MVCA Annual Awards Dinner Postponed until 2021

Due to the global pandemic, MVCA maneuvered all events to a virtual platform beginning this past March. Unfortunately, this has also affected the ability to host the Annual Awards Dinner this year. However, we are planning our return to The Henry Ford on November 11, 2021!

As we enter the Fall/Winter months, MVCA committees and staff are currently developing new virtual networking opportunities which will be announced in the coming weeks!

2020 VC Human Capital Survey from NVCA / Venture Forward

MVCA is committed to advancing a more diverse, equitable & inclusive (DE&I) venture capital ecosystem. We are asking active, US-based VC firms to complete the 2020 VC Human Capital Survey—powered by NVCA, Venture Forward, and Deloitte—by submitting their workforce demographic and talent management details by the September 18^th deadline to support the industry’s continued DE&I data collection and tracking efforts. We also encourage VC firms to sign the #VCHumanCapital Pledge to publicly commit their participation in the survey. If you're an LP or founder, please encourage your VC fund managers or investors to complete the survey and sign the pledge.

Learn more about the survey and see the full list of VC firms who have pledged their participation here.

Michigan Angel Summit on September 21

The third annual statewide Summit will allow you the opportunity to learn more about angel investing and to connect with other angels helping to grow and diversify Michigan’s economy while growing their own investment portfolios.

An entire day of great presentations and panel discussions, MVCA is one of the contributing sponsors of this event.

For more information about the entire summit and to register, click here.

MVCA Member Highlights

Michigan Venture Capital Association (MVCA), the nonprofit trade association that advocates for increases in the amount of capital and talent for Michigan’s entrepreneurial and investment community, recognized the need to be proactive early on in helping the ecosystem work through the challenges created by the COVID-19 crisis. READ MORE >

GreenMark Biomedical Inc. announced that the company raised $1.74M in equity financing in the form of convertible notes in anticipation of a Series A financing in 2021. The bridge round was led by current investors Red Cedar Ventures and Invest Detroit Ventures, with other current and new investors, including newly created Michigan Rise Pre-Seed Fund III participating in the financing. READ MORE >

Chicago has a long history of creating industry-leading companies and it doesn’t seem COVID-19 is slowing down the city. TechCrunch surveyed Chicago venture capitalists (including Hyde Park Ventures) who remain optimistic despite the current crisis. COVID-19 could be good for Chicago, they told TechCrunch throughout their survey responses. READ MORE >

MVCA Webinars available on YouTube channel

Over the last several months, MVCA has conducted webinars on a variety of topics. If you have missed any of them, you can check them out on on our Resource page at MichiganVCA.org.

Diversity in Michigan's Entrepreneurial & Investment Community aired on August 20th and is available for viewing.

Join Patti Glaza as she shares some of Invest Detroit's considerations when investing in high-tech startups. Fund Facts is an ongoing series by the MEDC to share tips from a venture capitalist's perspective. Learn more about entrepreneurial opportunities, including access to capital, at www.michiganbusiness.org/entrepreneurship

MVCA Service Providers Highlight of the Week

Each year, MVCA extends a very limited number of invitations to a carefully curated selection of professional service organizations. These are elite organizations who have been identified by MVCA as being valuable partners within the entrepreneurial and investment community. MVCA and its membership are grateful to our valued 2020 Service Provider Members. Each week we will highlight two service provider members.

Bodman law firm is best known for providing sophisticated, creative and practical solutions to some of the region’s most successful companies and wealthiest individuals on a broad range of issues. The firm’s Emerging Companies and Venture Capital practice assists venture capital funds and angel investors who are looking to invest in and partner with promising companies. As business advisors, Bodman attorneys can provide emerging companies with pragmatic, down-to-earth advice that is aimed to place clients in the best position for future success. READ MORE >

Fishman Stewart is a premier specialty law firm that identifies, secures, and advances the creativity of its clients to accomplish their business goals. In addition to the firm’s decades of legal expertise, many of its attorneys also have advanced technical degrees and associated practical work experience. As strategic advisers to CEOs and senior executives throughout the world, Fishman Stewart helps to maximize the value of “intellectual capital.” Patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets and other forms of intellectual property are key elements of a company’s business strategy; managed effectively, they can protect new product lines, increase market share and head off competition. READ MORE >