| TUESDAY, 13-NOVEMBER Location:Guardian Building |
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| 5:30pm-7:30pm | Opening VIP Reception Hosted by Wayne County Edge; Sponsored by Bank of America & Comcast |
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| WEDNESDAY, 14-NOVEMBER Location:Westin Book Cadillac |
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| 8:00am-8:45am | Registration & networking breakfast |
| 8:45am-9:00am | Welcome & opening remarks Julie Gustafson, Executive Director, Macomb-OU INCubator |
| 9:00am-11:00am | Semi-Finalist Company presentations |
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| 11:00am-11:15am | Networking break Sponsored by Macomb-OU INCubator |
| 11:15am-12:45pm | Semi-Finalist Student presentations |
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| 12:45pm-2:00pm | Networking lunch Sponsored by Spartan Innovations |
| Panel Session — Sponsored by Detroit Regional Chamber Detroit 2.0: VC Funded Companies Venture capital investment plays a key role in the success of entrepreneurial ventures. Hear how successful entrepreneurs in our region have leveraged this resource and survived through this difficult economic period of the past three years. They will share their journey and how a challenging environment can create strategic decision-making and success. |
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| 2:00pm-4:00pm | Semi-Finalist Company presentations |
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| 4:00pm-4:15pm | Networking break Sponsored by Ann Arbor SPARK |
| 4:15pm-5:30pm | Semi-Finalist Student presentations |
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| 5:30pm-7:00pm | Evening Reception Sponsored by the Growth Capital Network & Cascade Partners |
| THURSDAY, 15-NOVEMBER Location:Westin Book Cadillac |
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| 8:00am-8:45am | Registration & networking breakfast Sponsored by the Automation Alley |
| 8:45am-9:00am | Welcome & opening remarks Leslie Smith, President & CEO of TechTown |
| 9:00am-11:00am | Semi-Finalist Company presentations |
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| 11:00am-11:15am | Networking break Sponsored by TechTown |
| 11:15am-12:45pm | Semi-Finalist Student presentations |
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| 12:45pm-2:00pm | Networking lunch Sponsored by Spartan Innovations |
| Panel Session - Sponsored by Brooks Kushman Entrepreneurship & International Trade — Transformational Growth through Exports Over the next five years, 85 percent of the world’s economic growth will occur outside the United States. Already, U.S. companies are realizing the business potential in exporting. A January 2012 survey conducted by Industry Week magazine revealed that the majority of executives reporting increased company exports said their businesses are thriving. The panelists will discuss the challenges and opportunities companies experience as they pursue increasing their sales through export, the benefits of international trade, strategies for growing the international businesses, and how to network with other executives to explore collaborative opportunities for business growth. |
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| 2:00pm | Finalist Students and Companies announced |
| 2:15pm-3:15pm | Finalist Students present |
| 3:30pm | Competition adjourns and moves to Orchestra Hall |
| THURSDAY, 15-NOVEMBER Location:Orchestra Hall |
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| 5:00pm-5:30pm | Opening reception |
| 5:30pm-6:00pm | Welcome remarks
Keynote: John Fernandez, Fmr. Asst. Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development |
| Student Award Winners Announced | |
| 6:00pm-7:00pm | Company Final Presentations |
| 7:00pm-8:00pm | Strolling Supper |
| 8:00pm-8:40pm | Keynote:Terry Jones, Founder and Former CEO of Travelocity |
| 8:40pm-8:50pm | Spirit of Michigan Award
Recipient: Dan Gilbert & Rock Ventures |
| 8:50pm-9:30pm | Company Award Winners Announced |
