Business Assistance

Small Business Technology Development Center Tech Team (SBTDC)

The experienced SBTDC technology business counselors provide early stage technology companies no-cost business consulting, which includes technology roadmapping, strategic planning assistance, business introductions, investor pitch coaching, business plan review, and SBIR/STTR application review. Last year the SBTDC Tech Team worked with more than 300 companies, resulting in over $69 million in capital formation.

Great Lakes Entrepreneurs Quest (GLEQ)

The GLEQ is a state-wide business plan competition, takes place twice a year, and offers multiple prizes including a top prize of $100,000. The GLEQ also matches companies with experienced coaches to guide them through the competition and holds more than 20 training and networking events for 400+ technology companies each year.

	- Start-up businesses as well as student teams participate.
	- Outcomes include development of a business plan and an elevator pitch for finalists.
	- 180 volunteer judges and 300 coaches are needed for a successful competition. If you are interested in either coaching or volunteering, an average of 6 hours of your time is committed.

BBC, Etc. (BBC)

BBC etc provides commercialization services, including SBIR/STTR training and one-on-one proposal preparation assistance to technology entrepreneurs and early-stage technology companies throughout Michigan.

- Some services require a co-payment by the client.

BBC clients have a 30% better chance of obtaining federal research dollars than the national average.

Detroit Creative Corridor Center

The Creative Ventures program delivers resources, services, strategic counsel and development support to those seeking to open or grow a creative business in Detroit. This program is business acceleration for the creative sector.

	- The Detroit Creative Corridor Center provides Digital Marketing Services to SmartZone companies.
	- Builds job skills and training in Detroit.

Small Business Technology Development Center Tech Team (SBTDC)

The experienced SBTDC technology business counselors provide early stage technology companies no-cost business consulting, which includes technology roadmapping, strategic planning assistance, business introductions, investor pitch coaching, business plan review, and SBIR/STTR application review. Last year the SBTDC Tech Team worked with more than 300 companies, resulting in over $69 million in capital formation.

Ann Arbor SPARK

Ann Arbor, Michigan - University of Michigan

	- Office space, classes, networking events, consulting assistance.
	- Entrepreneur Boot Camp is two intensive days for early stage companies to identify and work through critical business issues, gaining strategic and insightful solutions from peers and mentors.
	- TechArb student incubator provides business assistance and office space to student-run companies.

Michigan Corporate Relations Network (M-CRN)

The M-CRN serves “one-stop shops” for companies and economic development agencies to gain access to university research expertise and student talent.

	Includes U of M, MTU, URC, UM-Dearborn, MSU, WSU, WMU.
	Small Company Innovation Program (SCIP) will help companies partner with universities for applied research and development of identified technologies. The SCIP will provide Michigan small businesses access to matching funding to engage the M-CRN partner universities on company-specific research projects.
	Small Company Internship Award program (SCIA) provides funding and encourages student job placements with innovative and dynamic company partners within Michigan.
	This program reduces the cost barrier to library resources for small companies in Michigan to access a major research library’s collection of journals, periodicals and books.
	The Instant Innovation Program brings faculty experts from the universities together with Michigan companies to tackle significant business and research challenges.

Kettering University TechWorks

TechWorks is a business start-up and growth accelerator focused on advanced technology commercialization. It offers services to very early-stage project teams or companies to focus on business concept and technology assessment and key initial growth steps.

	- Flint, Michigan – Kettering University
	- Incubator and lab space
	- Business coaching, technology and strategy consulting and assistance in seeking grant and investment funding

Ann Arbor SPARK

Ann Arbor, Michigan - University of Michigan

	- Office space, classes, networking events, consulting assistance.
	- Entrepreneur Boot Camp is two intensive days for early stage companies to identify and work through critical business issues, gaining strategic and insightful solutions from peers and mentors.
	- TechArb student incubator provides business assistance and office space to student-run companies.

Michigan Initiative for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (MIIE)

A collaboration of all 15 Michigan public universities with representatives of the angel/venture capital, industry and economic development communities designed to build on Michigan's universities as economic assets by funding joint projects, entrepreneurship education, and technology commercialization.

MIIE Goals

Provide gap funding to speed commercialization of research
Help universities launch start-up companies
Promote an entrepreneurial risk-taking culture
Strengthen ties between small business, industry and academia

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Technology Commercialization Fund

$150,000 cap
50% match required

Talent, Innovation & Entrepreneurship Education Fund

$100,000 cap

Michigan Manufacturing Technology Centers (MMTC)

The Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center (MMTC) provides Michigan’s small- and medium-sized manufacturers with operational assessment, process improvement training, mentoring services, website technical assistance and market diversification tactics.

- Headquartered in Plymouth, the MMTC has five affiliate offices located in Flint, Grand Rapids, Marquette, Saginaw and Traverse City.

Michigan Corporate Relations Network (M-CRN)

The M-CRN serves “one-stop shops” for companies and economic development agencies to gain access to university research expertise and student talent.

	Includes U of M, MTU, URC, UM-Dearborn, MSU, WSU, WMU.
	Small Company Innovation Program (SCIP) will help companies partner with universities for applied research and development of identified technologies. The SCIP will provide Michigan small businesses access to matching funding to engage the M-CRN partner universities on company-specific research projects.
	Small Company Internship Award program (SCIA) provides funding and encourages student job placements with innovative and dynamic company partners within Michigan.
	This program reduces the cost barrier to library resources for small companies in Michigan to access a major research library’s collection of journals, periodicals and books.
	The Instant Innovation Program brings faculty experts from the universities together with Michigan companies to tackle significant business and research challenges.

Small Business Technology Development Center Tech Team (SBTDC)

The experienced SBTDC technology business counselors provide early stage technology companies no-cost business consulting, which includes technology roadmapping, strategic planning assistance, business introductions, investor pitch coaching, business plan review, and SBIR/STTR application review. Last year the SBTDC Tech Team worked with more than 300 companies, resulting in over $69 million in capital formation.

Michigan's Universities

Michigan has 15 excellent public universities with a strong focus on educating a high tech workforce from engineering talent to highly skilled manufacturing labor.

Many of the university research facilities are also working on the next advancements in alternative energy, life science, advanced manufacturing and other 21st century opportunities.

				Central Michigan University Location: Mount Pleasant, MI Founded: 1892 Website: http://www.cmich.edu/
				Eastern Michigan University Location: Ypsilanti, MI Founded: 1849 Website: http://www.emich.edu
				Ferris State University Location: Big Rapids, MI Founded: 1884 Website: http://www.ferris.edu
				Grand Valley State University Location: Allendale, MI Founded: 1960 Website: http://www.gvsu.edu/
				Lake Superior State University Location: Sault Sainte Marie, MI Founded: 1946 Website: http://www.lssu.edu/
				Michigan State University Location: East Lansing, MI Founded: 1855 Website: http://www.msu.edu
				Michigan Technological University Location: Houghton, MI Founded: 1885 Website: http://www.mtu.edu
				Northern Michigan University Location: Marquette, MI Founded: 1899 Website: http://www.nmu.edu/
				Oakland University Location: Rochester, MI Founded: 1957 Website: http://www.oakland.edu
				Saginaw Valley State University Location: University Center, MI Founded: 1963 Website: http://www.svsu.edu/
				University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Location: Ann Arbor, MI Founded: 1817 Website: http://www.umich.edu/
				University of Michigan - Dearborn Location: Dearborn, MI Founded: 1959 Website: http://www.umd.umich.edu/
				University of Michigan - Flint Location: Flint, MI Founded: 1956 Website: http://www.flint.umich.edu/
				Wayne State University Location: Detroit, MI Founded: 1868 Website: http://www.wayne.edu
				Western Michigan University Location: Kalamazoo, MI Founded: 1903 Website: http://www.wmich.edu/