About

The Initiative

Moving Ideas to Market (MI2M) is an entrepreneurship initiative that works to improve the overall entrepreneurial culture of Michigan to one that is supportive of entrepreneurs. MI2M actively builds the infrastructure of networked resources that will support entrepreneurs (from anywhere and any age in Michigan) from idea to launch and from launch to growth and sustainability.  The initiative is also dedicated to locating and publicizing resources and information to help Michigan residents start businesses or commercialize inventions.

A large component of MI2M is cultivating the entrepreneurial spirit early-on and continuing on through college and beyond with a continuum of education and support.

MI2M is funded by C.S. Mott Foundation, and is managed by PCF with facilitation and implementation support from Corporation for a Skilled Workforce and MSU Extension 4-H youth Development.

This Web Portal

This web portal is one part of the initiative’s toolkit to improve Michigan’s entrepreneurial culture by connecting would-be entrepreneurs with useful resources and information. The idea for the web portal originated from direct feedback of entrepreneurs and support organizations.  The volunteer-driven action teams in the Moving Ideas to Market teams each had a say in the development of features for the site.

Resources and information on the web portal are organized according to the focus areas of the three action teams in Moving Ideas to Market.

The Teams

The action groups in Moving Ideas to Market include: 

The IGNITE team (IGNITE: Sparking Tomorrow’s Entrepreneurs Today) was launched to develop programs to educate kindergarten through high school students in entrepreneurship. 

Specific topics addressed by the group to date include: entrepreneurship curriculum, teacher training, experiential learning opportunities for students, distance learning, and compiling “best practices.”

EnGen (Empowering the Next ENtrepreneurial GENeration) was launched to enhance entrepreneurship education at the college/university level.  

 Specific topics addressed by the group to date include promotion of entrepreneurial student clubs; commercialization of student and faculty inventions; entrepreneurship curriculum; experiential learning; conferences for faculty; and an engaged network of higher education institutions committed to entrepreneurship education. 

The chair of this Team is Georgia Abbott, Northwood University.  Georgia Abbott's contact information is abbottg@northwood.edu, (989) 837 - 4479.

Jumpstart was launched to build collaboration among organizations that provide technical assistance and other support to help businesses start, grow, and transform.  Technical assistance may include helping a firm address a scientific or research question, a marketing or sales question, or even a finance and capital question. The group is credited for planning and launching the  Boost Mid-Michigan venture capital “pitch” contests. 

The Team is now focused on finding gaps in the entrepreneurial pipeline and locating the necessary resources to fill those gaps. Jumpstart is currently identifying and supporting entrepreneurial incubators and encouraging international students and immigrants launch businesses.

Being a part of MI2M takes immense collaboration, patience, and a willingness to share best practices and resources. Nothing we accomplish could be done without the collective information, support, and passion of our amazing network of volunteers. 

The following organizations and businesses are currently engaged in the Moving Ideas to Market Initiative

• Automation Alley
• Baker College
  
• Blackstone Launchpad
  
• Central Michigan University
• Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
• Corporation for a Skilled Workforce
• Clinton County Economic Alliance
• Delta College
  
• DeWitt High School
• Generation E Institute
• Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest
• ITEC – Lansing
• Jackson Community College
  
• Junior Achievement of Mid Michigan
• Kettering University
  
• Lansing Community College
• Lansing Economic Area Partnership
• Lawrence Technological University
  
• Madle Marketing, LLC 
•  Meridian Township Economic Development Corporation
• Michigan 4-H Foundation
• Michigan Department of Education; Career and Technical Education
• Michigan Education Association
• Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center
• Michigan State University
• Michigan State University Extension
• Michigan State University Hatch
  
• Michigan Virtual University
• Michigan Universities Commercialization Initiative
• Michigan Works! –Thumb Area
• Middle Michigan Development Corporation
• Midland Tomorrow
• Mid-Michigan Innovation Center
• Mott Community College
• MPowered
  
• Prima Civitas Foundation
• Northwood University
  
• Saginaw County Business and Education Partnership
• Saginaw Valley State University
• Saint Clair Community College
• Spotlight Michigan
  
• University of Michigan – Flint
• University of Michigan - Dearborn
• Walsh College 
• Wayne State University
  

Have a Resource to share with us on this website?

Have an entrepreneurship resource? We want to hear from you! Please contact Holly Hetzner at the Prima Civitas Foundation at h.hetzner@primacivitas.org or 517 999 3382, ext. 306 or Chris Stickney at stickne4@anr.msu.edu, (517) 432-7650.