Hot Competition: 79 Michigan Entrepreneurs Entrepreneurs from all parts of Michigan have thrown their hats into the ring and are competing in the Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest Business Plan Competition. The Spring Cycle of the GLEQ competition closed registration on Friday, April 18, with a record-breaking 79 companies registered to participate. The previous record for any cycle of the eight-year-old competition was last Fall with 47 registered companies. More FastTrac TechVenture for Western Michigan Entrepreneurs The GLEQ FastTrac for Michigan’s west-side entrepreneurs kicked off on Wednesday, February 27. Thirteen companies ranging from medical device developers to Web 2.0 ventures gathered in Kalamazoo at the offices of Southwest Michigan First for the first of six sessions. More GLEQ Winners Announced at ACE Sci_Zone earned the $5,000 top prize in GLEQ's Emerging Company category during the ACE '08 event held at Washtenaw Community College on January 17th. OcuSciences, Inc. took the $2,000 first place honor in the New Business Idea category. More than 400 professionals were on hand at ACE '08 to witness the awards ceremony. Click here for a complete list and photos GLEQ AWARD CEREMONY NIGHT GLEQ AWARD CEREMONY at the Annual Collaboration for Entrepreneurship ACE '08 was held on January 17, 2008 at Washtenaw Community College, in the Morris Lawrence Building in Ann Arbor. GLEQ Board Chairman Jack Ahrens and GLEQ Board Treasurer Michelle Crumm announced the Emerging Company and New Business Idea Phase I 2008 business competition winners in front of nearly 400 attendees at ACE '08 at Washtenaw Community College. GLEQ winners, participants, judges and coaches mingled with Michigan entrepreneurs, networked with peers, support organizations, investors, and service providers. The ACE event, along with the year-long activities of its supporting organizations, helps make Michigan a good place to start and grow a business. New Training Presentation The MIT Enterprise Forum presents a hands-on, real- world examination of how entrepreneurs can approach angel investors, and tactical advice on how both parties work together to craft a financing agreement that benefits all. Through conversations amongst the panelists, the focus will be on principles and the best steps to follow, as well as real-world case studies, and how different sectors create different approaches. Click Here to View Presentation	GLEQ Award Ceremony June 12 The Great Lakes Entrepreneurs Quest will announce the winners of the GLEQ Business Plan Competition on June 12 at the MSU University Club in Lansing. More GLEQ Business Plan Competition -- Register Now Through April 18 The Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest (GLEQ) has launched the Spring 2008 business plan competition and training program for entrepreneurs statewide. The GLEQ provides Michigan’s technology entrepreneurs training, coaching and investor feedback as part of its two-phase business plan competition. February marks the beginning of Phase II -- and all start up technology companies are encouraged to compete. Teams did not have to participate in Phase I to join the competition. Phase II, which focuses on the executive summary for New Business Idea competitors and on a 12-page business plan for Emerging Company competitors, runs from February through May with final awards on June 12, 2008. Companies must register by April 18 and submit their executive summary or business plan by May 15. Companies are encouraged to register early to maximize the support they receive from coaches and to increase their opportunities to participate in education programs. Note: If your team participated in Phase I, just login and click "Register Now" and your Registration Form will be completed with all your information from the first phase. For more information, please contact GLEQ at 734-527-9151 or diane@gleq.org. Click for more information FastTrac TechVenture Who should attend? Entrepreneurs scientists, engineers and professors who are commercializing their technology or life-science business. Click to Register for FastTrac TechVenture Cantillon E-Course The Cantillon eCourse is a comprehensive training resource for technology entrepreneurs at any stage of business development. The Cantillon is accessible 24/7 so you can complete each module at your convenience and from virtually any location. Each course unit is divided into seven 15-20 minute segments that allow a high level of instructional flexibility. Click Cantillon Site	GLEQ Receives 21st Century Jobs Fund Grant The seventh year of GLEQ operations is marked by the addition of a Michigan 21st Century Jobs Fund grant. Through the support of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), a founding sponsor of the GLEQ, the GLEQ has enhanced its business training and coaching programs to help Michigan technology start-ups. The two-year grant will support the program's goals to accelerate business development and inspire entrepreneurial success. The team at the MEDC has been vital partner in the continued success and growth of the GLEQ. Please visit the MEDC for additional services available through its network. More GLEQ Would Like to Thank its Innovation Award Sponsors and Training Partner Click here to check out GLEQ's Sponsors
	Breaking News on Podcasts GLEQ is pleased to offer a series of podcasts covering topics of interest to entrepreneurs, interviews with GLEQ competitors and coaches, as well as conversations with our sponsors. Please click the link below to view the GLEQ Podcasts page. GLEQ Privacy Policy This Privacy Policy details the types of personal information that Great Lakes Entrepreneur's Quest collects, the uses we make of that information, and related information regarding your ability to access, correct, and request deletion of any personal identifying information you choose to give us. Click here for full privacy policy...