Boot Camp Now Accepting Applications

Ann Arbor SPARK Entrepreneur Boot Camp Now Accepting Applications
September 11, 2006

Ann Arbor SPARK announces the eighth Entrepreneur Boot Camp to be held on November 2 and 3, 2006. The Camp will be held at the Michigan Information Technology Center (MITC) in Ann Arbor. Interested teams must submit applications online at www.annarborspark.org/business-resources/launching-your-business/boot-camp by October 9, 2006. Early application is recommended in order to participate in pre-camp events and utilize online resources.

“Ann Arbor SPARK’s Entrepreneur Boot Camp is an intensive business planning and preparation event designed to help early stage technology businesses increase their chances of attracting additional funding, finding resources and achieving success,” said Michael A. Finney, Ann Arbor SPARK president and CEO. “The unique combination of hands-on learning and one-on-one mentoring with business experts provides entrepreneurs with the knowledge to refine their business plans and achieve the next milestone on their road to success. Entrepreneur Boot Camp is one example of how Ann Arbor SPARK supports business acceleration and growth throughout the region.”

The Boot Camp has received acclaim for the success it has brought to past participants who have won several top honors in recent business plan competitions. Boot Camp graduates have won top awards in the Great Lakes Entrepreneurs Quest (GLEQ) and the top elevator pitch presentation at the Annual Collaboration for Entrepreneurship event in January 2006. Participating companies have raised more than $7 million.

Over the past two years more than 90 companies have been evaluated and referred to additional resources. Twelve companies have received business acceleration services. As part of these services, Ann Arbor SPARK offers Boot Camp winners several thousand dollars of professional consulting services, including finance, marketing and business development.

The cost for a two-person team is $995. Ann Arbor IT Zone members receive a reduced price of $795. The fee includes a binder of valuable reference materials, all meals and access to a post-Camp private discussion forum.

At the completion of Boot Camp, the participating teams will have the opportunity to present their company to an Investor Panel. The teams will be judged and the best opportunity will win initial funding of $5000 from the Ann Arbor SPARK.

For more information about the Entrepreneur Boot Camp, the pre-camp events and online resources, please visit www.annarborspark.org/business-resources/launching-your-business/boot-camp, or contact Susanna Thomashefski at sthomas@annarborspark.org or at 734.615.9310.

About the Entrepreneur Boot Camp
Launched in September 2002 with funding from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation SmartZone program and administered by Ann Arbor SPARK, the Entrepreneur Boot Camp engages seasoned entrepreneurs as mentors to assist with early stage business planning. The Boot Camp funds critical activities to reach key milestones of business development. Past Boot Camp participants include PolyTorx, a concrete reinforcing additive; INVIA Solutions (formerly known as 4DMSpect), a software supplier for cardiac imaging; and Compendia Bioscience, a bioinformatics company for cancer detection.

For additional information about the Entrepreneur Boot Camp, please visit www.annarborspark.org/business-resources/launching-your-business/boot-camp

ABOUT ANN ARBOR SPARK
Representing all communities in Washtenaw County, Ann Arbor SPARK, a non-profit organization, is the driving force in establishing the Ann Arbor region as a destination for business expansion, retention, and location by identifying and meeting the needs of business at every stage, from startups to large organizations. Ann Arbor SPARK collaborates with business, academic, government, and community investor partners including the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, the Herbert and Grace Dow Foundation, Pfizer, Washtenaw County, the City of Ann Arbor, the Bank of Ann Arbor, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the LDFA. For more information, please call (734) 761-9317.