Best Benefit Ever: Navigating Michigan’s Entrepreneurial Scene

What’s the benefit? The Michigan Venture Capital Association  (opens in a new tab) is all about fostering connections, so what better way to do that than by giving members (and nonmembers) a resource to guide them through their community? With that in mind, MVCA launched the Michigan Entrepreneurial & Investment Landscape Map  (opens in a new tab). In tandem with the Michigan Entrepreneurial & Investment Landscape Guide  (opens in a new tab), the map provides information about investor organizations, entrepreneurial resources, service-provider geographies, and more. Even though Michigan has an increasingly vibrant entrepreneurial scene, MVCA Executive Director Maureen Miller Brosnan said in a statement  (opens in a new tab) that the map and guide “are the only online tools devoted to providing the most current information on entrepreneurial and investment activity in Michigan.”

Why it works for members: Simply put, the map works because it provides utility to every member of the Michigan business community. “Whether our visitor is a high tech company looking for investment, an out of state investor visiting Michigan and wondering who to meet with while they are in town, or an MVCA member looking for resources for a startup company, these interactive tools will simplify the search and ensure everyone in the country has access to our abundant and varied network of Michigan entrepreneurial resources,” Brosnan said  (opens in a new tab). And for those less technologically inclined,  a printed map will be made available to future MVCA event attendees.

Other perks: MVCA doesn’t have a single suite of benefits for all members. Instead, it offers a variety of packages  (opens in a new tab), depending on the member’s professional affiliation. Economic development organizations, for example, gain access to exclusive events and media outreach, while angel investors can go as far as serving on the association’s board of directors.