Registration is open for the Great Lakes International Innovation Summit. The 2019 GLIn2 Summit will be held in Kalamazoo, MI from September 17 through September 19. The event will take place at the Radisson Plaza Hotel. A block of rooms is available at the Radisson for a discounted price of $145 per night. Don't delay reserving a room as not many rooms were held.

A special Kalamazoo beer tour will be offered on the evening of September 17. The tour will begin at the Radisson Plaza Hotel's Old Burdick's Bar & Grill at 5:30 with a trolley ride to Tibbs Brewing Company where we will enjoy a light dinner, 3 samples or a pint each, and a tour of the brewery. The trolley will then take us on a short tour around downtown Kalamazoo, narrated by a knowledgeable tour director and including complimentary snacks and bottled water. Next the trolley stops at Bell’s Eccentric Cafe where everyone will receive a full pour of beer, cider, or wine. The evening ends when the trolley delivers us all back at the Radisson Plaza Hotel at 8:30 p.m. The tour costs $60 per person and is limited to 25 people.

You can register for all activities and reserve hotel accommodations at https://www.glin2.com/. The code to receive the State Association Member discount is 2019State. A separate discount code will be provided to anyone who is selected to be a speaker at the GLIn2 Summit.
 

There are two more MBIA member meetings this year. Please plan to join us for the following.

September 17, 2019. MBIA is hosting a special Michigan-only event the afternoon of the day before the GLIn2 Summit. The meeting will take place at the WMed Innovation Center in Kalamazoo from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and MBIA funds to pay for lunch for participants. The focus of this meeting will be how to use the business model canvas and we will complete a business model canvas for MBIA.

December, 2019. We are seeking a location and date for this final member meeting of 2019. The topic is "Next Steps for Startups: Programs to Help Companies Scale." Kevin Suboski, an Implementer for the Entrepreneurial Operating System, will present on what EOS is all about. We hope many MBIA members will come and share their ideas for how to serve second stage companies. MBIA will provide lunch for members who attend.

InBIA's 33rd International Conference on Business Incubation (ICBI33) featured knowledge sharing and networking opportunities with the goal of invigorating entrepreneurship center management towards concerted change for the global ecosystem. As InBIA seeks to standardize best practices across the industry, we have provided some of the top takeaways from the conference as valuable assets for future entrepreneurship support:

1. Promoting diversity and inclusion should be a key part of an entrepreneurship center’s programming, strategy, leadership, metrics, etc. but should not be just an add-on. Avoid silos of support; look towards building diversity from within through community outreach instead of creating specialized groups targeting specific demographics.

2. Don’t spread yourself too thin. Tap into strategic partnerships with other resource providers or programs to build a complementary platform for different types of entrepreneurs and their needs.

3. Currently, there is a lot of competition among organizations serving startup companies; don’t seek to become part of that trend as it becomes frustrating for clients. Differentiate your value propositions so that you are filling in a gap that has yet to be filled in your market. This differentiation will also aid your organization’s efforts towards funding.

4. The client base for entrepreneurship centers is changing. Change to meet the needs of different generations, not just different types of startups. Look towards incorporating different learning methods, including varied online services and innovative technology, within your programming. Less intimidating venues for younger entrepreneurs may be helpful in reducing perceived barriers.

5. Create networking opportunities that intentionally seek to eliminate the obstacle of anxiety. ICBI33 would not be as impactful without the experience of collaboration and a welcoming atmosphere—make sure you are building the same kinds of opportunities for your community as well! This will also promote diversity as potential innovators feel more comfortable having a seat at your table.

6. Welcome new entrepreneurship centers and ecosystem builders to the table. Give them the opportunity to make a difference with you. You are all working towards the same goal of supporting entrepreneurs and uplifting your communities.

Thank you all for your insightful discussions, and we look forward to seeing you at ICBI34!

“Handshakes” is a collection of inspiring stories and shared lessons from Michigan businesses that are redefining the next economic frontier. After all, a business is more than an enterprise. It’s a combination of vision, partnerships and culmination of strategic decisions.

Check out the "3 Take-Aways" series which features entrepreneurs giving their advice to others. Also explore the "In the Zone" series which features different Michigan SmartZone programs.

Click HERE to visit the MEDC website.