Ann Arbor SPARK and Eastside Innovation Campus Host Business Plan Competition

ANN ARBOR, Mich., April 28 /PRNewswire/ -- On June 4, 3:30-6:30 p.m., Ann Arbor SPARK, the region's driving force of business location, expansion and retention, is hosting a business plan competition in conjunction with EIC, the Eastside Innovation Campus.  The pitch competition, hosted by SPARK East, will showcase five innovation-based entrepreneurs; the competition winner, as judged by a panel of noted funding and business experts, will win prizes to support their venture, including a one year incubator lease at SPARK East and up to $50,000 in business acceleration services.

"The EIC collaboration is helping to expand the region's entrepreneurial success by delivering critical services to start-ups.  The pitch competition is a celebration of that success to date and signifies a continued commitment by SPARK East and its partners to growing start-up businesses," said Michael A. Finney, Ann Arbor SPARK CEO.  "The EIC pitch competition provides opportunities for start-ups to pitch their business to investors and the community, and receive feedback that can further their business development."

Pitch competition finalists will have three minutes to deliver a business pitch to the panel of judges.  The winning pitch will be selected based on identification and articulation of market need, how the product meets the need and business model.  Companies will pitch their business idea in front of an audience at SPARK East.

To qualify for the pitch competition, businesses must be registered as a Michigan business.  The winner of the competition is required to establish the SPARK East business incubator as its primary business location.  

Applications to compete in the EIC pitch competition are due by close of business on May 14, 2010.  The five finalists who will compete at the pitch competition event will be notified by e-mail or phone by May 21, 2010. The online application is available at http://www.annarborusa.org/start-ups/new-business-pitch-competition/pitch-competition-application/.

EIC is a collaborative effort of Ann Arbor SPARK, Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Regional Chamber, Small Business and Technology Development Center, Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), Washtenaw County etcs/MichiganWorks!, and Eastern Michigan University's College of Business.  Drawing from these regional resources, EIC offers start-ups a unique combination of local expertise, business incubation, export assistance, meeting space, marketing services, and education.

The Ann Arbor SPARK EIC pitch competition is a free event.  For more information, or to register to attend, visit http://www.annarborusaevents.org/EventDetails.aspx?e=10416.

About Ann Arbor SPARK

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 represents all communities in the Washtenaw County. Ann Arbor SPARK collaborates with business, academic, government, and community investor partners including the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, Washtenaw Community College, Michigan Works!/ETCS, Washtenaw County, the City of Ann Arbor, the Bank of Ann Arbor and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. For more information, please call (734) 761-9317 or visit www.AnnArborUSA.org.

SOURCE Ann Arbor SPARK

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