SPARK Supporters

Thank you for your interest in supporting Ann Arbor SPARK. Your participation supports 100+ networking and educational events – and helps thousands of professionals connect with resources, make contacts, and find opportunities each year.

SPARK helps area businesses. We’re meeting the needs of businesses at every stage, from innovative start-ups to the firmly established. We’re providing talent services to help locate key employees and partners. We’re developing and enhancing marketing and public relations initiatives to benefit our region and supporters. We’re expanding services for start-ups, with educational events like Boot Camp; equipment distribution through the Michigan Innovation Equipment Depot; providing wet lab and incubator space; and assisting with funding through the Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund. Established firms benefit from our CEO networking and business development forums.

Supporter-only advantages are compelling. You’ll have the opportunity to meet members of our board of directors, the SPARK executive committee, and guest CEOs; participate in special interest groups; and meet national business leaders. Your company will be listed on the SPARK web site for 2008. You’ll be among the supporters we seek out to present at SPARK-associated trade shows and conferences, meet new companies moving into the Ann Arbor region, and participate in SPARK’s mission to establish the region as the best place for business expansion and location.

You’ll receive valuable benefits, including discounts for fee-based SPARK programs and joint events with NEF, MichBio, Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce, and others – plus savings at conferences such as E2detroit, Michigan Growth Capital Symposium and more. You’ll have access to SPARK Central as a meeting and presentation venue.

Giving Tiers

Your support means business. When you partner with SPARK financially, you help spark business growth in the communities of Washtenaw County. Ultimately, that means you are helping to preserve, protect and enhance the quality of life across our region. What financial role will you play?

The Contributor: $5,000 to $10,000

Contributor: One whose involvement advances a worthwhile cause or endeavor. A gift at this level will help fund between five and ten:

networking events which lead to valuable connections for entrepreneurs and innovation-base businesses
networking and educational events designed to attract or retain knowledge-based talent in our region

The Innovator: $10,000 to $20,000

Innovator: An individual who leads the way to new ideas or positive change. Donations at this level
provide crucial incubator facilities for as many as four start-up companies for a full year.

The entrepreneur: $20,000 to $50,000

Entrepreneur: Someone who sees the potential in new ventures and enthusiastically welcomes opportunity. Giving at this level helps fund the retention and attraction efforts needed to increase the volume and caliber of high-value scientific and technology businesses and talent in our area.

The leader: $50,000 to $100,000

Leader: One who inspires and enables others to succeed. Leadership giving can help fund SPARK’s Business Accelerator services for two companies for one year. This includes business plan consulting, IP acquisition, legal business formation services and funding resources.

The Founder: $100,000 and above

Founder: A person or organization playing a major role in the foundational work of an important initiative. Contributions made at the Founder Level help to fund a comprehensive advertising and public relations program directed into key geographic markets and industry sectors in order to further build and extend the Ann Arbor USA brand. A gift of $100,000 or more enables SPARK’s business
development professionals to significantly increase the number of business retention and attraction successes for the greater Ann Arbor area (based on 2007 year-to-date achievements). A commitment at the Founder level would enable the contributor to be the primary funding source for the SPARK East Incubator.

If you are interested in becoming a SPARK Supporter, please submit the following information. A representative will contact you to discuss your level of participation and ways to increase the value of your SPARK affiliation.

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