Brian Hermelin, and Ervin ?Magic? Johnson ?as just one of the catalysts that has helped create more than 100 start-ups downtown. All Michigan needs is a few more success stories and the patience to take a 10- or 20-year perspective and Michigan will become a huge entrepreneurial success story in and of itself.

Brophy described Mendelson?s assessment of Michigan the highlight of the conference.

?I was heartened by it,? he said. ?Michigan tanked in the last decade. But the downturn got us all to see the light and get off the dime. We were the first ones in the ditch, now we?re the first ones out of the ditch.?

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