Boot Camp

The Program
You'll spend two days and evenings learning how to identify critical issues for your business plan. Entrepreneur Boot Camp is an intensive and instructive way to gain critical 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.

See What Boot Camp's About
Boot Camp in the News

Additional Post-Camp Enhancements:

Consulting services valued up to $5,000
Virtual business incubator membership for 3 months - valued at $285
Access to SPARK Expert Resource Board - a monthly business assistance roundtable where the entrepreneur will receive a ½ hour of business advice/session from a panel of seasoned experts - valued at $600
3-month "after care" including mentoring, networking events and business-critical introductions - priceless

The next scheduled Entrepreneur Boot Camp will be held at the MITC Building, 1000 Oakbrook Drive, Ann Arbor, MI on May 6 and 7, 2010.

These camps are very successful at helping entrepreneurs refine, define, and launch their businesses. In a survey afterward, campers gave the program 100% approval rating.

Pre-Boot Camp - Entrepreneur Education 1.0
The Entrepreneur Education 1.0 series are programs designed
for innovation-based entrepreneurs that are in the process of
launching their company. Please click on the link below to view the description of the event and register.

March 10 Entrepreneur Education 1.0: Executive Summary
March 17 Entrepreneur Education 1.0: Product Innovation
March 31 Entrepreneur Education 1.0: The Management Team/Hiring
April 7 Entrepreneur Education 1.0: Entrepreneurial Finance

Download the

Boot Camp flyer

You'll learn how to refine your business model, design an effective investor presentation, and work one-on-one with experienced business executives who will mentor you. Your mentors will be carefully selected by your Drill Instructor who will get to know your business and needs, and match you up with custom resources in your industry and areas of need.

Boot Camp outcomes include:

Concise positioning statement (Elevator pitch)
Executive summary - 2-3 pages
Investor presentation - six minute summary form
Road map to the next company milestone

Finally,you will have an opportunity to present to a panel of venture investors, with the enthusiastic support of the Ann Arbor Community.

Boot Camp is limited to twelve entrepreneurial ventures; each with a two-person team. The total cost to attend the two day Boot Camp with instruction, meals, books and materials, is $1,000 per team.

Apply for Boot Camp now. The application deadline is April 1. For assistance call 734.761.9317.

Boot Camp Contact Information
For details about the Boot Camp program, email Lori at Lori@AnnArborUSA.org.
Frequently Asked Questions

The Entrepreneur Boot Camp is sponsored by Ann Arbor SPARK and funded by the LDFA.

Boot Camp graduates recently earned top honors in the Great Lakes Entrepreneur's Quest (GLEQ). Graduates also won the top elevator pitch presentation at the Annual Collaboration for Entrepreneurship event.

Boot Camp graduates recently earned top honors in the Great Lakes Entrepreneurs Quest (GLEQ). Graduates also won the top elevator pitch presentation at the Annual Collaboration for Entrepreneurship event in January 2006.

"Entrepreneur Boot Camp works. It's a concentrated business planning and preparation event designed to help early stage technology businesses increase their chances of attracting additional funding and achieving success."

Michael Finney
Ann Arbor SPARK CEO

Boot Camp Links

Frequently Asked Questions

Pre-Camp Training

Boot Camp Application

Call 734.761.9317 for more information.

Ann Arbor SPARK: 201 S. Division, Suite 430 • Ann Arbor, MI 48104 • 734.761.9317

SPARK Business & Wet Lab Incubators
SPARK Central Business Incubator: 330 East Liberty Street • Ann Arbor, MI 48104
SPARK East Business Incubator: 215 W. Michigan Avenue • Ypsilanti, MI 48197
Michigan Life Science and Innovation Center: 46701 Commerce Center Drive • Plymouth, MI 48170

©2009, Ann Arbor SPARK. All rights reserved.