Entrepreneur Partners
Consulting and Education Sources
Center for Empowerment and Economic Development (CEED)
The Center for Empowerment and Economic Development is committed to empowering women and minorities economically through business development training, vendor certification, business-to-business networking and accessible capital assistance programs. www.miceed.org
EMU Center for Entrepreneurship
The Center for Entrepreneurship is a co-curricular program of the EMU College of Business which strives to encourage innovative business creation and growth in southeast Michigan and a strong culture of entrepreneurial thinking in the EMU community. www.cob.emich.edu
Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center (MI-SBTDC)
MI-SBTDC enhances Michigan’s economic well being by providing counseling, training, research and advocacy for new ventures, existing small businesses and innovative technology companies. www.misbtdc.org
SCORE
Staffed with retired business executives, SCORE provides free and confidential business advice and counseling tailored to meet the needs of small businesses and personal objectives. www.score.org
U-M Business Engagement Center
The Business Engagement Center is a “front door” to the University of Michigan for businesses and industry. www.bec.umich.edu
U-M Center for Entrepreneurship
The Center for Entrepreneurship (CFE) is a Michigan Engineering venture that empowers students, faculty and staff to pursue entrepreneurial achievements that improve people’s lives, drive the economy and help innovators bridge the gap between inventor and the business that is enabled by these breakthroughs. www.cfe.umich.edu/u
U-M Office of Technology Transfer
The University of Michigan office of Tech Transfer is responsible for the transfer of technology to the marketplace. The licensing staff shares responsibilities between the central and satellite offices to ensure a consistent interface for all technology transfer needs. www.techtransfer.umich.edu
U-M Zell Lurie Institute
The Samuel Zell & Robert H. Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies provides the curriculum, program initiatives, community involvement, and alumni outreach activities that deliver exclusive resources for future entrepreneurs of the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. www.zli.bus.umich.edu
Funding Sources
Ann Arbor Angels
The Ann Arbor Angels is a membership organization of Angel investors that invest in early-stage technology companies in the greater Ann Arbor area. www.annarborangels.org
Biotechnology Business Consultants (BBC)
BBC concentrates its efforts in the areas of business development, SBIR/STTR training and proposal preparation and support. www.bioconsultants.com
Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest (GLEQ)
The GLEQ is a non-profit program that awards prize money in business plan competitions aimed at encouraging and educating entrepreneurs on the creation, start-up and early growth stages of high growth businesses. www.gleq.org
Michigan Emerging Technology Fund (ETF)
The Michigan Emerging Technologies Fund (Michigan ETF) is designed to expand funding opportunities for Michigan technology based companies in the federal innovation research and development arena. The fund will match both Phase I and Phase II SBIR/STTR awards until funds are exhausted. www.mietf.org
Small Business Administration
The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Approximately 35-40% of all SBA loans are made to start-up companies. www.sba.gov
Venture Capital and Angel Investors
The mission of both venture capital firms and angel investors is to invest in start-up, early stage and emerging growth companies in exchange for an equity position.
Networking Sources
Ann Arbor / Ypsilanti Area Chamber of Commerce
The Ann Arbor / Ypsilanti Regional Chamber is a 1,300-member community organization that actively facilitates, educates and advocates on behalf of its members through our services and programs. www.annarborchamber.org
MichBio
MichBio is a non-profit, statewide trade association. MichBio’s mission is to drive life sciences industry growth in Michigan. www.michbio.org
NEF
New Enterprise Forum is a membership organization that helps entrepreneurs establish strategic alliances and build strong viable companies. www.newenterpriseforum.org