Investment Group, BlueWater Angels, Scouts Entrepreneurial Talent
MIDLAND -- Local entrepreneurs will gather in the Alumni Lounge of the Sloan Family Building at Northwood University on Dec. 5 to watch 15 presenters compete for possible funding and small-business resources. Doors open at 4 p.m. for refreshments and networking, presentations begin at 6 p.m.
Contestants will have two minutes to pitch their idea, product, service or business before a panel of judges and an audience of experienced entrepreneurs and business support professionals. Presenters will receive constructive feedback to strengthen pitches. Click here for an example of a pitch.
"Boost is a kinder version of SharkTank without the cameras or commercials," said Chris Moultrup, programs director of the MidMichigan Innovation Center.
The top two presenters win an opportunity to give a 10-minute presentation, with visual aid, in front of the BlueWater Angels, followed by a 10-minute question and answer session. Presenters also compete for memberships with the MidMichigan Innovation Center that provide valuable small-business resources like access to capital. Invitation to a reception, after the event, with the panel judges and MMIC staff will also be awarded to the winners.
"The BlueWater Angels rely on Boost Michigan as an important vehicle to find new investment opportunities while providing companies with critical feedback and links to support resources in the region that are often more valuable than investment alone," said Ken Kousky, president of BlueWater Angels and CEO of MidMichigan Innovation Center.
A brief introduction of MMIC, and the panel judges at 6 p.m. will precede presentations, dinner for the winners is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged. Additional information can be found and registration can be completed on the website at www.mmic.us.
Boost supporters include Northwood University's Alden B. Dow Center for Creativity & Enterprise (www.northwood.edu/creativity-enterprise/), The Prima Civitas Foundation (www.primacivitas.org), Blue Water Angels (www.bluewaterangels.com) and MidMichigan Innovation Center (www.mmic.us). Boost Michigan and other events provided by MMIC are made possible by the support of MEDC (www.michiganadvantage.org) and the Michigan Strategic Fund.
The MidMichigan Innovation Center is a private, non-profit organization created to provide entrepreneurs and start-up companies a supportive and collaborative environment. MMIC connects entrepreneurs with critical resources, valuable services, flexible facilities, and entrepreneurial training and education to develop a business venture. MMIC partners receive the support needed to ensure success.
BlueWater Angels is a network of more than 30 high-net-worth individuals and select organizations interested in investing capital in promising companies. The primary goal is to achieve a positive return on investment while supporting the entrepreneurial community for the economic benefit of the entire mid-Michigan region and the state. In its first year, BlueWater Angels received funding requests from over 100 companies, reviewed nearly 40 in detail, heard presentations from a dozen companies, and closed its first investment in a mid-Michigan-based advanced materials company. The amount of investment capital available for annual investments now tops $1.4 million and is only expected to grow.
