ANN ARBOR ? The Michigan Business Challenge kicks off Nov. 14 with a chance for competing student teams to share in more than $60,000 in prizes and the opportunity to travel to other intercollegiate business plan competitions for additional rewards. The contest is sponsored by the Samuel Zell & Robert H. Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial
ANN ARBOR - Seven businesses in the region are winners of this year's annual FastTrack awards that recognize companies that have demonstrated consistent growth. Several of the 2011 FastTrack award recipients were multiple year winners, demonstrating long-term business growth. Recipients of 2011 FastTrack awards were required to have revenue of at least $100,000 in 2007,
LANSING - Fifty-four small and midsize companies from around Michigan have been selected to receive business development support through the Pure Michigan Business Connect Economic Gardening Pilot Program offered by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. ?The goal of this program is to help these second-stage companies grow and in turn, generate new private investment and
DETROIT - ardentCause L3C has been selected as a recipient of Invest Detroit's First Step Fund financing. Terms were not announced. Additionally, ardentCause has added Norm Keane to its Board of Advisors. ?Both of these steps are significant,? said Rosemary Bayer, ardentCause?s CEO. ?Invest Detroit?s First Step Fund has shown faith in our ability to
LANSING ? The deadline to nominate a company for the Michigan Celebrates Small Business awards and 50 Companies to Watch is Nov. 10. On April 26, 2012, the Michigan Celebrates Small Business awards will put the spotlight on Michigan's Rising Stars. This is Michigan's top opportunity for recognition of innovation, achievement and success. Learn more
DETROIT - Michigan Emerging, a day-long conference at COBO Conference Center on Nov. 14 for movers, shakers, entrepreneurs in Michigan, with a keynote address by Gov. Rick Snyder. Other keynotes will come from Tim Bryan, CEO, Galexesystems; Miche Suboski, GLEQ Ambassador and Champion of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, LEAP, Inc.; and panel moderated by Ken Rogers,
YPSILANTI ? Fifty three companies are semi-finalists at the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition competing for a Grand Prize of $500,000. More than 35 venture capital investors are confirmed to attend as well. Confirmed speakers include University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman; Dave Egner, Executive Director, New Economy Initiative; Michael Finney, CEO, Michigan Economic Development
TROY - Credit Suisse's Customized Fund Investment Group and Beringea, co-managers of the InvestMichigan! Mezzanine Fund, Monday announced an investment in Dantom Systems in conjunction with the acquisition by Compass Investment Partners Fund. Terms were not disclosed. The InvestMichigan! Mezzanine Fund focuses exclusively on providing capital to businesses that are headquartered, have a significant presence,
DETROIT - Another technology start-up is calling downtown Detroit home. Detroit Labs, a technology launch pad specializing in the creation of iPhone, iPad, Android and Web applications, will be one of several tech companies moving into the newly renovated Madison Theatre building when it officially opens next month. Detroit Labs was launched earlier this year
GRAND RAPIDS ? Five West Michigan business incubators will tell their stories on November 8 at a Grand Rapids Inventors Network special event at the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences. The discussion will look at how each: Supports start-up businesses What they provide What it takes to be one of their tenants How their existing