Leading Institute Professors to Speak on Market and Financing Issues
ANN ARBOR, Mich., 10/15/2001 -- The Samuel Zell and Robert H. Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies, the world's leading university-based center for entrepreneurial studies, will sponsor this year's Great Lakes Venture Quest Business Plan Competition. The Zell Lurie Institute together with the University of Michigan's Technology Management Office is a gold sponsor for this year's competition, giving more than $25,000 to The Great Lakes Venture Quest, a non-profit organization serving to unite the entrepreneurial community in Michigan.
In addition, Tom Kinnear, Professor and Executive Director, Zell Lurie Institute will lead a training session on "Assessing Your Market," and Tim Petersen, Professor and Managing Director, Zell Lurie Institute will lead an advanced training session on "Financing Options for Your Business." The Zell Lurie Institute has taken the lead in working with last year's executive committee, broadening the depth and breadth of content on the competition web site (www.glventurequest.com), and reaching out for greater participation.
"One of the supporting initiatives of our entrepreneurial studies program is to offer students the opportunity to network with entrepreneurial and venture capitalist communities," said Tom Kinnear. "We're proud to sponsor and participate in this competition as it coincides with our own methodology by facilitating a practical learning experience for entrepreneurs to create and grow successful businesses."
"The Great Lakes competition is one of several annual events the Zell Lurie Institute advocates to encourage students to come together with a network of local business people, management talent and sources of capital," said John Chizick, MBA2, an entrepreneurial studies student at the Zell Lurie Institute. "Opportunities such as this give me the practical experience and resources to become a successful entrepreneur."
This second annual Great Lakes Venture Quest Business Plan Competition will begin the week of Oct. 15 with three kickoff events around the state: Oct. 15 at 6:00 p.m. at Michigan State University's Kellogg Center; Wednesday, Oct. 17 at 6:30 p.m. at Eastern Michigan University's Livonia classroom center; and Saturday, Oct. 20 at 10 a.m. at Grand Valley State University's downtown Grand Rapids campus. Over 600 participants from across the state are expected to turn out, and 200 tech-based business plans will be presented. The event will distribute a total of $160,000 in funding to fledgling businesses in stages, between October and March.
About Samuel Zell and Robert H. Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies
The Samuel Zell and Robert H. Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies was formed in October 1999. The Institute actively engages the nation's most successful entrepreneurs and offers an outstanding faculty composed of both academic researchers and practitioners in entrepreneurship. The Institute's mission is to focus the capabilities and resources of the University of Michigan Business School to provide education, experience and opportunities in entrepreneurship; serve as a catalyst for new venture development; and contribute important research in the field of entrepreneurship. Members of the Institute's Advisory Board include Samuel Zell, Chairman of Equity Group Investments; Michael Hallman, former COO of Microsoft Corporation; and Eugene Applebaum, Founder of Arbor Drugs.
About the Great Lakes Venture Quest
Formed in 2000, this non-profit organization serves to unite the entrepreneurial community and build the critical mass of technology, talent and capital necessary to make Michigan among the best places to start a high-tech enterprise. The Great Lakes Venture Quest uses an annual business plan competition to help educate and support entrepreneurs in the creation and growth of successful technology-based businesses in the State. For details and updates, visit www.glventurequest.com.
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