SPARK Event Descriptions
In addition to our monthly series events, talent events and entrepreneurial education, SPARK holds a variety of special and collaborative events that range in topic and can also feature special guests. Such collaboration events include AnnArbor.com's Deals of the Year where the FastTrack Award is presented.
Ann Arbor SPARK Educational Series Events
BioArbor hosts educational networking events for the life sciences industry in the greater Ann Arbor area. BioArbor’s focus covers technology commercialization, financing strategies, business development, regulatory affairs and marketing. Each monthly meeting features a networking session and an invited speaker, followed by a Q&A period. Invited speakers share experience on topics such as drug discovery & development, medical devices, diagnostics and tools. BioArbor events are open to the public and are especially suited for those interested in starting or growing life science businesses. Events are usually held on the second Wednesday of each month at SPARK Central.
www.BioArbor.com
The nine session Business Law & Order Legal Series will give entrepreneurs insight into some of the most important legal issues they must consider during business formation. Some of these issues include: proper business structure, intellectual property protection, founders and key employee compensation, considerations regarding employees versus independent contractors, doing business overseas and commercial agreements. The events are held the third Monday of each month at SPARK Central.
More Information
The Marketing Roundtable is a ten-session monthly series featuring regional marketing professionals who will discuss practical and cost-effective innovation marketing. Program topics range from brand strategy to social media, and from financial accountability to guerrilla marketing. The Marketing Roundtable is held the second Tuesday of the month at SPARK Central.
More information
This is a monthly panel discussion and networking event series hosted by the Michigan Energy Forum Steering Committee, and sponsored by Ann Arbor SPARK. The mission of the forum is to facilitate collaboration and networking among practitioners, policy makers, investors and professionals. Events are held the first Thursday of the month at SPARK Central in downtown Ann Arbor.
More information
SELLING SMART WORKSHOPS
The Selling Smart Workshop series will be held the first Wednesday of the month, 9-11 a.m., at SPARK Central, through December. Each of the Workshop events will include an hour of practice selling, followed by an hour presentation on a different sales topic.
More Information
Additional Ann Arbor SPARK Events
HOt shots: career connections at Arbor brewing company
Hot Shots is an event for talent seeking opportunities for themselves. Attendees should bring their resume, and come and mingle with growing, innovative companies in a fun and relaxed environment! Recruiters and staffing companies should use other venues to meet with these company representatives. Hot Shots events are held monthly at Arbor Brewing Company.
OpenCoffee
This is a networking event for entrepreneurs, investors and those who work with technology & innovation businesses, particularly in IT, cleantech and life sciences. It's heavy on networking, full of interesting opinions and stories, and has led to several successful business partnerships. Join us for entrepreneur networking and business networking. OpenCoffee is held monthly on the second Tuesday at SPARK Central.
Starting Your Own Business
For those considering following the Entrepreneur path - learn about personality traits that impact entrepreneurialism, create a marketing plan, learn about legal, accounting, franchises, business plans and financing options. Attendees receive one on one counseling and advice from business experts and organizations that are available to support new ventures. The event is held the third Friday of every month. it is a full day event that takes place at SPARK East.
Entrepreneur Boot Camp is a two-day intensive program that helps you identify critical issues for your business plan. You'll get instructive feedback and advice about your business model, management team, competitive positioning, market strategy and other key elements that determine if a start-up will succeed or fail. Based on advice received during camp, former Boot Campers have gone on to win business plan competitions, secured funding, improved their business model, and got connected to advisors and other key talent.
More information and application process
TED DACKo SALES WORKSHOPS
Ted Dacko, an exemplary serial startup CEO lead three programs for our entrepreneurs this spring. His self-designed programs help entrepreneurs target their specific sales obstacles and discover the solutions to grow their companies. Topics of his workshops include; Sales 101 for A Technical or Domain Expert Founder and The 50 Biggest Mistakes Domain Expert Founders Make.
FastTrack is an exciting annual program sponsored by Ann Arbor SPARK recognizing companies in Washtenaw County for outstanding business success.
More information and application process
michagain- its time to come home to michigan
MichAGAIN is a collaborative effort between Ann Arbor SPARK and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to lure back grads who have left the state to take jobs at high tech firms elsewhere. The MichAGAIN trips bring capital, investment and talent back to companies, start-ups and entrepreneurs who are thriving in Michigan.
MichAGAIN, supported by a consortium of several private companies, economic development groups, and the University Research Corridor, hosts events in various cities with vibrant high tech communities and a significant number of Michigan college alumni. These events connect talent with representatives from companies, colleges and universities, and economic development officials to talk about the career opportunities available to them back home in Michigan.
With the support of MEDC, MichAGAIN has now become a state-wide effort.
More information can be found online at the MichAGAIN website, or by contacting Valerie Christofferson at Valerie@AnnArborUSA.org
GO BACK TO EVENT CALENDAR