The Savvy Entrepreneurs Seminar Series provides early and mid-stage technology entrepreneurs with opportunities to learn from a panel of experts including successful entrepreneurs within a small group format. While most entrepreneurship-related events focus on securing capital, incorporating and other early stage issues, this program will expand on those as well as explore best practices in the arenas of intellectual property, team building, initial sales and other day to day business challenges.
The series includes five sessions from September 2009 to April 2010.
Past founders and executives have said this was one of the best educational and practical sessions they have ever attended to answer their most important questions to support business success.
The GLEQ, MITEF, and many Great Lakes technology entrepreneur support teams look forward to support your success.
CLICK ON EVENTS TO SEE SPECIFIC DATES AND LOCATIONS
Session #2 of 5 Part Series
Protect your Intellectual Property on a Shoestring
Youýre heading a technology company and you realize that your product has some great potential. You suddenly realize that you donýt have anything in place to protect your idea and your intellectual property. A little bit of research uncovers some options, some recommend copyrighting, non-disclosure agreements, others patenting and still other suggest varieties of licensing agreements. They all involve a fair amount of expense. You will learn key Strategic Intellectual Property Management Best Practices.
Before allocating a significant portion of your product or business development budget to this, you ask yourself, are there some inexpensive ways of protecting your intellectual property?
Learn why and how to protect one of your businesses most valuable assets affordably from local leading entrepreneurs and specialists.
Bring you big questions and thorniest challenges to this program to advance your technology entrepreneurship skill set.
Key team members, advisors, or investors (potential or active), are encouraged to participate in this immersive seminar series with you as a common understanding of best practices across your team will accelerate action and support your success.
This best practice seminar series sponsored by MIT Enterprise Forum of the Great Lakes and Great Lakes Entrepreneur Quest along with dozens of great entrepreneurial support teams and incubators. The program will amplify your understanding of the critical success criteria of a technology-based startup during its first years in order to succeed with limited resources.
Programs will include networking time before and after the best practice education discussions. More information is available in the attachment.
Cost:
$40 At the door (or online within 3 days)
$30 At least 4 days in advance online
Or Purchase all 5 seminar series for $100 (all locations participating)
$10 At the door (or online within 3 days) for active students or post-graduate researchers
$5 At least 4 days in advance on line for active students or post-graduate researchers
Or Purchase all 5 seminar series for $20 (all locations participating)
Get More Information and Register at:
http://www.mitgreatlakes.org or http://www.gleq.org
Intellectual Property On a Shoestring Budget
The vehicle industry has had a long development process for new innovations often implemented in accelerated manner only through pressure from regulatory agencies.
It currently is under tremendous pressure from a fuel economy and emissions standpoint, combined with major changes in product mix and external economic pressures on financing (both for customers and for companies).
At the same time, new inventors and innovative young companies are having a difficult time getting the attention of the Tier 1 and OE engineering community in order to communicate the value of their products and services.
The first Annual Automotive Innovator Competition was a huge success with 10 Applicants. Many great innovations were screened with the best presented on December 8th to help the Automotive industry not only survive, but THRIVE!
Please check these web sites out for more information.
Finalists:
First Place
Innovate! Technology, Inc.
http://www.innovate-tech.com/
Second Place
Lambert Technologies, LLC
http://www.lambertech.com/
Runner Up
OPS Solutions, LLC
http://www.ops-solutions.com/
Runner Up
RF-IDI, LLC
http://www.activerfidtracking.com/RFIDI
Semi-Finalists:
Applikompt: Applied Computer Technologies, Inc.
http://www.actplace.net/
Claytec, Inc.
http://www.claytecinc.com/
Davis Instruments & Paxgrid
http://www.davisnet.com/
Liquid Piston
http://www.liquidpiston.com/
MaterialWerks LLC
Website Under Development
QED Services, Inc.
Website Under Development
SAE and MIT EF want to thank the terrific applicanct innovators and the great volunteers to help launch this first professionally screened and coached innovator program to help the Automotive Industry. We encourage rapid collaboration and success for each for all participants.
We really appreciate S3C, a Nagano Group Company, and AutoTech, a KenMar Company, for their great support and sponsorship of this event.
We look forward to sharing progress on these innovators in supporting the Automotive Industry's OEMs and Tier 1's and the end customers periodically. Send any updates to mitefgl@gmail.com.
Event Invitation
Over $1 Trillion Annual Sales By MIT Entrepreneurial Eco-System
Kauffman and MIT team up to research the economic impact of MIT entrepreneurial eco-system.
New innovations, new wealth creation and new approaches to help society are part of the MIT DNA.
The MIT Enterprise Forum is happy to share this executive summary of the research. Include an interesting story about A123 Batteries, the new parent company of the local successful startup TJ Technologies.
Let us know your thoughts on how we can continue to help improve our regional entrepreneurial eco-system in Michigan, SW Ontario and Northern Ohio at mitefgl@gmail.com
MIT Entrepreneurial EcoSystem Impact Summary
Entrepreneurship. Investment. Education. Networking.
The MIT Enterprise Forum of the Great Lakes (MITEF Great Lakes) is one of the 24 worldwide chapters of the Cambridge, Massachusetts based MIT Enterprise Forum, Inc. For over 20 years, this global volunteer organization has linked entrepreneurs, advisors, and investors by means of networking through specialized educational program events and guidance on a variety of high growth and technology business concerns, such as business plan development, funding, and management.
Since 1998, MITEF Great Lakes has offered educational and collaborative business forums to build stronger ties between the entrepreneurial, investment, and business incubator communities in the Great Lakes region. This area is fast becoming the launch site of exciting new technologies - Life Sciences, Manufacturing Automation, IT/Software/Internet and Emerging Technologies.
Partnering with its broad network of local universities, including the University of Michigan, Wayne State University, Oakland University, and Lawrence Technological University, businesses and technical associations, MITEF Great Lakes is a major resource for start-up businesses.
Events are open to the general public and your participation as a member and/or volunteer is welcomed.
Passionate Active Sponsors
The MIT Enterprise Forum of the Great Lakes would like to thank its active corporate sponsors for their generous support. Our sponsors are passionate about our regional entrepreneurial eco-system and very talented resources.
Interested in being a sponsor, please contact us at:
mitefgl@gmail.com
Great opportunity to share best practices and connect with the best entrepreneurs in the region.
Chapter Newsletter
Read the latest issue of CURRENT - the newsletter of the Great Lakes Chapter of the MIT Enterprise Forum featuring articles and reports relevent to entrepreneurs, links to area resources, and local high-tech entrepreneurial success stories.
August 2009
It's once again time for this annual extravaganza of entrepreneurship, hosted in conjunction with the Great Lakes Entrepreneurs Quest (GLEQ) and the New Enterprise Forum and many other outstanding high tech, high growth entrepreneurial support organizations!
If you are thinking about starting up, in start up phase or in early growth stage, then this event is to support you and celebrate the high growth our Great Lakes region is seeing in this area. Successful entrepreneurs in the area are encouraged to attend, network and share your experiences. There is always plenty of future partnering opportunities found at this event.
The Place:
Washtenaw Community College
Morris Lawrence Building
4800 E. Huron River Drive, Ypsilanti, Michigan
The Time:
4:00 to 9:00 P.M.
Refreshments will be served.
The Evening:
A Showcase Presentation by Roger Newton, CEO of Esperion Therapeutics
Attend workshops led by area CEOs and entrepreneurs:
- "Innovation in the Great Lakes Region"
- "Globalization & Opportunity in the Region"
- "Attracting C-Level Talent"
It's back .... the elevator pitch competition! Six area entrepreneurs have a full two minutes for a pressure packed presentation to a panel of investors and business leaders. See who rises to the occasion!
ACE ý09 will include the presentation of the Great Lakes Entrepreneurýs Quest Phase I Awards for the GLEQ Business Plan Competition. The top new Emerging Company will receive $5000, and the top New Business Idea will receive $2000.
New this year, ACE ý09 will feature an intercollegiate pitch competition, in which competitors from Univeristy of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, University of Toledo, Bowling Green State University, and other schools will go head-to-head with three-minute elevator pitches.
Visit displays of emerging local companies
Presentation of the GLEQ awards
NEW Intercollegiate Pitch Competition
Cost: $9 for pre-registered attendees or $20 at the door.
Register at: http://www.ace-event.org
Lead Sponsor:
Butzel Long Attorneys and Counselors
Professional Services Sponsor: Hylant Insurance Group
Co-Sponsor: Entrepreneurial Initiative of Southeast Michigan
Lead Media Sponsor:
Michigan Business Review
Partner Organizations:
New Enterprise Forum
MIT Enterprise Forum of the Great Lakes
Ann Arbor SPARK ý Automation Alley
Great Lakes Entrepreneurýs Quest
Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center
Regional Growth Partnership
Rocket Ventures of Toledo
University of Michigan College of Engineering
University of Michigan Technology Transfer
MIT Enterprise Forum of the Great Lakes shares the best programs with leading world class education on best practices on innovation commercialization acceleration and improving returns on high growth technology investment while reducing risks.
Meet great contacts to support your innovation and business plan success. Get the latest information by subscribing to the MIT EF mailing list.
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/efgreatlakes
Have an article or story about what is working for your technology company, then please email to:
mitefgl@gmail.com
We are starting up a three times per year newsletter to share entrepreneurial successes in the Michigan, NW Ohio, and W Ontario great lakes technology region.
If you're a golfer -- you'll want to arrive early at the GLEQ Awards Event and enjoy an afternoon of golf with investors and entrepreneurs for just $95 (includes golf and the awards dinner). Michigan Venture Capital Association and the MIT Enterprise Forum have joined with GLEQ to make this Michigan's first official investor/entrepreneur golf scramble. Great opportunity to network and find helpful resources for your initiative! We moved venue last year to Lansing to increase participation and entrepreneurial success across the region with very positive feedback for this annual program.
Whether you golf or not, plan to arrive by 3:30 p.m. for the MIT EF presentation and panel discussion, Business Incubators: Graduating Successful Ventures. A welcome reception will follow and the GLEQ Awards Dinner will begin at 6 p.m.
GLEQ Entrepreneur Golf Outing
If youýre interested in golfing ý we'll be starting at 11 a.m. Youýll enjoy a fun and challenging afternoon with fellow entrepreneurs, GLEQ coaches, and members of the Michigan Venture Capital Association and MIT Enterprise Forum, at the award-winning Forest Akers Golf Course on the MSU campus.
Weýll be playing on the West Course, which has a Golf Digest four-star rating and The Detroit News ranks as number six in the state for public courses.
The fun begins with a shotgun start at 11 a.m. ý registration will begin at 10 a.m. with the driving range open until the scramble begins. The event includes 18 holes, bag attendant, golf cart, box lunch, beverages and cash bar. Itýs a four-person scramble with individual golfers welcome.
GLEQ business plan competition coaches can golf for just $95 per person -- and that includes the awards dinner.
For more information or to let me know you're interested -- e-mail Diane Durance at diane@gleq.org. Registration is available on the website at www.gleq.org . If you have any problem registering, please send me a message.
GLEQ Awards Event
Whether you decide to golf or not ý you wonýt want to miss the GLEQ Awards Event.
Join us for an eventful evening of presentations, discussions, elevator pitches and award announcements. Begin your evening with the MIT Enterprise Forum presentations at 3:30 p.m. Enjoy networking at the MIT reception before dinner in the Main Dining Room of the MSU University Club. The keynote address will be presented by Phil Power, President, The Center for Michigan and Vice Chairman of the MEDC Executive Committee.
To make it possible for the competitors in the business plan competition to enjoy the awards dinner at no cost, we're asking everyone else to pay $35 to cover the cost of their dinner. You can register for the dinner at www.gleq.org .
Awards Event Agenda
3 - 5 p.m. Arrival and check in
3:30 - 5:00 p.m. Business Incubator success story sharing and panel discussion
5:00 ý 6 p.m. Welcome Reception with MIT-Lemelson Innovation Competition & Local High School Winners
6 ý 7 p.m. Dinner in the Main Dining Room
6:15 ý 7 p.m. Opening Remarks and Keynote Address
7 ý 7:30 p.m. GLEQ Finalists Elevator Pitches
7:30 ý 8 p.m. Awards
8 p.m. Closing Remarks
Reminder to register online if you are joining for the day or evening program at www.gleq.org .
Thanks again for your participation in GLEQ and MIT Enterprise Forum. This yearýs business plan competition grew to over 150 teams statewide with your on going support. Please share any thoughts on further improving this awesome annual entrepreneurial event. There are some great business plans this year! We look forward to seeing you on June 11.
Our Valued Previous Sponsors
The MIT Enterprise Forum of the Great Lakes would like to thank its past corporate sponsors for their generous support.
