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

JACKIE HEADAPOHL MANAGING EDITOR

Mark Davidoff


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