Investors, entrepreneurs to mix at U-M's Michigan Growth Capital Symposium

Wednesday, April 27, 2011 | Source: Concentrate

The Michigan Growth Capital Symposium is coming up soon and with the recent string of profitable exits by Ann Arbor-based companies, it's looking to attract a lot of attention.

The symposium, in its 30th year, has become the gold standard for start-up investment in the Midwest. About 40 companies will make presentations to a vast array of deep pockets, ranging from angel investors, venture capitalists, corporate interests, and other assorted business interests. These companies regularly are looking for funding between $500,000 and $2 million, and often get it.

"Any of the harvests you have seen lately, such as Health Media and Accuri Cytometers, have made their appearances at the symposium early," says David Brophy, founder of the Michigan Growth Capital Symposium and a professor at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business. "We wouldn't go if there weren't great deals happening. They might not be perfect, but they're darn good deals."

Over the last 10 years, 301 local companies have presented there. Of those companies, 71 percent have raised $1.7 billion in capital and 21 percent have recorded profitable exits.

The Michigan Growth Capital Symposium will be held on May 10-11 at the Marriott in Ypsilanti.

Source: David Brophy, founder of the Michigan Growth Capital Symposium
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.