Houghton is a pretty good place to start a tech company, especially with the help of the
MTEC SmartZone. Four local women are on their way to doing just that.
All are part of a program called Activate, a ten-month course that starts at idea generation and goes through the launch of a business. It's guided by MTEC SmartZone CEO Marilyn Clark and
Michigan Technological University president Glenn Mroz and organized by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
It's based on solving the issue that women faculty members typically don't commercialize their research and technology at the same rate male faculty members do, says Clark.
"Activate provides a valuable opportunity for professional women of the Keweenaw to use their career skills and become entrepreneurs," she says.
The four participants are Tech assistant professor of biomedical engineering Megan Frost, associate director of the Institute for Leadership and Innovation Mary Raber, associate professor of chemical engineering Adrienne Minerick, and Lynn Elaison, director of manufacturing, finance and human resources at GS Engineering of Houghton.
The group have regular video conferences, and go to Dearborn once a month for Saturday sessions.
"Activate has helped me bridge the gap between my technology and the practical place it has in the market," says Frost.
Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: MTEC SmartZone
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