Entrepreneurs
in Michigan have access to a wealth of resources to help them with their startup. Highlighted here are links to those resources that NEF has found to be
the most useful. NEF works closely with many of these resources (especially Angel investors), and if you don't find what you are looking for in your
initial contact, don't hesitate to ask to be directed to another resource that may be better for you. Your understanding of these resources and who to contact
will be improved from participating in the NEF coaching process. Click on the links below to see the resources associated with that category.
Angel and Venture Funds
- Michigan Venture Capital Association
The MVCA is a non-profit trade organization designed to bring together venture capital industry participants in the state of Michigan. - Ann Arbor Angels
The Ann Arbor Angels is a collaborative non-profit organization dedicated to bridging the gap between angel investors and early stage technology-based companies in Southern Michigan. - Arbor Partners
Arbor Partners provides access to long-term capital, experienced support and an extensive network of strategic contacts to entrepreneurs who share our commitment to build tomorrow’s great technology companies. - Arboretum Ventures
Arboretum Ventures is a venture capital firm specializing in the healthcare sector. Founded in 2002, the firm manages $450 million in capital and has invested in more than 35 companies. Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Arboretum invests throughout the United States, but with a preference for Midwest opportunities. Our team targets capital efficient companies that can meaningfully reduce healthcare costs in our areas of expertise: devices, diagnostics, services, and IT. - Arsenal Venture Partners
Arsenal Venture Partners is a unique venture capital firm focused on the intersection of the Government, large corporations, and emerging technology companies. - Baird Capital
Baird Capital makes venture capital, growth equity and private equity investments in strategically targeted sectors globally. Since 1989, we've raised and managed more than $3.1 billion and invested in nearly 300 portfolio companies. We partner with company management, founders and entrepreneurs with the goal of building world-class companies across our sectors of focus: Healthcare, Industrial Solutions, and Technology and Services. - Belle Capital
The BELLE Michigan Fund, LP is an early stage investment fund building great companies in Michigan, the Midwest, and other regions. We provide a premier source of human and financial capital to women-led companies. - Blue Water Angels
BlueWater Angels is a network of more than 30 high net-worth, successful individuals and organizations interested in investing private capital in promising companies. - Detroit Innovate
A high-growth accelerator fund. - Detroit Venture Partners
DVP backs seed and early stage startup teams with the grit, creativity, and passion to tackle and mold opportunity. We look for founders who are creative, disciplined, and trustworthy. We are passionate entrepreneurs who know how to build successful companies from the ground up. To us, building a business is an act of creative expression. It's an opportunity to make a difference and change the world. - First Step Fund
The First Step Fund is an early stage investment fund in partnership with the Invest Detroit Foundation, TechTown, Ann Arbor SPARK and Automation Alley, serving emerging and newly-formed high growth, businesses in Southeast Michigan. - Capital Community Angels
Capital Community Angels is a group of accredited investors of Greater Lansing dedicated to helping entrepreneurs of our region succeed and prosper. - Grand Angels
Grand Angels is committed to utilizing its financial, intellectual and networking capital to foster the success of growing companies and to enhance the economic development of West Michigan. - Great Lakes Angels
The Great Lakes Angels organizes and mentors angels and provides a forum for them to grow in knowledge and wealth and foster more of the same by helping invest in entrepreneurial companies in the region. - IncWell
Is an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in great companies led by great people. - Invest Michigan
The InvestMichigan! Program is a series of Funds focused on generating strong returns for investors and growing the next generation of Michigan companies. In order to support companies at different stages of development, the Program offers three distinct investment vehicles: Mezzanine Fund, Growth Capital Funds, and Michigan Opportunities Fund. - Mercury Fund
Mercury Fund is an early-stage venture capital firm. - Michigan Angel Fund
The Michigan Angel Fund is a for-profit pooled professionally managed angel fund; established by Ann Arbor SPARK and funded by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. - MK Capital
MK Capital invests in companies at all stages of the funding lifecycle with a strong sector focus on digital media, data center automation, software, and education technology. - North Coast Technology Investors
We invest in early stage technology-driven companies with outstanding growth prospects. - Northern Michigan Angels
The mission of Northern Michigan Angels is two-fold: to help grow the economic base of the region through investment in scalable early stage companies, and to provide members a compelling financial return on their time commitment and invested capital. - Plymouth Venture Partners
Plymouth Venture Partners finances and adds value to emerging companies in Michigan and the Great Lakes region. - Start Garden
Start Garden was founded on the ethic of finding fast, inexpensive ways to turn ideas into actions. Today, we work to make accessible platforms to do just that. - Tappan Hill Ventures
Tappan Hill Ventures was founded to bring together a group of investors connected from doctoral and masters programs at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. - Zell Lurie Commercialization Fund
The Zell Lurie Commercialization Fund is a pre-seed investment fund established to identify and accelerate the commercialization of ideas generated within the University community and the surrounding area.
Business Plan Competitions and Events
- Annual Collaboration for Entrepreneurship
The Annual Collaboration for Entrepreneurship is an event that celebrates and promotes entrepreneurship in the Great Lakes region. - Accelerate Michigan
The Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition is an international business competition designed to bring together later stage entrepreneurial companies with local, national and international investors. - MiQuest (formerly GLEQ)
MiQuest is a non-profit that is pursuing an ambitious vision – Michigan is THE State of Entrepreneurship. Emphasis is on growth-stage businesses. - Michigan Growth Capital Symposium
Michigan Growth Capital Symposium is the Midwest's leading event for attracting the best investors from across the U.S. and showcasing high-quality investable companies.
Entrepreneurial Support Organizations
- BBC Entrepreneurial Training & Consulting
BBC works with technology-based entrepreneurs and companies on strategies to advance R&D efforts to commercialization, with a special focus on the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. - Inforum
Inforum is the only professional organization in Michigan - and one of a few in the country – that combines strategic connections, proven professional development programs, a respected forum for new ideas, and original research to accelerate careers for women and boost talent initiatives for companies. - MichBio
MichBio is a non-profit association representing more than 600 biotechnology companies, universities and academic institutions dedicated to advancing Michigan's biotechnology industry. - Michigan Small Business Development Center
The MI-SBDC enhances Michigan's economic well-being by providing counseling, training, research and advocacy for new ventures, existing small businesses, and innovative technology companies. - MI Innovation Alliance
The MI Innovation Alliance works to apply innovation and advancements in science and technology as well as best practices in business, academia and government collaboration to benefit Michigan and the Great Lakes states. - MiQuest (formerly GLEQ)
MiQuest is a non-profit that is pursuing an ambitious vision – Michigan is THE State of Entrepreneurship. Emphasis is on growth-stage businesses. - SCORE
SCORE is America's premier source of free and confidential small business advice for entrepreneurs.
Smart Zones / Incubators
- Michigan Economic Development Corporation
The MEDC brings together everything enterprising individuals and businesses are looking for in starting or growing a business in Michigan. - Ann Arbor SPARK
SPARK promotes the economic development of innovation-based businesses in the Ann Arbor region by offering programs, resources, and proactive support to business. - Automation Alley
Automation Alley is a dynamic organization of leaders from all backgrounds and business sectors who are combining their talents and energy to transform Southeast Michigan into a high-technology powerhouse. - Desai Accelerator
The Desai Accelerator is a collaborative effort at the University of Michigan between the Zell Lurie Institute of Entrepreneurial Studies at the Ross School of Business and the Center for Entrepreneurship at the College of Engineering. - Detroit Creative Corridor Center
The Detroit Creative Corridor Center is designed to support the growth of Detroit’s creative economy by delivering business acceleration and attraction services and developing signature programming tailored specifically to creative professionals’ needs. - Macomb-Oakland University INCubator
The Macomb-Oakland University INCubator provides entrepreneurial resources, business solutions, access to student interns and proactive support to businesses at every stage, in an effort to help start-ups on their path to success. - Start Garden
Start Garden was founded on the ethic of finding fast, inexpensive ways to turn ideas into actions. Today, we work to make accessible platforms to do just that. - Techstars Mobility
Techstars Mobility, driven by Detroit, focuses on the rapidly changing mobility and transportation industry. Companies that come through the Techstars Mobility Accelerator include software, hardware and advanced materials businesses building technologies that will power the efficient movement of people, goods and services across all modes of transportation. - TechTown
TechTown is a community of entrepreneurs, investors, mentors, service providers, and corporate partners creating an internationally recognized entrepreneurial village in the city of Detroit.
University Resources
- Samuel Zell & Robert H. Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies
The Zell Lurie Institute provides the curriculum, program initiatives, community involvement, and alumni outreach activities that deliver exclusive resources for future entrepreneurs of the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. - University of Michigan Tech Transfer
U-M Tech Transfer is the University unit responsible for the commercialization of University research discoveries and reports to the U-M Office of Research. We enhance these research discoveries to encourage licensing and broad deployment with existing businesses and newly-formed U-M start-ups. - University of Michigan Venture Center
The Michigan Venture Center is the central hub for U-M to access technology, expertise, resources and connections to create new startup ventures based on U-M technology. - Wayne State University Technology Commercialization
Wayne State Technology Commercialization (TC) is responsible for the identification, protection, marketing and licensing of intellectual property (e.g., patents, unique biological or other materials, and certain copyrights) developed by WSU faculty, staff and students.
Other Resources
- D:hive
D:hive is a physical store front in Detroit’s central business district that connects you with the tools and resources you need to live, work or engage in the city. - Michigan Corporate Relations Network
The Michigan Corporate Relations Network is a statewide university network designed to create partnerships that will connect Michigan's corporations to critical university assets. - Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center
The MMTC assists Michigan’s small and medium-sized manufacturing businesses compete and grow by providing personalized services fitted to meet their clients needs. - NextEnergy
NextEnergy is a nonprofit organization whose goal is to build on intellectual, entrepreneurial, and industry resources available in Michigan to advance alternative energy across the United States and around the world. - Talent Connect
Pure Michigan Talent Connect is an online marketplace connecting Michigan’s job seekers and employers.
Other Listings of Resources
- MEDC [Menu > Start-Up > Capital] – Access to a variety of Capital and Business Assistance resources.
- Michigan Venture Capital Association Michigan Entrepreneurial & Investment Landscape Guide
A guide profiling all the funding and professional resources available in Michigan.
The Entrepreneur's Bookshelf
- Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers
by Alexander Osterwalder and Yves Pigneur - Crossing the Chasm
by Geoffrey A. Moore - Get Backed
by Evan Baehr and Evan Loomis - The Lean Entrepreneur
by Brandt Cooper and Patrick Vlaskovits - Made to Stick
by Chip Heath and Dan Heath - The Startup Owner's Manual: The Step-By-Step Guide for Building a Great Company
by Steve Blank and Bob Dorf - Venture Deals: Be Smarter Than Your Lawyer and Venture Capitalist
by Brad Feld and Jason Mendelson
