Ann Arbor SPARK gets ready to kick off Entreprneur Boot Camp

Wednesday, November 4, 2009 | Source: Concentrate

The 16th bi-annual Ann Arbor SPARK Entrepreneur's Boot Camp is getting ready to kick off this weekend.

The two-day intensive program lets aspiring businesspeople cram a few years worth of business expertise into a few days. Bottom line, boot camp is as an entrepreneurship cramming session for people with ideas who lack the basic knowledge about starting a business. Most other new economy business incubators offer similar services in a hodgepodge of programs over a longer period of time.

"The value these campers get is unparalleled to what they get anywhere else," says Elizabeth Parkinson, vice president of marketing and public relations for Ann Arbor SPARK.

Last fall, Concentrate followed one start-up through the boot camp process. That story can be read here. This fall 13 start-ups will take place in boot camp. They will pay about $1,000 to take place in the event where they receive about $5,000 in consulting and education services with peers and experts in their fields (typically rooted in the new economy).

"This is such a large value and we also want companies that are serious," Parkinson says. "This is an investment."

This year's boot camps have also focused on preparing firms for boot camp with more reading and interaction and also doing more follow-up work to help ensure their success.

Source: Elizabeth Parkinson, vice president of marketing and public relations for Ann Arbor SPARK
Writer: Jon Zemke