Mike Burns is a born entrepreneur, and at 58, he could easily run rings around guys half his age. Or fly rings around them, as the case may be (he pilots WWII era P-51 Mustangs). More importantly, Burns is an entrepreneur who believes in doing business in Michigan. It's why he sources nearly all the components to his iPad accessory, the HandeHolder, locally.  And it's not just a recession thing. It's part of his overall business philosophy.

Is it tea or is it an alcoholic beverage? For Rachel and Tarek Kanaan, owners of Unity Vibration Kombucha, the state's question had potentially far-reaching consequences for their probiotic drink business. But instead of over-reacting, they adapted by adding kombucha beer to their product line. It's turned out to be one of the best decisions they ever made.

Ann Arbor-based ForeSee Results has seen growth every quarter of its existence. That's a pretty impressive track record for this U-M spin out. CEO and co-founder Larry Freed talks about his home grown approach to hiring, our area's startup climate, and what we need to keep and attract more young talent.

There's symphony in numbers. Steve Pierce, president of piercefinancial and board member of the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, talks this week on the self -employment penalty paid by entrepreneurs and compares the financial collapse to milking a duck.

Back in 2001 Larry Eiler, CEO of Eiler Communications and director of the Small Business Association of Michigan, wrote an essay comparing our entrepreneurial landscape with Silicon Valley. Needless to say Michigan came up lacking. Boy, what a difference 10 years makes. In this week's guest blog Larry updates his assessment and finds more than a few encouraging trends.

From visions of banana chairs to Compuware's recent hiring of an arts curator, companies are showing their humanistic side via art in the workplace. Art and design entrepreneurs Joy Naylor and Diane Bennett of Distinct Designs,Inc., a corporate interior design and art consultancy, offer up their perspective on local artists and art selection for businesses.

Sometimes a little guidance goes a long way. U-M's Tech Transfer office, along with its new Michigan Venture Center, have started a mentorship program that turns technologists into entrepreneurs. As a result they expect to see a 20% bump in start-up launches.

From $50 desk rentals to million dollar start-ups, Tech Brewery is a coworking space that caters to Ann Arbor's tech entrepreneurs. Professional collaborations, tech meet-ups and beer-fueled social gatherings are all part of the mix in this innovative workspace.

Every successful entrepreneur has to master the art of the pitch if they want to attract investors. So, how do you hone your sprawling corporate narrative into a lean, mean call for venture capital? Funny you should ask. Ann Arbor SPARK offers a boot camp for startups who need a leg up.