1. www.misbtdc.org Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center TM Counseling ▪ Training ▪ Market Research So…You want to be an Entrepreneur

2. www.misbtdc.org Agenda  Introductions  Startup climate  Evaluate your idea  Identify additional resources 2 22

3. www.misbtdc.org Food for thought.. …nearly HALF of the 2008 Inc 500, and more than HALF of the 2008 Fortune 500 were born during recessions or bear markets… Source: Inc magazine, June 2009

4. www.misbtdc.org Identify Business Ideas  Looking Inward  Networking  Looking Outward

5. www.misbtdc.org Do I have a good idea?  Market Research  Industry  Customer  Competition  What information to collect  Business Idea Evaluation

6. www.misbtdc.org Do you have the ‘Right Stuff’?  Assess Entrepreneurial Characteristics

7. www.misbtdc.org Universities/Colleges: (Tech Transfer, MMTC, Engineering, Entrepreneur Centers, etc.) Private Sector Service Providers: Banks, Attorneys, Accountants, Consultants Angel/Venture/Inventor Forums State of Michigan: MEDC/DLEG Export Assistance Centers & District Export Councils Procurement & Technical Assistance Centers (PTAC) Smart Zones Accelerators Incubators Legislators, Advocates Resources The Small Business CEO and Team The Small Business Owner and Team EDCs, Municipalities US Small Business Administration (SBA) MSU Extension & Product Center Chambers of Commerce, DDAs Trade Assns, Membership Organizations

8. www.misbtdc.org Supported locally by Phone: 989.386.6630 www.misbtdc.org The Michigan SBTDC TM The MI-SBTDC™ is funded through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation SM (MEDC) and matching funds from Local Network partners in each region.