Ann Arbor resident Karen Cross launched a successful business just as the COVID-19 crisis hit Michigan – with a little help from a business incubator program for women, as well as her lifelong enthusiasm for bargain hunting.
As many activities have shifted online during the pandemic, Jottful has helped small businesses build their first websites – often at no cost to the business owners, thanks to federal funding.
The report found that a majority of local businesses surveyed get their capital from individuals, not banks or venture funds – and they anticipate needing $600 million in capital over the next three years.
Although the program is well suited to how COVID-19 is changing the way people do business, it arose out of feedback the property management company has been receiving for a few years.
COVID-19 closed many art fairs and farmers markets this summer, leaving many small business owners with one less avenue to sell their wares. But three different organizers have created new markets in an effort to keep those entrepreneurs afloat.
To promote shopping locally this holiday season, Ann Arbor-based entrepreneurial research nonprofit EntryPoint will release a gift guide Nov. 1 highlighting products and small businesses across the Midwest.
This year's FastTrack Award recipients were required to have had a minimum revenue base of at least $100,000 in 2016 and to have demonstrated 20% increased average revenue for the following three years.
After the pandemic forced Decode's Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti escape rooms to close, the company has continued to keep people entertained through a series of safe, socially distanced outdoor games.
Organizer Ann Arbor SPARK and participating companies felt it was more important than ever to talk about job opportunities and how businesses are dealing with challenges due to the pandemic.
The scholarship encourages companies and founders who are part of minority groups or who don’t fit the “standard” tech company profile to apply.
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