NEWS
News
News of Note
World’s largest business plan competition will offer more than $1 million in cash awards for the best and brightest new business concepts
DETROIT, AUGUST 24, 2010 – The Business Accelerator Network for Southeast Michigan, a new region-wide network for building and retaining new business in southeast Michigan, today announces the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition, an international business plan competition designed to highlight Michigan as a robust and vibrant venue for innovation and business opportunity.
more
Aug 12, 2010 - The College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering's ("CNSE") Energy and Environmental Technology Applications Center ("E2TAC") and New York New Energy ("NENY") today announced the winners of the Clean Energy Investment Presentations, along with the recipient of the CleanTech Entrepreneur of the Year Award, from the New Energy Symposium held in New York City on August 9 and 10. more
For Immediate Release - Ann Arbor, MI – August 11, 2010 – Swift Biosciences Inc., a Michigan-based life sciences company, today announced the recent completion of a $3 million Series A financing led by the venture firm DFJ Mercury. DFJ Mercury was joined in the Series A by several Michigan-based individual investors who also helped launch the Company with seed funding in January 2010. Daniel Watkins of DFJ Mercury will join the company’s Board of Directors.
more
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – August 10, 2010 – ANN ARBOR, MICH. – Three Michigan companies recently received a combined total of $140,000 through the Michigan Microloan Fund Program, bringing the total amount invested through the Fund to over $1.4 million. Detroit Electric, Ergun Technologies, and Local Orbit received the funding to support commercialization of their core products. more
July 20, 2010 – ANN ARBOR, MICH. – Two southeast Michigan companies received high-tech, five-year MEGA tax credits today to help them expand in the region. Delphinus Medical Technologies and Quantum Signal were approved today for MEGA tax credits from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the State of Michigan.
more
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – JULY 13, 2010 – ANN ARBOR, MICH. –
Ann Arbor SPARK, the region's driving force of innovation and economic growth, will kick off its fourth Shifting Gears program this fall. Applications to the 2010 Shifting Gears program are due on September 3. Leading up to the fall Shifting Gears program, SPARK also announced five information sessions beginning
August 3.
more
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – June 30, 2010 – ANN ARBOR, MICH. – Three Michigan companies recently received a combined total of $104,000 through the Michigan Microloan Fund Program, bringing the total amount invested through the Fund to over $1.3 million. Terra-Telesis, KnowledgeWatch, and uwemp received the funding to support commercialization of their core products. more
DETROIT, JUNE 21, 2010 – The New Economy Initiative for Southeast Michigan (www.neweconomyinitiative.org ), an innovative philanthropic effort to accelerate the transition of metro Detroit to an innovation-based economy, today announces a $3 million grant over three years to support the newly formed Business Accelerator Network for Southeast Michigan, a region-wide collaborative effort dedicated to attracting and retaining business in southeast Michigan. more
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – ANN ARBOR, MICH. – JUNE 21, 2010 –
Ann Arbor SPARK vice president Skip Simms and GLEQ executive director Diane Durance presented InPore Technologies the first SmartZone Award at the GLEQ Awards Banquet recently. InPore Technologies was selected for the strength of its business plan, the industry, technical and entrepreneurial experience of its management team, and its ability to raise funds.
more
Posted: Jun 17, 2010 at 5:59 AM By Nathan Bomey, AnnArbor.com
Helping companies find the talent they need to run their businesses is becoming one of Ann Arbor SPARK’s most important missions. That emerging strategy - which SPARK CEO Michael Finney will address today at the “Innovation Cities: Best Practices in Urban Development Conference” in Lowell, Mass. - is a key driver of SPARK’s overall economic development strategy. more
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – June 15, 2010 – ANN ARBOR, MICH. – Two Ann Arbor companies received high-tech, five year MEGA tax credits today to help them expand in the region. NanoBio Corporation and Grand River were approved today for MEGA tax credits from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the State of Michigan. more
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – JUNE 9, 2010 – ANN ARBOR, MICH. – Four Michigan companies recently received a combined total of $122,000 through the Michigan Microloan Fund Program, bringing the total amount invested through the Fund to over $1.2 million. Akervall Technologies, Blaze Medical Devices, Ellison Corp., and Waste Water Heat Transfers Systems received the funding to support commercialization of their core products.
more
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – JUNE 7, 2010 – ANN ARBOR, MICH. – Mobile Sign Language Systems, LLC recently won Ann Arbor SPARK’s Eastside Innovation Campus (EIC) pitch competition. Besting four other finalists, Mobile Sign Language Systems won an engagement of up to $50,000 in business acceleration services, a one-year incubator lease at SPARK East and a package of additional start-up services including a one-year chamber of commerce membership. more
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – ANN ARBOR, MICH. – JUNE 1, 2010 – Ann Arbor SPARK, the driving force of regional business attraction, retention and expansion, recently added two people to its business development team and a new staff accountant. Valerie Christofferson was promoted from staff accountant to manager, business development. C.J. Lee was hired as manager, business development. Emily Heintz was hired as Ann Arbor SPARK’s new staff accountant.
more
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – MAY 27, 2010 – ANN ARBOR, MICH. – Ann Arbor SPARK celebrated the conclusion of its 17th Entrepreneur Boot Camp program with participant investor pitches and a reception on Wednesday, May 26. At the Ann Arbor SPARK Entrepreneur Boot Camp Celebration, NextCAT was selected as the “Best of Boot Camp” winner, based on the quality of its investor pitch and business plan. more
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – MAY 24, 2010 – ANN ARBOR, MICH. – On June 4, 3:30-6:30 p.m., five innovation-based entrepreneurs will compete in Ann Arbor SPARK’s business plan competition, hosted in conjunction with the Eastside Innovation Campus (EIC). The competition winner, as judged by a panel of noted funding and business experts, will win prizes to support their venture, including a one year incubator lease at SPARK East and up to $50,000 in business acceleration services. more
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – ANN ARBOR, MICH. – MAY 20, 2010 –At its annual meeting, Ann Arbor SPARK, the driving force of business expansion, attraction and retention in the region, recently elected its board of directors and executive committee for 2010-2011. The annual meeting also served as a celebration of Ann Arbor SPARK’s fifth year assisting in the creation of economic opportunities throughout the region and state. more
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – ANN ARBOR, MICH. – MAY 4, 2010 -- Three Michigan companies recently received a combined total of $121,000 through the Michigan Microloan Fund Program, bringing the total amount invested through the Fund to over $1.1 million. Inventure Enterprises, LED Optical Solutions, and RiserCam, received the funding to support commercialization of their core products.
more
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – APRIL 28, 2010 – ANN ARBOR, MICH. – On June 4, 3:30-6:30 p.m., Ann Arbor SPARK, the region’s driving force of business location, expansion and retention, is hosting a business plan competition in conjunction with EIC, the Eastside Innovation Campus. The pitch competition, hosted by SPARK East, will showcase five innovation-based entrepreneurs; the competition winner, as judged by a panel of noted funding and business experts, will win prizes to support their venture, including a one year incubator lease at SPARK East and up to $50,000 in business acceleration services. more
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – ANN ARBOR, MICH. – Aeroflex, Inc. has chosen to expand the operations of its Scio Township-based affiliate, Aeroflex/ INMET, a manufacturer of passive coaxial components for use in wireless communication applications. Aeroflex/ INMET was approved today for state tax credits by the Michigan Economic Growth Authority board, with support from Ann Arbor SPARK and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. more
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 19, 2010 – ANN ARBOR, MICH. – Three Michigan companies recently received a combined total of $115,000 through the Michigan Microloan Fund Program, bringing the total amount invested through the Fund to over $1 million. CYJ Enterprises, Ix Innovations and NextCAT, received the funding to support commercialization of their core products. more
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – YPSILANTI, MICH. – APRIL 15, 2010 – VC Web Design recently graduated from the Ann Arbor SPARK's SPARK East regional incubator. Over the course of a year, VC Web Design, a full service Web company, grew out of the incubator into office space in downtown Ypsilanti, at 9 Washington Street.
more
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 14, 2010 (Plymouth and Kalamazoo, MI) – Velesco Pharmaceutical Services , a contract research organization in the pharmaceutical drug development industry, has been recognized as one of the 2010 “Michigan 50 Companies to Watch,” an awards program sponsored by the Edward Lowe Foundation. Additionally, Southwest Michigan First recognized Velesco with a “Catalyst Award” for creating jobs and economic success in the Kalamazoo Region in 2009. more
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – MARCH 31, 2010 – ANN ARBOR, MICH. – Alternative energy leader Adaptive Materials, a manufacturer of solid oxide fuel cells, with Ann Arbor SPARK, the driving force of business acceleration and growth in the region, hosted U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development John Fernandez for a business forum today. More than 20 alternative energy leaders from throughout Ann Arbor and surrounding communities participated in the forum. more