UM's Entreprelooza Returns
Bringing together members of the business community and leaders in entrepreneurship and venture capital, The Samuel Zell & Robert H. Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business will host Entrepalooza, its annual Entrepreneurial Symposium, Sept. 16-17 at the University's Blau Auditorium.
This year's expanded event will offer attendees inspirational success stories from serial entrepreneurs, Fortune 100 executives and venture capital leaders. Panel discussions and keynote presentations will provide insight into the current exit climate, opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurial success, as well as perspectives on emerging trends such as social entrepreneurship and alternative financing.
The public symposium brings the best and the brightest business minds to the University of Michigan campus to share the secrets behind their success with students, alumni, faculty and members of the broader business community. Networking opportunities are also built into the program to enable entrepreneurial minded students the opportunity to make personal contacts with potential advisors and backers.
Entrepalooza will open on Thursday afternoon, Sept. 16 with a keynote address from Vishen Lakhiani, University of Michigan graduate and co-founder of Malaysian-based MindValley. A world-renowned expert on the importance of company culture, Lakhiani's presentation will focus on best practices for building an Internet business with particular emphasis on creative methods for fostering a strong corporate culture.
A student pitch competition will follow the opening keynote. Participants will have 90 seconds to pitch their business idea to an audience and a panel of judges comprised of investors. The winner will receive a cash prize of $250 and the opportunity for lunch with successful Michigan entrepreneur, Jeffrey Williams (MBA '92).
Friday, Sept. 17 kicks-off with a keynote address from Williams, president and CEO of Accuri Cytometers. Williams will present on 'The Art of the Exit' and share insights from his recent successes. Prior to Accuri, Williams served as the president and CEO of Ann Arbor-based HandyLab Inc., where he led the growth and venture financing of the company, ultimately resulting in a sale to Becton Dickinson for $275 million last November.
Friday's line-up will also feature a series of panel discussions on the following topics: launching and growing your business, financing your business, economically viable social startups, and cleantech ventures.
Panelists will include entrepreneurs, business executives and venture capitalists from organizations such as: Aardvark, Accio Ventures, Ambiq Micro, Ann Arbor Spark, Beringea Venture Capital, Blue Marble Ice Cream, Dean's Beans Organic Coffee Company, DTE Energy, Early Stage Partners, Genscape, Huron River Ventures, International Development Collaborative, Quest Management, Sakti3, Sweet Riot Inc., and Windward Associates.
Entrepalooza is co-presented by the Ross School of Business Entrepreneur and Venture Club and the School's Zell Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies. The public symposium is free to attendees. For more information or to register to attend the event, please go to www.epalooza.bus.umich.edu.
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