The Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition offers Michigan based innovators and entrepreneurs over $1 Million in prize money. The 2011 competition begins on June 6, 2011. The Competition Finals and Gala Awards Celebration will be held the evening of November 17, 2011 at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.

Cash winnings, plus in-kind awards of services, staffing and software valued at more than $1 million will be awarded to top entrepreneurial businesses that make a commitment to locate and grow in Michigan.  The Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition includes a competition for college students with innovative business ideas.

The second annual Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition will be held on November 16-17 at the Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti Marriott at Eagle Crest.

The Competition Finals and Gala Awards Celebration will be held the evening of November 17 at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Mich.

The Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition provides a catalyst to emerging businesses in Michigan. It attracts national attention from venture capitalists, start-ups and media to Michigan as a destination for innovation and an ideal place to launch and grow a new business.  The Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition provides critical start-up funding to emerging businesses in key areas of opportunity for entrepreneurial growth and success, including alternative energy, IT, advanced manufacturing, life science, medical devices and advanced transportation.

A $500,000 award was given to Armune Bioscience at the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Awards Ceremony, Dec 11, 2010

About Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition

The Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition is an international business competition offering more than $1 million in cash awards, plus in-kind awards of services, staffing and software. In addition to the prizes from the competition, entrepreneurs will have access to Michigan’s robust entrepreneurial ecosystem, which includes wet labs, incubators, and access to talent from the world’s leading research universities.  The Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition is a collaborative effort of the Business Accelerator Network for Southeast Michigan, the New Economy Initiative of Southeast Michigan and Accelerate Michigan.  For more information, visit www.acceleratemichigan.org.

Applications open Monday June 6, 2011
Company Deadline: August 10, 2011
Student Deadline: September 21, 2011

Competition: November 16 & 17, Eagle Crest Conference Center
Gala Awards & Dinner: November 17, Henry Ford Museum

Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition is an international business plan competition which highlights Michigan as a robust and vibrant venue for innovation and business opportunity. The competition fuels innovation-based business growth by uncovering the best and brightest new business concepts from local and global entrepreneurs, exposing those opportunities to potential investment capital and fostering their growth within Michigan.

The Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition targets mid-to-late-stage business start-ups with potential to generate an immediate impact on Michigan’s economy, as well as student concepts with longer-term business viability.

With more than $1 million in cash winnings, plus in-kind awards of services, staffing and software, the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition is the world’s largest business plan competition.

Dearborn was honored as a four-star community through the program known as eCities for its efforts to promote investment in the community and for its support of businesses pursuing innovative endeavors.

The eCities research surveyed more than 100 communities in the State of Michigan that are home to 128, 242 entrepreneurs, earning $3.4 billion in annual income. These communities also had $1.2 billion in commercial development last year. They account for nearly half the state’s commercial property.

Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr. said the four-star designation reflects Dearborn’s commitment to fostering a vibrant and diversified economy.

“Dearborn has a history of promoting economic development, and in these challenging times, we know it is even more important to continue to pursue entrepreneurs and commercial investments. We appreciate this distinguished recognition of our efforts,” O’Reilly said.

“We are pleased to have participation from so many communities throughout the state in eCities 2010,” said Tim Davis, director of iLabs. “The focus of this project is assisting local communities by identifying best practices and methods that they can implement which will aid with job growth strategies, economic diversification, and development of entrepreneurship.”

Dearborn and 55 other communities were honored at a ceremony at UM-D on Oct. 19.

The annual eCities research project uses date supplied by the participants, as well as other public records, to assemble a six-factor, 30-item index to encourage entrepreneurial activity. The factors are clustering, incentives, growth, policies, community and education.

The study focuses on entrepreneurships because of its importance to expansion and diversification of Michigan’s regional economies and the impact small businesses have on job creation.

Snyder is CEO, Chairman of the Board and co-founder of Ardesta LLC, a high tech venture capital firm located in Ann Arbor—also the home of his campaign headquarters. He previously served as CEO and chairman of Gateway, Inc. In July 2009, Snyder announced his campaign for governor of Michigan as a Republican in the 2010 election.

Rick Snyder - Innovator and Candidate for Governor

“We are excited to host Rick Snyder and anxious to hear his 10-point reinvention plan for Michigan,” said Chamber President Jennifer Knott Giering. “It’s important that we offer our membership access to high level key opinion leaders.”

Snyder’s 10-point plan to reinvent Michigan includes: creating more and better jobs; reformation of Michigan’s tax system; fixing broken government; restoration of cities and control of urban sprawl.

“We will celebrate success if and only if we accomplish these goals,” said Snyder at a recent town hall meeting in Grand Rapids. “The voting public must demand more from the governor and government. We will accomplish these goals!”

Dearborn Free Press readers may recall reading about Snyder’s participation in the Midwest Conference on Entrepreneurship that was held in Dearborn last fall.

The Chamber’s Business Builders Breakfast in October is one of four such events planned for the year. Previous speakers included Ford Motor Company’s Alan Mulally and Detroit Mayor Dave Bing. Individual tickets are available ($30 for members; $35 for non-members) as well as corporate tables ($400) by going to www.dearbornchamber.org.

The Dearborn Chamber of Commerce works to promote the best interests of nearly 600 member businesses by helping them connect with prospective customers, promote products and services, succeed in business through increasing sales and saving money, and to be a leader in the Dearborn community.

Global Entrepreneurship Week - Nov. 16 to 22

Michigan is participating in Global Entrepreneurship Week, a celebration of innovation, entrepreneurship, and creativity. The Week  will bring together millions of youth across the globe through online activities and encourage them to think innovatively and unleash their ideas (UnleashingIdeas.org).

Through a coordinated effort involving 85 different countries,  people (of all ages) will celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit in hopes of inspiring a new generation of young entrepreneurs.

Local activities happening in Michigan include a Media Mentoring Madness session in Dearborn, sponsored by the Dearborn Free Press (this publication) at the Dearborn Chamber of Commerce on Thursday morning, Nov. 19th at 8:00AM (from 8 to 9:30AM at the new Dearborn Chamber office location, 22100 Michigan Avenue ).

Dearborn (and Metro Detroit) area business owners, entrepreneurs, students, and members of local media are invited to attend to this FREE educational, mentoring and networking event.  Douglas Vos, editor and publisher of the Dearborn Free Press will talk about “Easy Steps to Free Publicity, and How to Win Free Media Attention for You or Your Business“  (Thursday, November 19th, from 8AM to 9:30AM at the Dearborn Chamber of Commerce, on Michigan Ave. in Dearborn — in the conference room.)

At the FREE seminar, Mr. Vos will present ideas on how to “Get Free Publicity – The Easiest, Fastest, and Cheapest Way to Get Featured in the Media”; “Supporting Your Idea with a Press Kit”, “Schmoozing that Puts You in the Public Eye”, and “Great New Ways to Painlessly Publish Articles Yourself”.

Other activities happening in Michigan this week include the Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour (see ExtremeTour.org) stopping at four locations across the state, Lawrence Tech’s Global Innovation Tournament, MSU’s screening of the Film TEN9EIGHT (see ten9eight.com), U of M Flint’s Launch Program, and EMU’s Simulation competition with Junior Achievement’s “Titan”. In all, the campaign is supported by 70 activities and being hosted by over 90 partners.

More information about Global Entrepreneur Week activities happening in Michigan can be found at http://migew.com

If you would like more information about Michigan Media Mentoring Madness, and/or the free event at the Dearborn Chamber of Commerce, please call Douglas Vos at 313-718-1010 .

Rick Snyder- Innovator and Venture Capitalist

Rick Snyder will be one of the keynote speakers.  Mr. Snyder was formerly president of Gateway Computer, and the first chairman of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.  Snyder is currently the Chairman and CEO of Ardesta, a venture capital firm that invests in innovative startups.  Since 1991, his primary business activities have focused on the technology industry and the development of emerging and high growth companies. Rick also recently announced his candidacy for Michigan Governor “because he believes it is time for a leader with a strong entrepreneurial background to reinvent Michigan.”

From 1991 to 1997, Rick served as executive vice president and then president and COO of Gateway, Inc. His responsibilities included overseeing all company operations and assisting in the strategic direction of the company. During his tenure at Gateway, the company grew from a privately held $500 million company to a NYSE-traded organization with revenues in excess of $6 billion. In 1997, Rick founded and led Avalon Investments, Inc., a venture capital company targeted at investments in technology-oriented ventures. Avalon was established as a $100 million fund targeting early stage technology investments. From 1997 to 2000, it invested in 24 companies, including several that were started based on technology transferred from universities.

Other keynote speakers include:

• Dr. Roger Newton, President and CEO of Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.
• Lesa Mitchel, Vice President of the Kauffman Foundation
• Vinita Gupta, Chairman and CEO, Quick Eagle Networks
• Gary C. Peters, U.S. Congressman, 9th District, Michigan
• Subhendu Guha, Ph.D., President and COO, United Solar Ovonic
• Daniel Mulhern
• Josh Linkner, Founder and CEO of ePrize
• Ned Staebler, Vice President of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation
• Robbie Hardy, Consultant with the Kauffman Foundation

Additionally, TiECon Midwest 2009 features include:

• Power Connect – a focused networking session attendees and 50 industry experts, entrepreneurs and venture capitalists.
• Business Boot Camp – to train bold entrepreneurs with technical ingenuity and groundbreaking ideas to consider the practical aspects of managing a company. Four sessions will be led by battle-tested industry experts focused on: raising funds, legal issues, building teams, scaling sales, and creating awareness among targeted audiences through marketing and PR campaigns.
• High-powered keynote speakers from all over the world.
• A Business Plan Competition

As Michigan businesses struggle in the current economy,  the TiE Midwest conference in Dearborn provides a unique opportunity to exchange ideas, explore new businesses, discuss emerging technologies, share growth strategies and obtain insight from global business leaders, community leaders and worldwide experts.

Leading the Business Bootcamp will be:

• Randal Charlton, Executive Director of Detroit Tech Town
• Patrick M. O’Keefe, Founder of O’Keefe and Associates
• Joe Urbany, Professor of Marketing at the University of Notre Dame
• Terry Bean, Founder of  Motor City Connect
• Michael Gaiss, Senior VP for Highland Capital Partners

Online registration and more information are immediately available for TiECon Midwest 2009 at http://www.tieconmidwest.org and http://www.detroit.tie.org.

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For more information about the conference, please contact Nicole Raymond, TiE Detroit (248)254-4013, (248)631-9263, or via e-mail at nicole.raymond@detroit.tie.org.

TiE is a global, not-for-profit organization dedicated to fostering entrepreneurs across its international network sponsored by top Venture Capital Firms, and Fortune 500 corporations; spread across 53 chapters in 12 countries comprising 1800 experienced entrepreneurs and business executives as charter members, 12000 aspiring entrepreneurs and professionals as members. TiE has grown to become the world’s largest non-profit organization for entrepreneurs.