GLEQ Honors GLITR With Two-Day Business Plan Blitz

If you have an idea for a new business but have not yet pitched it to the Great Lakes Entrepreneurs Quest, get ready – you have two days to enter it in a new, last-minute business plan blitz.

The Great Lakes Entrepreneurs Quest, the state's longest running business plan competition, has introduced a new award called the GLEQ GLITR Award, in recognition of the contributions of the Great Lakes Innovation and Technology Report in supporting
Michigan entrepreneurship.

GLEQ's judges will choose a GLITR Award winner from business ideas submitted by email at GLITR@gleq.org. The deadline for
entering is Wednesday, June 8 at 5 p.m. Winners will be notified by 9 p.m. Wednesday night. (Man, those GLEQ judges work fast.) The award will be presented with the other GLEQ awards Thursday, June 9 at the James B. Henry Conference Center in Lansing. GLITR Editor Matt Roush will make the announcement. The winner will also get a chance to pitch their business idea in a taped audio segment with Roush at a later date.

In all, GLEQ's winners will award budding entrepreneurs up to $100,000 in prize money, investments and valuable input and mentorship.

The award ceremony is part of Entrepreneur Connect 2011, a two-day educational and networking event, to be attended by more than 400 entrepreneurs and supporters.

"This competition is a great resource for Michigan innovators to tap," said Michigan Economic Development Corp. president and CEO Michael A. Finney. "Our future Fords, Dows and Kelloggs get a chance to consult with experts to refine business plans and compete for cash prizes."

The GLEQ Business Plan Competition Awards event is known as a prestigious ceremony. More than 400 members of the entrepreneurial community come together during this two-day event over networking opportunities that include a cocktail reception and golf outing along with educational workshops, free consultations and face-to-face meetings with venture capitalists.

GLEQ's team of judges consists of some of the best entrepreneurial minds in the state – comprised of the investors, top university researchers, high-level corporate executives and leaders in government and education.

As a conduit for entrepreneurs, GLEQ aims to be an engine for the formation of new, fast growing companies in Michigan.  Their mission and purpose is to continually encourage and educate entrepreneurs.  By linking entrepreneurs rooted in the state to a statewide network of community resources, expert advice, high-quality education, executive training and capital at every stage of development.

GLEQ competitions provide a venue for feedback from successful entrepreneurs and investors on ideas and plans submitted; recognizing the most promising entrepreneurs and their businesses.

To register or for more information about the GLEQ Business Plan Competition and the event this week please visit Great Lakes Entrepreneur's Quest Web site at www.gleq.org. For questions, please email diane@gleq.org or phone at (734) 255-3183.