Participants hail from all parts of the state, including six from the Upper Peninsula, nine from the upper Lower Peninsula, 41 from the west side of the state, 67 from mid-Michigan, and the balance from sections of Southeast Michigan. The industries represented are across the board, with the highest concentrations in IT (including software, wireless applications, e-commerce, electronic medical records, video and new media), Life Sciences, Alternative Energy, Advanced Manufacturing and Materials, and Food and Agriculture.
GLEQ has risen to the challenge thanks to its statewide network of support. Through collaborative relationships with the SmartZones, universities, industry associations, entrepreneurial support organizations, and economic development agencies, GLEQ has a roster of 250 volunteers that support the competition as Ambassadors, Coaches and Judges.
As a front door to the entrepreneurial community, GLEQ serves as a hub to connect entrepreneurs to resources, contacts and support organizations -- and to communicate opportunities for education and increased exposure to investors. GLEQ's monthly calendar of entrepreneurial networking and educational events is distributed to more than 8,000 addresses. GLEQ also sponsors and promotes the efforts of other organizations offering vital services to the entrepreneurial community including, BBCetc, New Enterprise Forum, MichBio, Annual Collaboration for Entrepreneurship (ACE), Moving Ideas to Market (Jumpstart), MIT Enterprise Forum, among others.
Through the competition process, entrepreneurs are introduced to mentors, advisors, and investors, and offered opportunities to move their ventures forward.
The current competition will culminate with a golf outing and an evening awards event at the Forrest Akers Golf complex at Michigan State University on June 10. Winners in all categories of the competition will be announced. GLEQ will be presenting up to $250,000 in awards -- and up to 500 people are expected to attend. On the day of the event, there'll also be a recognition luncheon for Coaches, Judges, and Ambassadors, workshops in the afternoon , and an MIT Enterprise Forum reception -- followed by the dinner/awards event. Everyone is welcome to attend and additional information and registration is available at www.gleq.org.