Sprout Lab offers agribusiness, startup resources

If you haven’t yet heard of Sprout Lab and you’re into big ideas and the future of the region, it’s something you might want to check out.
 
Sprout Lab is a public-private partnership with several colleges and universities in Michigan, along with government agencies, business foundations, small business agencies and other groups interested in innovation and entrepreneurship.
 
They’re holding a series of idea boot camps and seminars all over the state, including one in Escanaba March 26 and 27.
 
The boot camps are designed to help innovators, inventors and entrepreneurs move their ideas forward, especially in the realms of agribusiness, natural resources, tourism or renewable energy–or maybe more than one at once. It’s for people in the exploratory stages of how to get their ideas to come to life, whether it’s filling a gap in the local business scene or solving an energy or natural resources problem with an innovative solution.
 
Among the local partners are the MI-SBDC, Michigan Technological University, Michigan State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Northern Initiatives.
 
Sprout Labs also is forming longer-term rural entrepreneurship courses in areas where there is enough interest, called Co.Starters. Courses are forming in Escanaba and Sault Ste. Marie, starting in March, and cost about $150 for nine weeks of seminars and mentoring from experienced entrepreneurs. They are designed for people a little farther along the road of building a startup, and have the goal of creating a solid startup community in each area.
 
Other initiatives planned through Sprout Labs include a pitch showcase with financial prizes in 2015, and making connections in more communities in Michigan.
 
Writer: Kim Eggleston
Source: Sprout La