May 9 • 2019 49
jn
Economic Gamechanger
Michigan Israel Business Accelerator readies launch
of innovative new tech startup web platform.
M
ichigan Israel Business
Accelerator (MIBA), capi-
talizing on its close ties to
Israel, the “Startup Nation,” is bring-
ing a free web platform to Michigan,
the first state in the country (and only
third location in the world) to get the
technology.
The web platform, called
startupmichigan.tech, is created
by Israel’
s Start-Up Nation Central
(SNC), an independent nonprofit that
builds bridges to the Israeli innova-
tion ecosystem. Through Start-Up
Nation Finder, SNC’
s original inno-
vation discovery platform, the orga-
nization maps the Israeli innovation
ecosystem in real time, tracking more
than 6,000 innovative companies
tagged into sectors with each one
having its own profile page, as well as
hundreds of investors, hubs, accelera-
tors, universities and research centers,
tech communities and multinational
corporations currently active in Israel.
SNC only licenses the technology
to places that have a “critical mass
of technical innovation,” said Mark
Davidoff, Michigan managing part-
ner, Deloitte LLP, and chairman of the
MIBA Board.
The MIBA
’
s
startupmichigan.tech is
poised to be a tipping
point for the state’
s
startup ecosystem. The
platform’
s database,
which continues to
develop, currently features pages on
more than 335 startups. Information
on 25 investors, 27 hubs and more are
included on the portal as well. The
advanced search option allows users
to filter startups by business model,
funding stage, location, product stage
and more. Results can be saved to the
user’
s personal collection or exported.
Users can also contact companies they
are interested in through the start-
upmichigan.tech web platform and
request introductions.
“No one has ever before had a
one-stop view of the entire inno-
vation ecosystem of Michigan,”
Davidoff said. “Now anyone in the
world can log on to this tool and see
what’
s going on in Michigan. It’
s a
gamechanger in Michigan’
s ability to
sell itself as a high-tech hub.”
The platform will launch later this
month at private event to celebrate
Michigan’
s innovation ecosystem
at the Shinola Hotel in Detroit.
Michigan startups will have an oppor-
tunity to claim their profile pages
when they attend the “by invitation
only” event.
“MIBA will maintain the database
for accuracy, timeliness and accessi-
bility, which makes it a highly valu-
able go-to resource,” said Bernard
Bourgeois, senior analyst at MIBA.
“This web platform provides a clean
interface with a statewide focus.
Startupmichigan.tech will be the
conduit for meaningful introductions
between startups and investors.”
The web platform received fund-
ing from the Michigan Economic
Development Corporation (MEDC),
William Davidson Foundation, Ralph
C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, the Paul
E. Singer Foundation and the New
Economy Initiative.
Chris Rizik, CEO and fund manag-
er of Renaissance Venture Capital in
Ann Arbor, said, “The ability to edit
our own page without going through
an intermediary is significant because
things are changing all the time. We
often work with investors from out-
side the state and try to introduce
them to Michigan startup companies.
But there has never before been a
single resource that included the rele-
vant startup business and fundraising
information that startupmichigan.tech
has. The central resource provides
strong tangible value that will be a
great help to the startup community
in Michigan.”
“Startups are key to driving
Michigan’
s new economy,” Davidoff
said. “The launch of the
startupmichigan.tech database will
be a game-changer for Michigan and
MIBA is proud to be the power fuel-
ing the effort.” ■
business
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