About Jumpstart

Jumpstart: Boosting Michigan’s Entrepreneurs 

 JumpStart Logo

The JumpStart Team is made possible by the generous support of the C.S. Mott Foundation and its funding of the “Moving Ideas to Market” initiative, implemented and led by the Prima Civitas Foundation.

Action Team Goals

As one of three action teams operating under the Moving Ideas to Market initiative, Jumpstart aims to develop a network of organizations dedicated to enhancing the entrepreneurial culture in Michigan.  Specifically, the team works to enhance communication and collaboration between entrepreneurs, entrepreneurial support organizations, angel investors, and venture capitalist groups.

The team is now focusing on the community aspect of entrepreneurial development is actively working to connect community stakeholders with enterprising youth, universities, and entrerpeneurs.  

Action Team Strategies

The Jumpstart team created Boost Michigan events in order to provide opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs and early stage business ventures to present their businesses to a panel of potential investors and entrepreneurial support organizations.  Entrepreneurs are then provided with feedback and advice to continue developing their businesses, and competition winners are offered an impromptu advisory board meeting with the judging panel.  Additionally, many of the judges for these competitions are also representatives of angel investor groups and extend invitations to high potential entrepreneurs to seek funding from their investment groups - providing critical capital. Over 200 entrepreneurs have been involved in Boost competitions!

Jumpstart team members have since spun out the Boosts to their local regions!

Jumpstart Team Membership

  • Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest
  • Blue Water Angels
  • MI-SBTDC
  • North Cost Technology Investors
  • Prima Civitas Foundation
  • Saginaw Valley State Univserity
  • Michigan Economic Development Corporation
  • Midland Tomorrow
  • MSU Outreach and Engagement

 For More Information, please contact:
Chris Stickney, Moving Ideas to Market Project Implementer, (517)432-7650, stickne4@anr.msu.edu