Capital. Funding. Money and so much more. Capital is the lifeblood of a start-up, because it fuels the growth phase. Capital matters, regardless of your stage in development. So whether you’re just getting started or ready to launch, capital helps catapult your venture to the next level. Whether you need staffing, equipment, real estate, services or other resources, tap into local regional funding.
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The Pre-Seed Capital Fund: a collaborative effort of Michigan’s 15 SmartZonesSM, is an equity fund that invests in high-tech, high-growth start-up companies to support business formation and acceleration. Through this fund, eligible companies are able to receive an investment of $50,000 to $250,000 alongside a matching investment from another investor. Administered by the West Michigan Science & Technology Iniatiative.
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The team at Biotechnology Business Consultants provides intensive business development, training and consulting to support early stage life science and technology companies.
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Angel network making financial and intellectual capital available for early stage and growing entrepreneurial companies in West Michigan, primarily the Kalamazoo region.
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Early-stage venture capital firm specializing in the health care sector, focusing on investments in medical technology and health care services. Helps companies in strategy, operations, recruiting, fundraising and exit planning.
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Headquartered at Grand Valley State University, the Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center (MI-SBTDC) provides counseling, training and market research for new ventures, existing small businesses and innovative technology companies.
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The Michigan Emerging Technologies Fund (ETF) is designed to expand funding opportunities for Michigan technology based companies in the federal innovation research and development arena. To that end, the Small Business & Technology Development Center (SBTDC) through the Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF) is dedicating up to $1.4 million to match federal funding opportunities for exceptional commercial opportunities in Michigan.
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Angel network making financial and intellectual capital available for early stage and growing entrepreneurial companies in West Michigan, primarily the Grand Rapids and Lakeshore region.
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Venture capital firm helps entrepreneurs build lasting, growth companies. Invests exclusively in companies creating the next generation of enterprise software, semiconductors, and advanced materials. Also offers business-building resources to assist in the creation of companies.
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Lakeshore Advantage is the economic development organization for the Holland and Zeeland, Mich. area and is the one-stop organization along the lakeshore for assisting entrepreneurs with getting their businesses off the ground. 201 West Washington Avenue Zeeland, MI 49464-1086 (616) 772-5226
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Grand Rapids Urban League Inc. / Micro Loan Fund Pro.  Programs are available for technical assistance and financial support for starting or expanding small business.
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EDF Ventures is a venture capital firm investing in early-stage health care companies. EDF focuses on young companies that are developing breakthrough technologies to address large, well recognized problems or transform existing markets. EDF partners bring a wealth of direct experience that is essential to guiding young companies through its start-up and high-growth phases to become mature, profitable companies.
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The GRAND RAPIDS AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION is a trust—a collection of endowment funds that are contributed by individuals, corporations and community service organizations to benefit the geographical area of Grand Rapids, Minnesota. The Community Foundation is one of 700 community foundations in the United States. As a community foundation, it is a public charity whose purpose is to enhance giving, or philanthropy, in all sectors of the community. This means a partnering in philanthropy — giving to nonprofit community service agencies and charities and giving to develop and enhance new ideas and projects needed in the area.
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Momentum is a Michigan-based venture firm investing in Web-based technology start-ups. Each year, Momentum hosts an open competition inviting high-tech entrepreneurs the chance to compete for first-round funding for further development of their ideas, to participate in 12 weeks of customized entrepreneurial training and to pitch their newly-developed innovations to second-round investors.
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High-tech and information technology venture firm that primarily invests in seed and early-stage companies selling to manufacturing or automotive sector also companies based on novel technologies developed at Midwest research institutions. Assists in building sales pipeline, recruiting, strategy and product development and securing financing.
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TGap Ventures focuses primarily on early-stage investments throughout the Midwest, including medical devices, software, specialty manufacturing, Internet, telecommunications, health care, and other high growth companies. TGap works closely with portfolio companies on systems development, senior management recruiting, new customer contact, strategic partnerships and additional financings.
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North Coast invests in early-stage technology-driven companies with outstanding growth prospects in the Midwest. Most investments North Coast makes are in companies where an entrepreneur, an emerging technology and a promising market opportunity are identifiable and consistent with the venture model. North Coast will invest in seed stage and start-up companies.
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Michigan Accelerator Fund-1-The Charter Group, a Grand Rapids, Mich. based business broker, has formed with the Michigan Strategic Economic Investment & Commercialization Board to launch a new, $10m fund, to be named The Michigan Accelerator Fund I. The state government has invested $6m and it is hoped this can be used to leverage inbound investment from local investors, to bring the fund up to its target of $10m. It is planned to invest seventy percent of the new fund into life sciences companies, with the balance going to advanced manufacturing, homeland security and alternative energy.
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