GLEQ Frequently Asked Questions We have posted answers to common questions concerning the Great Lakes Entrepreneur Quest (GLEQ) competition. Questions are categorized for your convenience.

1) General GLEQ Questions
2) New Business Idea Competition
3) Emerging Business Competition
4) SmartZones Competition
	Q. What is the SmartZone Award? This award is a $100,000 pre-seed investment presented by Michigan’s Network of SmartZones to the winner in the SmartZone Award category of the GLEQ Business Plan Competition. This annual award is made at Entrepreneur Connect (http://www.EntrepreneurConnectMI.com).
	Q. Are there additional steps to compete for the SmartZone Award? Yes. To compete for the SmartZone Award, an entrepreneur must contact a SmartZone, be matched with a SmartZone Advisor and receive a Letter of Recommendation. SmartZone locations and contacts are listed on the Michigan Economic Development Corporation website at www.themedc.org, on the Ann Arbor SPARK website at www.annarborusa.org and in the registration section of the GLEQ website. Entrepreneurs are invited to register for the competition immediately and select the SmartZone Award category, but participation in that category will not be confirmed until a SmartZone recommendation is received. Participants can switch to another competition category at any time prior to April 16.
	Q. Are there other qualifications to compete for the SmartZone Award? Yes. To compete for the SmartZone Award, a venture must not have previous funding from the Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund. The venture must have less than $1 million in annual revenues (excluding grant income) and less than $1 million in equity or convertible debt from third parties. Additionally, the venture must be revenue-generating for less than five years or be pre-revenue.
	Q. Are winners of the SmartZone Award precluded from seeking additional funding from the Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund? No. Winners of the $100,000 SmartZone Award can still apply for up to $150,000 in additional funding (for a total of $250,000) from the Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund. The additional funding requested, above the $100,000 award, requires a matching cash investment equaling at least half the amount of the request. The SmartZone Award can not be used as the matching funds.
	Q. Where can I find out more about the Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund and Loan program? Complete information, including a list of SmartZone contacts, is available through the Ann Arbor SPARK website at: www.annarborusa.org/funding-incentives/pre-seed-fund