Deadline Approaching For Accelerate Michigan

Applications are due Sept. 30 for the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition Student Competition. The competition will award $50,000 in prizes to students in Michigan who have an innovative business idea.

The competition is supported by the Business Accelerator Network for Southeast Michigan and the New Economy Initiative of Southeast Michigan and the premier sponsors, Business Leaders for Michigan and the University Research Corridor.

Cash prizes totaling $50,000 will be awarded to the student competition winners of the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition.  The grand prize award totals $25,000 with $15,000 for the first runner-up and $10,000 for the second runner-up.   Any undergraduate or graduate student enrolled for at least two classes in a Michigan public or private university or college for the fall 2011 semester in eligible to participate in the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition.

The initial application to the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition student competition, a one-page business idea, is due Sept. 30.  Semi-finalists will be required to submit a three-minute YouTube presentation of their idea by Oct. 31.  Finalists will present their business ideas to a panel of judges at the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition Nov. 16-17 at the Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti Marriott at Eagle Crest.

The competition finals and gala awards celebration will be held the evening of Nov. 17 at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn.