ANN ARBOR ? Pre registration has begun for the Seventh Annual Collaboration for Entrepreneurship, a forum that offers several activities to showcase entrepreneurs, including networking, interactive displays, two panel discussions, and an elevator pitch competition.
More than 25 entrepreneurs will be featured at January 18, beginning at 5 p.m. in Washtenaw Community College’s Morris Lawrence Building.
During the competition, six people will make elevator pitches to an investor judging panel and an audience of several hundred attendees. The presenters include Oliver Baer of Check the Crib, Jim O.Brien of Hybra Drive, Terry Dunivin of Mindworks Learning, Dennis Carmichael of OnSite ERT Systems, Jerry Janson of PCM Environmental Technologies and John Cunningham of Rapid BioSense.
An elevator pitch describes the brief (but critical) opportunity an entrepreneur has to lure potential investors during encounters, such as an elevator ride. Judging the pitches are Mina Sooch of Apjohn Ventures, Kenneth Van Heel of Dow Chemical, Steve Brown of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Ray Gunn of Wingspan Partners. The winner will receive free memberships to more than a dozen organizations that are sponsoring ACE ?06.
?This is a great opportunity for entrepreneurs to learn,? said Charlie Penner, co-chair of ACE ?06.
?They?re also giving attendees a chance to invest in promising businesses at the early stages.?
The event?s keynote speaker is Michael Finney, the newly appointed leader of the Washtenaw Development Council and Ann Arbor SPARK. He?ll explain the efforts to expand business and entrepreneurial opportunities through his organizations. Bill Orabone of Ultimate Air and Clyde McKenzie of Tellurex Corporation also will provide business presentations. Publisher and radio host (WILS-1320 AM Lansing) Chris Holman will moderate the event.
Attendees can participate in one of two panel discussions featuring technology transfer and legislative issues. Both offer information on growing business opportunities for Michigan.
The technology transfer participants include Mark Brucki of Lawrence Technological University, Steve Brown of MIT, Lori Hudson of Michigan State University, and Ken Nisbet of University of Michigan. Art DeMonte of the Great Lakes Entrepreneur?s Quest will moderate the talk on opportunities for entrepreneurs to license technology from universities.
Another panel will focus on legislative issues affecting entrepreneurs. Panelists include Jeff Mason of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and State Representative Andy Dillon. Mark Clevey of the Small Business Association of Michigan will moderate the session.
Refreshments will be served during the networking portions of the event. The cost is $10 for members of partner organizations, $5 for students with ID, and $25 for walk-ins. This year’s main sponsor is Butzel Long, a leading law firm with offices throughout Michigan.
For more information, click on ASE-Event.Org
