ANN ARBOR ? Six teams competing in the Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest business plan competition will pitch their companies June 7 to a panel of judges from the Michigan Venture Capital Association for the chance to win $25,000.

The selected teams will compete at 6 pm in the Anderson Room of the Michigan Union at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. The finalists include:

AxleshoX ? Elmer Lee – Designs and develops cutting edge shock absorption products using patented technology. GLEQ coach: Dennis Blanchette;

Check the Crib ? Oliver Baer ? An industrial spare parts solution improving MRO processing for manufacturers and their suppliers. GLEQ coach: Chris Ahn;

EnVironmental Transportation Solutions ? Richard Marks – EcoV Electric, an electric vehicle. GLEQ coach: John Weber;

Rapid BioSense ? John Cunningham – Designs and markets a rapid biosensor able to detect bacteria and viruses in a liquid sample. GLEQ coach: Rochelle Hanley.

Space Weather Forecasting – Joshua Botkin – Technology developed at the University of Michigan to help clients protect their high-value assets from the destructive and costly effects of solar storms and other forms of space weather. GLEQ coach: Cheryl Gracie.

These six teams ranked highest of the twenty-seven competing teams after their business plans were evaluated by investment experts. Their three minute plan pitch to a panel of MVCA judges, headed by Jack Ahrens, Partner at TGAP Ventures, will represent the final 25 percent of their score to determine the overall winner. Past grand prize winners include SpiritShop, Adaptive Materials, Sensigen, TJ Pulse and Velcura. Five of this year?s Michigan?s 50 Companies to Watch were GLEQ winners.

First place teams from the Emerging Company and New Business Idea paths will be recognized with cash awards of $25,000 and $5,000 respectively. In addition, each winning team will receive hours of valuable professional services. Runner-up teams in each category will be recognized with cash awards of $5,000 and $1,000 respectively and commensurate in-kind services.

New this year are two Innovation Awards sponsored and presented by NextEnergy and Automation Alley. The two new awards will be investments of up to $12,500 each in companies that are focused on alternative energy technology and advanced automotive manufacturing.

The keynote speaker will be Michigan entrepreneur, John Barfield, the founder and Chairman Emeritus of The Bartech Group, Inc. which is among the nation?s largest, independent professional staffing services and outsourcing firms, specializing in the placement of engineering and information technology professionals, and managing the staffing requirements of multi-national corporations on an outsourced basis.

All teams participating in the business plan competition receive written feedback from a minimum of three venture industry experts. Teams must be present at the event to win and to receive their plan feedback.

The networking reception, with appetizers and cash bar, begins at 6 pm. All are invited to attend. The event is free, however, pre-registration is required.

Online registration is at GLEQ.Org