Monday, September 7, 2009

Congrats to Epic Tech, a Launch Pad student business that is part of Community One

University of Michigan-Flint finalist for minority business award
Posted by Beata Mostafavi August 27, 2009 10:39AM
Categories: Flint - News

FLINT, Michigan -- Nearly 30 University of Michigan-Flint business students recently got a real dose of their future careers while helping local businesses.

And now, UM-Flint is being recognized for establishing new program Community One, a "business think tank" for the community that allowed the students to work with 10 area businesses and institutions to help them expand into new products or new markets.

The program has earned UM-Flint a finalist spot for the 2009 Michigan Minority Business Development Council Corporation of the Year-Education and Government Entities Award.

"We are pleased to be selected as a finalist for this award," said Jack Helmuth, dean of UM-Flint's school of management, in a prepared statement.

"The school of management has the expertise to help move forward the economic development of the Flint area, and Community One is the perfect vehicle to launch that talent,"

The accomplishments of Community One were showcased in a special video that highlighted the research of the students. The video can be viewed on YouTube.

UM-Flint is among more than 20 firms nominated for special recognition. The winner will be announced at the annual Michigan Minority Business Development Council Awards dinner on Sept. 29 in Detroit.

"Community One provides the perfect opportunity for students to get experience in the real world that will help prepare them for a business career," UM-Flint purchasing director Greg Snyder said.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

First Friday of Service - Volunteer Opportunity

What: UM-Flint and Kettering University are partnering to clean-up University Ave. in preparation for the Crim.
When: Saturday, August 8th, 2009
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Location: Meet at the Urban Alternative House (two blocks west of the Northbank Center) if you need directions, please call Gary at 810-424-5458.

Calling all volunteers – Students, Faculty, Staff, and Alumni!
Volunteer at with fellow classmates and our Kettering friends to clean-up University Ave. in preparation for the Crim.
Feel free to bring a friend - Together we can make a difference!
Please park in the WSW parking lot and walk across to the Urban Alternative House.
¬


Please register by contacting Gary Ashley in the Center for Civic Engagement at (810) 424-5458 or gaashley@umflint.edu by Wednesday, August 5th, 2009.

First Friday of Service volunteer hours count toward the Michigan Service Scholars and Commitment to Service volunteer recognition programs at UM-Flint.

***Please note, we will leave the Urban Alternative House 15 minutes prior to the events start time.
Gary Ashley
Program Coordinator
University of Michigan-Flint
Institutional Advancement
432 N. Saginaw St., Suite 1001
Flint, MI 48502-1950
Phone: 810-424-5458 NEW!!!
Fax: 810-424-5484 NEW!!!
gaashley@umflint.edu

Tech Town recognized for assisting businesses

July 21, 2009
National Business Incubation Association recognizes TechTown with designation
TechTown is getting a little love from the folks at the macro level, receiving a Soft Landings International Incubator designation from the National Business Incubation Association.

The Detroit-based business incubator is being recognized for its own Soft Landings program. That program helps businesses based out of state and even the country set up shop in Detroit.

Nancy Cappola, director of TechTown's Soft Landings program, calls the National Business Incubation Association designation a "huge stamp of approval."

"It really says the program is special," Cappola says. "We have a unique approach."

The Soft Landings offers translation services, office space in TechTown, legal support, plus advice on how to navigate local government and finding access to capital.

The National Business Incubation Association helps advance business incubation and entrepreneurship. It has given out only 13 other similar designations across the country since 2005.

Source: Nancy Cappola, director of TechTown's Soft Landings program
Writer: Jon Zemke

Student Incubator in Ann Arbor

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20090721/GEO01/907219994

Student-run incubator hopes to breed next wave of tech moguls
By Dustin Walsh

TechArb, a UM student-run incubator, is an extension of the RPM-10 program for student entrepreneurs led by RPM Ventures and the College of Engineering's Center for Entrepreneurship.

Under Google's imposing shadow on East Washington Street in Ann Arbor, more than two dozen University of Michigan students click-clack on keyboards and discuss third-party software, iPhone applications and angel investors. They are all attempting to grow technology-based startups and to see their big ideas succeed as part of the student-run incubator, TechArb.

TechArb, with its 29 budding entrepreneurs representing 11 companies, is the upshot of UM senior Jason Bornhorst's involvement in the entrepreneurial summer internship program, RPM-10.

RPM-10 is a 10-week technology-based accelerator, created by Ann Arbor-based venture capital firm RPM Ventures and the College of Engineering's Center for Entrepreneurship.

Now in its second year, RPM-10 selects three UM student-run startup companies a year and provides them with mentorship and capital to build their company.

The Center for Entrepreneurship provides each company with up to $25,000 of funding. The idea is to have a product and customers by the end of the program.

“We talk a lot about turning Michigan's economy around,” said Marc Weiser, managing director for RPM Ventures. “You can spend a lot of time in the classroom, but the best way to learn about entrepreneurship is to get out there and start a company.”

Thomas Zurbuchen, director of the Center for Entrepreneurship, said the center spent about $70,000 on RPM-10 companies in 2008.

Ann Arbor Spark also provided financial support for some of the companies, said Skip Simms, executive director for the business accelerator, although, he declined to share details.

Bornhorst, 22, participated in last year's RPM-10 program. However, his appetite for startup glory wasn't realized as his Web-based company, Campusroost Inc., couldn't secure advertising revenue.

But he wasn't discouraged. In fact, he approached RPM Ventures and the Center for Entrepreneurship, with a group of fledgling student entrepreneurs, who called themselves Maize Ventures, and the need for office space.

The group received a portion of the 30,000 square-foot basement office space in the adjacent parking garage to the McKinley Towne Centre, which houses Google. With a site secured, TechArb became an extension of the RPM-10 program.

TechArb companies received rent-free space from May through September, courtesy of Ann Arbor-based real estate firm McKinley Inc.

Weiser is the son of McKinley founder Ron Weiser and currently serves on the firm's board of directors.

Bornhorst, who's in UM's computer science engineering program, started the tech company Mobil33t L.L.C., which resides at TechArb. The company released the free iPhone mobile application DoGood on June 7. The application encourages users to commit a specific good deed each day.

It's not an overly complex application, but it's popular. Since its June launch, the application has been downloaded by almost 43,000 iPhone users at press time. It has also been featured in Forbes and The New York Times.

Bornhorst said the program doesn't generate revenue for Mobil33t, as it was designed to build exposure for the company. Mobil33t is a bootstrap company and has not received outside funding.

Brett Wejrowski, a TechArb co-founder, launched the Web application development firm The Wojo Group, when he was 18. He's 23 now.

His other company, Carrier Mobile L.L.C., operates out of the TechArb offices and is part of this summer's RPM-10 program. Phonagle L.L.C. and Shepherd Intelligent Systems are also part of the RPM-10 program and housed at TechArb.

Carrier Mobile developed GPS-enabled smart phone software to aid truck drivers in automatically logging their driving hours. The company is still in the development phase and has not produced any revenue.

Wejrowski, also a senior in UM's computer science engineering program, said TechArb's strongest asset is that it provides the opportunity to collaborate with fellow participants.

“It's great to be able to get advice from other students that go through the same things,” Wejrowski said.

Bornhorst called TechArb an entrepreneurial fraternity.

“Collaboration is one of the biggest things that happen here,” he said. “You may have a down week, but when you come down here and see 30 others with the same troubles; it picks you up and keeps you going.”

Zurbuchen of Center for Entrepreneurship calls TechArb a “beehive for entrepreneurs” and said the entrepreneurial mindset is the most important value the university can provide students outside of its primary curriculum.

“We need people with an entrepreneurial mindset to address the problems we have within Michigan, within the U.S.,” he said. “TechArb will hopefully become a core support mechanism for student entrepreneurship — and, eventually, faculty entrepreneurship — on the Michigan campus.”

For now, TechArb is an entrepreneurial experiment for the 11 companies, RPM Ventures, UM and McKinley. If the students find it useful and the university sees it as successful, TechArb could become permanent.

The TechArb entrepreneurs are currently working with RPM Ventures on a proposal for UM.

Zurbuchen said he thinks the university can sustain TechArb in its current location for under $300,000 a year, depending on staffing needs. He said the university would likely leave TechArb at its current McKinley-owned location, opposed to moving it on campus, at least in the short-term.

“My feeling is that it's working where it is,” he said. “It's really about what happens with the newly acquired Pfizer area. If it's going to be an entrepreneurial center, of course, we'll want to be near it.”

Don Reimer, director of the Lear Entrepreneurial Center in the College of Engineering at Lawrence Technological University, said all of the state's universities are trying to develop strong entrepreneurs.

“The entrepreneurial minds in Michigan are now taking leadership roles within the state, and now we're competing globally, so the mindset, in terms of innovation, is very important to the economic development in Michigan,” he said. “I think the university (UM) would be wise to take a good look at what these kids are doing.”

Lawrence Tech does not currently have a student-run incubator, Reimer said, but the university offers an entrepreneurial internship program where selected students work with local entrepreneurs.

Wejrowski said the TechArb residents are cataloging data in an attempt to formalize the benefits. But, he said, success is the best — and easiest — way to secure funding.

“The biggest thing that can happen to move this forward is for one of these companies to take off,” he said. “Then, we can tell the university they started here at TechArb.”

Facebook was launched from a Harvard University dorm room. Michael Dell founded Dell Inc. while attending the University of Texas. Weiser hopes TechArb's gifted entrepreneurs can rise to tech mogul status.

“It will definitely help raise the profile of Michigan as an entrepreneurial university,” he said. “Fifteen years ago Larry Page was no different than these kids are today.”

Larry Page is the 26th richest person in the world, worth $12 billion, according to Forbes. He grew up in Lansing and graduated from UM with a bachelor's in computer science. He's the co-founder of Google.

“Five years from now, when Michigan has the next Dell or Facebook,” Weiser said. “People won't talk about how it started in a dorm room; they'll talk about how it was started at TechArb.”

Monday, July 20, 2009

Policy Dialogue on Entrepreneurship

http://tinyurl.com/nphgkk

July 20, 2009
Issue no. 377

Health Care Reform Should Not Tax Employers
After all the discussion and effort by Congress and the Administration to introduce a few measures to help small businesses in the recovery, I was alarmed last week to see the House introduce a health care overhaul bill with a measure to punish certain businesses that do not provide health insurance.

[More]




From the Policy Dialogue on Entrepreneurship Blog

Economy Will Revive with Help from Entrepreneurs
The SBA Office of Advocacy recently released its annual report The Small Business Economy. In an accompanying letter to the President, the report affirms that "the economy will revive, with help from America's entrepreneurs." [More]

This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy
Several committees continue to cover clean & green issues as well as a Science & Technology hearing on encouraging the participation of female students in STEM fields. [More]

The Research & Experimentation Tax Credit
Last week, the House Committee on Small Business held a hearing on "Helping Small Business Innovators through the Research and Experimentation Tax Credit." Led by the Subcommittee on Contracting and Technology, members listened to the experience of technology entrepreneurs in utilizing this tool, commonly known as the R&D tax credit. [More]

Update on SBIR Reauthorization
Late on Monday (07/13/2009), the Senate passed S. 1233 via unanimous consent. This bill would reauthorize the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs through 2023 and change the eligibility criterion for VC-backed firms. [More]

A Seemingly Simple Concept: Cost Matters
Until late 2008, Tom Sullivan served as the Chief Counsel for Advocacy at the Small Business Administration. While he is now back in the private sector, he is still championing the cause of entrepreneurs and small business owners everywhere. [More]

SBA Funding on the Rise
Last week, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed the Financial Services Appropriations Bill, which incorporates a $22 million increase for the Small Business Administration (SBA) over the President's request. The bill allocates a total of $697 million in funding for the Small Business Administration (SBA) and its core capital and counseling programs. [More]

TARP Funds for Small Businesses?
The Obama Administration revealed last week that an initiative to redirect some of the $700 billion TARP funds away from banks and towards helping small businesses is on the table. [More]

Recognizing Outstanding Scientific Entrepreneurs
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and the National Postdoctoral Association announced today that nominations have opened for the Outstanding Postdoctoral Entrepreneur Award, which recognizes a researcher who has successfully brought his or her discovery to market. [More]

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Correction: The Small Wonders report mentioned in last week's issue of PDE-news included a broken link. The report is viewable online as well as downloadable as a PDF.

Friday, July 17, 2009

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Recovery Act Opportunities in Mid-Michigan

http://tinyurl.com/lsnvke

Below you will find a few Recovery Act competitive grant opportunities that we have selected because of their potential fit in our communities.

Do you have questions about a particular grant? Can you share a story about how the Recovery Act is impacting your community? Are you looking for feedback on a concept for a grant? Then please click here and join the Mid Michigan Innovation Team's Recovery Act Discussion Forum and share your thoughts with others in the region. We have created this forum for Recovery Act 101 Session attendees and others in the region to join in conversation about how we can make the most of the Recovery Act in Mid Michigan.

If you are interested in partnering with an agency in Mid Michigan or would like assistance in developing a concept or collaborative partnership in order to compete for Recovery Act funds, please contact Melodee Hagensen at mhagensen@skilledwork.org

Sincerely,

MMIT
Mid Michigan Innovation Team



Funding Opportunities

Community Development

Facility Investment Program
Agency: Department of Health and Human Services- Health Resources & Services Administration
Purpose: For existing Health Center Program grantees under the Facility Investment Program (FIP) initiative to address significant and pressing capital improvement needs in health centers, including construction and renovation. Health center grantees requesting FIP grants must demonstrate how their proposal will lead to improvements in access to health services for underserved populations and create health center and construction-related jobs. FIP grants are one-time awards, and there will be no ongoing support of FIP grant activities after the end of the 2-year project/budget period.
Due: 8/06/2009

Pathways out of Poverty Grants
Agency: Department of Labor-Employment and Training Administration
Purpose: For projects that provide training and placement services to provide pathways out of poverty and into employment within specific industries.
Due: 9/29/09

Economic Development

Small Business Innovation Research Program - Phase I
Agency: USDA - Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CREES)
Purpose: To provide an opportunity for US-owned, for-profit small business firms to submit innovative, applied, research and development projects that address important problems facing American agriculture and have the potential to lead to significant public benefit if the research is successful. Research proposals are accepted in any of the following topic areas: 1) Forests and Related Resources; 2) Plant Production and Protection - Biology; 3) Animal Production and Protection; 4) Air, Water, and Soils; 5) Food Science and Nutrition; 6) Rural Development; 7) Aquaculture; 8) Biofuels and Biobased Products; 9) Marketing and Trade; 10) Animal Manure Management; 11) Small and Mid-Size Farms; and 12) Plant Production and Protection - Engineering. The SBIR program exists in three phases. The purpose of Phase I is to prove the scientific or technical feasibility of the proposed research and development effort. Phase I projects typically are for 8 months. Phase II is the principal research and development effort and often involves moving the project from the laboratory to the field or the development of prototypes. Phase II projects typically are for 24 months. Phase III is the commercialization phase and there is no SBIR support provided for this phase. This SBIR program funding opportunity is for Phase I applications.
Due: 9/03/2009

Rural Business and Industry Guaranteed Loans (B&I)
Agency: USDA
Purpose: To improve, develop, or finance business, industry, and employment and improve the economic and environmental climate in rural communities by bolstering the existing private credit structure through the guarantee of quality loans which will provide lasting community benefits.
Due: Available until funds are depleted or until a date to be published in Fiscal Year 2010, whichever occurs earlier.

Rural Enterprise Grants (RBEG)
Agency: USDA
Purpose: To improve rural development through grants for projects including: Acquisition or development of land; easements, or rights of way; construction, conversion and renovation of buildings, plants, machinery, equipment, access streets and roads, parking areas, and utilities; pollution control and abatement; capitalization of revolving loan funds including funds that will make loans for start ups and working capital; training and technical assistance; distance learning for adult job training and advancement; rural transportation improvement; and project planning.
Due: Available until funds are depleted or until a date to be published in Fiscal Year 2010, whichever occurs earlier.

Education and Research

Early Career Research Program
Agency: Department of Energy-Office of Science
Purpose: For support under the Early Career Research Program in the following program areas: Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR);Biological and Environmental Research (BER); Basic Energy Sciences (BES),Fusion Energy Sciences (FES); High Energy Physics (HEP), and Nuclear Physics(NP). The purpose of this program is to support the development of individual research programs of outstanding scientists early in their careers and to stimulate research careers in the areas supported by the DOE Office of Science.
Due: Letter of Intent due by 8/03/2009 at 4:30pm EDT. Application due 9/01/2009

Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA)
Agency: National Institutes of Health
Purpose: To stimulate research in educational institutions that provide baccalaureate or advanced degrees for a significant number of the Nation's research scientists, but that have not been major recipients of NIH support. These AREA grants create opportunities for scientists and institutions otherwise unlikely to participate extensively in NIH programs, to contribute to the Nation's biomedical and behavioral research effort. AREA grants are intended to support small-scale health-related research projects proposed by faculty members of eligible, domestic institutions.
Due: Opens 8/24/2009; Applications due 9/24/2009

Energy and Environment

Smart Grid Investment Grant Program
Agency: Department of Energy
Purpose: The federal funds for this program have been divided into two categories: 1. Smaller projects in which the federal share would be in the range of 300,000 Dollars US to 20,000,000 Dollars US. 2. Larger projects in which the federal cost share would be in the range of 20,000,000 Dollars US to 200,000,000 Dollars US.
Due: 8/06/2009

Smart Grid Demonstrations
Agency: Department of Energy-National Energy Technology Laboratory
Purpose: projects will include regionally unique demonstrations to verify smart grid technology viability, quantify smart grid costs and benefits, and validate new smart grid business models, at a scale that can be readily adapted and replicated around the country. The goal of this FOA is to demonstrate technologies in regions across the States, Districts, and Territories of the United States of America that embody essential and salient characteristics of each region and present a suite of use cases for national implementation and replication. From these use cases, the goal is to collect and provide the optimal amount of information necessary for customers, distributors, and generators to change their behavior in a way that reduces system demands and costs, increases energy efficiency, optimally allocates and matches demand and resources to meet that demand, and increases the reliability of the grid. The social benefits of a smart grid are reduced emissions, lower costs, increased reliability, greater security and flexibility to accommodate new energy technologies, including renewable, intermittent and distributed sources.
Due: 8/06/2009

Geologic Sequestration Training and Research
Agency: Department of Energy-National Energy Technology Laboratory
Purpose: sought to provide training opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students that will provide the human capital and skills required for implementing and deploying carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technologies. Training can be accomplished through fundamental research in the CCS technology area. Fundamental research is needed to advance science in: simulation and risk assessment; monitoring, verification, and accounting; geological related analytical tools; methods to interpret geophysical models; well completion and integrity for long-term CO2 storage; and CO2 capture.
Due: 8/11/2009

Advanced Energy Efficient Building Technologies
Agency: Department of Energy-National Energy Technology Laboratory
Purpose: Six broad Areas of Interest. Each Area of Interest includes several specific Technical Subtopics:
• Area of Interest 1-Advanced Building Control Strategies, Communications and Information Technologies for Net-Zero Energy Buildings
• Area of Interest 2-Analysis, Design and Technical Tools
• Area of Interest 3-Building Envelope and Windows
• Area of Interest 4-Residential and Commercial HVAC and Crosscutting Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Research
• Area of Interest 5-Water Heating, Residential and Commercial Appliances and MELs
• Area of Interest 6-Solar Heating and Cooling (SHC)
Due: 8/18/2009

Solid State Lighting U.S. Manufacturing-Round 1
Agency: Department of Energy-National Energy Technology Laboratory
Purpose: To achieve cost reduction of solid-state lighting for general illumination through improvements in manufacturing equipment, processes, or techniques. It is anticipated that success will lead to a more rapid adoption/installation of high-quality SSL products resulting in a significant reduction of energy use and a corresponding reduction of environmental pollutants. A secondary objective is to maintain, in the case of light emitting diodes (LEDs), or establish, in the case of organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), the manufacturing and technology base within the US.
Due: 8/24/2009 at 3pm EDT