ACE Program

2:00 p.m.

Registration

Pool Lobby

2:30-3:30 p.m.

Workshops - First Session (in the Breakout Rooms)

Workshop #1

Building a Lean Startup: You don't know what your customer wants

The science of effective company building.  Or, the process of building the minimum viable solution required to test market assumptions, then iterating quickly to steer your solution in response to the feedback of early customers.

Moderator: J. Kevin McCurren, Executive Director, Grand Valley State University Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Panelists:

John Malnor

Vice President of Growth Initiatives, Steelcase

Jason Pliml

Consultant, MI-SBTDC

Founder, Mock Draft Central, LLC

Rich Sheridan

CEO, Menlo Innovations

Ryan Vaughn
Co-founder, Varsity News Network

Workshop #2

Funding Sources and Strategies

The panel will represent a cross section of funding sources available to startups within the State of Michigan ranging from very early stage micro-loans, pre-seed loans, early stage investors, SBIR and government grants, and late stage funding venture capital firms. Each panelist will discuss their area of funding, how to approach funding organizations and funding strategies.

Moderator: Andrew McColm, Managing Director, Early Stage Partners (Michigan Office)

Panelists:

Skip Simms

Senior Vice President, Ann Arbor SPARK

Jody Vanderwel

President, Grand Angels

Michael Kurek, Ph.D.

Partner, Biotechnology Business Consultants

Dale Grogan

Managing Director, Michigan Accelerator Fund 1

Workshop #3

Opportunities and Challenges for the Emergent Sectors

Green, mobile, food safety … You've heard they are hot! How can you capitalize on these emergent markets? What should you know before you get into the market? Find out in this panel discussion.

Moderator: Eric J. Sosenko, Brinks, Hofer, Gilson and Lione

Panelists:

Julia Bradsher, Ph.D., M.B.A.

President and Chief Executive Officer, Global Food Protection Institute

Larry Granger

Chief Information Officer, PEP Stations, LLC

Jimmy Hsiao

President and Chief Executive Officer, Logic Solutions, Inc.

Tim Slusser

Technology Development Manager for Cluster Development at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

Workshop #4

From Startup to Second Stage

Many successful startups aspire to grow into “second stage” companies -- where the opportunities and challenges are very different. Join our panel of entrepreneurs who have transitioned their company to the second stage. We promise a lively discussion of the new challenges that come with growth and change.

Moderator: Nancy Boese, MI-SBTDC

Panelists:

Linda Girard

Co-Founder and Visionary, Pure Visibility

Joe Mattausch

President, TC3Net

Lynn Perenic

President and CEO, Argent Tape

4:00-5:00 p.m.

Workshops - Second Session (in the Breakout Rooms)

Workshop #1

Building a Lean Startup: You don't know what your customer wants

The science of effective company building.  Or, the process of building the minimum viable solution required to test market assumptions, then iterating quickly to steer your solution in response to the feedback of early customers.

Moderator: J. Kevin McCurren, Executive Director, Grand Valley State University Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Panelists:

John Malnor

Vice President of Growth Initiatives, Steelcase

Jason Pliml

Consultant, MI-SBTDC

Founder, Mock Draft Central, LLC

Rich Sheridan

CEO, Menlo Innovations

Ryan Vaughn

Co-founder, Varsity News Network

Workshop #2

Funding Sources and Strategies

The panel will represent a cross section of funding sources available to startups within the State of Michigan ranging from very early stage micro-loans, pre-seed loans, early stage investors, SBIR and government grants, and late stage funding venture capital firms. Each panelist will discuss their area of funding, how to approach funding organizations and funding strategies.

Moderator: Andrew McColm, Managing Director, Early Stage Partners (Michigan Office)

Panelists:

Skip Simms

Senior Vice President, Ann Arbor SPARK

Jody Vanderwel

President, Grand Angels

Michael Kurek, Ph.D.

Partner, Biotechnology Business Consultants

Dale Grogan

Managing Director, Michigan Accelerator Fund 1

Workshop #3

Innovation in Urban Michigan

How are innovative entrepreneurs and economic development teams pushing ahead in Michigan’s urban areas? Find out in this panel discussion focusing on the businesses and programs thriving in the region. Learn how you can capitalize on opportunities in your big-city backyard.

Moderator: Kelly Kozlowski, Automation Alley

Panelists:

Olga Stella

Vice President for Business Development, Detroit Economic Growth Corporation

Scott Griffin

Principle, Ramscale Inc.

Chris Uhl

Green Garage

Workshop #4

From Idea to Business

Student ideas are solicited from the audience and presented in a 3-5 minute format. A panel of business development experts, as well as the audience, will ask questions and make suggestions to help the students analyze whether their ideas could be viable business concepts.

Moderator: Amy Klinke

Panelists:

Sandra Cochrane

Technology Business Consultant, Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center (MI-SBTDC)

Bill Mayer

Director, Business Accelerator, Ann Arbor SPARK

Wes Huffstutter

Student Entrepreneurship Program Manager, University of Michigan Office of Technology Transfer

Moses Lee

Assistant Director for Venture Acceleration, Center for Entrepreneurship

6:15 p.m.

7:00 p.m

Showcase Presentation

"The Foundation of Entrepreneurial Leadership"

A panel discussion featuring two of Michigan’s leading entrepreneurial success stories. Dan Arbour and Kalyan Handique have attained great results for companies they have led and will share insights from their own experiences in Michigan's entrepreneurial landscape during this exciting panel, led by moderator and leadership expert Fritz Seyferth.

Moderator: Fritz Seyferth, Founder, Fritz Seyferth & Associates; Founder, "The Foundation of Winning" program

Panelists:

Dan Arbour

Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Apogee Consulting

Kalyan Handique

Chief Executive Officer, DeNovo Sciences

Elevator Pitch Competition

Auditorium

Recognition of Elevator Competition Winner

Auditorium

9:00 p.m.

Adjournment

Commons