Entrepreneur Boot Camp Set for April 26-27

Now Accepting Applications
March 15, 2007

The Ann Arbor SPARK Business Accelerator announced its next Entrepreneur Boot Camp will be held on April 26-27, 2007. The event is an intensive two-day business planning and preparation event designed to help early stage technology businesses crystallize their business concept to increase their chances for attracting additional funding, finding resources and achieving success.

A unique combination of hands-on learning and one-on-one mentoring, the event features nationally noted speakers on entrepreneurship from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, successful local entrepreneurs and investors. During Entrepreneur Boot Camp, entrepreneurs will refine their business plan and learn how to propel their company to its next milestone.

At the completion of Boot Camp, participating teams get an opportunity to present their company to an investor panel. The team judged as the best opportunity will win an initial engagement at the Ann Arbor SPARK Business Accelerator valued at $5,000.

Entrepreneur Boot Camp has received acclaim for the success of its 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 2007. Companies that have participated in Entrepreneur Boot Camp have done on to raise more than $7 million in funding to support business acceleration.

The Entrepreneur Boot Camp will be held in Ann Arbor at the Michigan Information Technology Center (MITC). The cost for a two person team is $995 and includes a binder of valuable reference materials, all meals and access to a post-Boot Camp private discussion forum.

Interested teams must submit applications by April 10, 2007. Early application is recommended in order to participate in pre-Boot Camp offerings, including events and online resources.

For more information about the Entrepreneur Boot Camp, the pre-camp events and online resources click here or contact Susanna Thomashefski at (734) 615-9310 or sthomas@annarborspark.org.

About Ann Arbor SPARK Business Accelerator
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.

Click here for additional information about the Entrepreneur 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 or visit www.AnnArborSPARK.org.