MIDLAND – Terry Lerash has been named the winner of the Ted Doan Spirit of Innovation Award, while Terry Duperon has won the MidMichigan Innovator Award.
The MidMichigan Innovation Center selects outstanding innovators in the mid-Michigan region for recognition at its annual innovation and entrepreneurial showcase, ?Heading for the Big Leagues.?
This year, MMIC selected BlueWater Angel Members Lerash and Duperon, true innovators working to effect positive change and growth in entrepreneurship throughout the mid-Michigan region.
The ?Ted Doan Spirit of Innovation Award? was first created by MMIC in 2010 in honor of Herbert D. ?Ted? Doan, the former President & CEO of The Dow Chemical Company, a thought-leader in Michigan?s venture capital industry, and one of the visionary founders of the MidMichigan Innovation Center.
This is the most prestigious award given by MMIC and is presented in partnership with Junia Doan. To win the award, a person must be the best example of innovation and entrepreneurship in the region for that year, and someone who displays the qualities exemplified by Ted Doan?vision, integrity, character, and generosity.
The Expo was a huge success with over 40 entrepreneurs exhibiting and over 175 attendees.
Meanwhile, Ken Kousky, Executive Director of the BlueWater Angels, has agreed to serve on the Investment Review Committee for the recently launched Michigan Pre-Seed Fund 2.0, a statewide investment fund aimed at supporting high-tech early stage companies.
The $6.8 million for the Fund comes from the Michigan Economic Development Corp., the state?s lead advocate for economic growth. The Fund will have $5.8 million to invest into high-tech start-up companies and $1 million dedicated to the University Commercialization Fund to help universities transfer technology to the marketplace.
Invest Michigan will be the Fund Manager, a Michigan nonprofit corporation based in Detroit. Charlie Moret, who ran Connecticut?s Pre-Seed Fund, CTech and TechStart before joining TechTown Detroit in 2012, recently left TechTown to start Invest Michigan where he serves as president and CEO.
State officials say the fund will work closely with the Michigan SmartZone Network of business incubators and accelerators.
Companies are eligible to apply for the pre-seed funds if they are developing technologies in advanced automotive, manufacturing and materials, agricultural technology, alternative energy, homeland security and defense, information technology, life sciences and other innovative technologies.
