2021 MVCA Research Report Demonstrates the Resilience of Michigan’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

EntryPoint was excited to partner with Michigan Venture Capital Association for the ninth year to develop the 2021 MVCA Research Report! This 2021 Michigan venture capital report demonstrates the resilience of the state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and the stabilizing effect it had on the overall economy in Michigan during a difficult and turbulent year.

MVCA is a nonprofit trade association designed to increase the amount of capital and talent for Michigan’s entrepreneurial and investment community. The 2021 Michigan venture capital report we develop helps them:

• Address the changing needs of the entrepreneurial and investment community
• More successfully secure grants
• Build more inclusive programs and support a more diverse and equitable venture capital community
• Measure and understand the effectiveness and impact of their existing programs
• Advocate for needed policy, programs and initiatives – acting as the unified voice of the venture capital community

We LOVE working with people that are strategic, value listening to the needs of community members, and are passionate about building more opportunity in their communities. If this sounds like you, and you’d like our help, lets talk!

Here’s what the entrepreneurial ecosystem had to say about this report!

“The annual research report has been a valuable resource for the Michigan investor community. Utilizing EntryPoint for creation of this Michigan venture capital report has continued their great reputation for gathering meaningful data and providing in depth analysis which ultimately is reflected in the final product. The latest findings highlight an all-around successful year within the Michigan ecosystem, proving the relevance and vitality that Michigan has when creating innovation and a strong entrepreneurial base. Especially during our current crisis, it is more important than ever to support the growth of these entrepreneurs as well as the investors that continue to take the risk to help make business a reality.”
–Ara Topouzian, Executive Director of the Michigan Venture Capital Association (client)

“Through consistently insightful research like the annual report they develop for the Michigan Venture Capital Association, EntryPoint has proven itself to be extremely helpful to foundations in understanding the landscape of a particular community. EntryPoint partners with organizations to deliver comprehensive research reports and to implement effective data-driven programs that promote entrepreneurship across the Midwest. Data is more than abstract numbers and graphs for community-focused organizations like the Kresge Foundation; these findings help to provide us with a comprehensive picture of our communities so that we can readily determine what actions we can take to strengthen our economies and change lives for the better. EntryPoint employs a holistic approach to researching entrepreneurship and investment that is key to developing impactful programs that address larger economic trends without losing sight of the community members themselves.”
–Robert Manilla, Vice President & Chief Investment Officer of The Kresge Foundation

“At U-M Tech Transfer, we are constantly working to understand the funding climate for our startup companies.  The MVCA Annual Research Report is our singular go-to resource for understanding the state of venture capital in our state. The production of a report of this size and depth is a major undertaking that requires a great deal of analytical aptitude, coordination, expertise and diligence.  EntryPoint does exceptional job in managing this very complex task.”
–Kelly B. Sexton, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Research Technology Transfer and Innovation Partnerships, Office of Technology Transfer, University of Michigan

“The MVCA Annual Research Report is the cornerstone for our ability to assess the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Michigan. The report is a fundamental piece of the Michigan Venture Capital Association that has helped us identify the needs of our investment community and develop programs that will grow the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The creation of the report showcases EntryPoint’s ability to work with multiple constituents with different goals and create a consistently high-quality, relevant report year after year.”
–Jeff Rinvelt, Chairman of the MVCA Research Committee and Principal of Renaissance Venture Capital

“EntryPoint’s approach is comprehensive and offers insights across the Michigan entrepreneurial community, including sources of capital, capital availability, startup demographics, sectors, stages of growth, resources, geographies, and consumer confidence.  This report is a valuable resource for investors just getting to know Michigan and those who have been active there for years, alike. As an investor in the current times of both exciting economic opportunity and market volatility, we depend on maintaining a holistic understanding of the status of entrepreneurship in the Midwest to make decisions informed by the broad trends and opportunities in the region. This annual research report is one of the key data sources that serves us in this regard.”
—Guy Turner, Partner, Hyde Park Venture Partners

“The MVCA Annual Research Report provides critical insight into the health of Michigan’s entrepreneurial and venture capital ecosystem, and is an important tool to help guide the strategic planning of the Michigan Venture Capital Association.  EntryPoint is a trusted partner to MVCA, and the Michigan venture capital community more broadly, in executing the preparation of the report and driving the deep underlying analytics that showcase venture capital activity in Michigan.”
–Michael Gross, Chairman of the MVCA Board of Directors and Managing Director of Beringea