Moving Ideas to Market Launches New Web Portal for Michigan Entrepreneurs

By hhetzner - Posted on 13 May 2010

Originally published in the Great Lakes IT Report

Link to the article: http://www.wwj.com/Moving-Ideas-to-Market-Launches-New-Web-Portal-for/7033196

Posted: Wednesday, 12 May 2010 5:33PM

Aspiring entrepreneurs across Michigan now have access to a powerful new tool to further their goals of launching a successful business. The recently launched Moving Ideas to Market Web portal, available at www.movingideastomarket.org, features links to statewide entrepreneurship resources, training materials, articles, videos, events, and announcements.

Moving Ideas to Market is a C.S. Mott Foundation-funded initiative managed by the Lansing-based Prima Civitas Foundation and led by a dynamic network of more than 50 volunteers comprised of Michigan entrepreneurs and support organizations.

The 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.

"There is no shortage of people in Michigan who would love to start their own business, just as there is no shortage of support organizations willing to help those individuals," notes Chris Stickney, Moving Ideas to Market project implementer.

The concept for the Web portal originated from direct feedback of the entrepreneurs and support organizations in the initiative.

Resources and information on the web portal are organized according to the focus areas of the three action teams in Moving Ideas to Market - IGNITE (k-12 educators and students); EnGen (collegiate educators and students); and Jumpstart (early and second-stage startups.)

In addition to a catalog of resources, visitors to the portal will find information of each of the three action teams in the Initiative; articles highlighting successful Michigan entrepreneurs; video interviews; new and innovative entrepreneurial programs; and a comprehensive calendar of entrepreneurial events statewide.

"We understand that there are a host of wonderful resources to help entrepreneurs launch businesses. Our goal with this new web portal is not to duplicate efforts, but to increase awareness of the resources already out there," adds Holly Hetzner, Prima Civitas Foundation staffer and Moving Ideas to Market Project Coordinator.

Developers for the Web portal are currently working on a mapping feature that will match entrepreneurs with resources in their communities based on location and topics of interest. The mapping feature is estimated to be operational by late June.

Entrepreneur support organizations and professionals in Michigan are encouraged to visit the web portal and submit their resources and events. Interested organizations are also encouraged to join the Moving Ideas to Market volunteer network. For questions or more information, contact Chris Stickney at stickne4@anr.msu.edu.