A passionate advocate for building diverse entrepreneurial communities, Emily Heintz is a nationally recognized leader in curating deep analysis about business landscapes to identify trends, challenges and opportunities facing regions and using that information to influence strategic direction and drive economic growth. A connector by nature, Heintz adeptly manages complex projects and dynamic teams to execute on initiatives in a fast-paced and evolving environment. Her infectious enthusiasm for the people and stories behind the numbers has made her a respected voice in the community, both as a popular spokesperson and panelist, as well as host of “The Cackle”, a livestream highlighting small businesses, startups and people who have an impact on communities across the Midwest that reached over 1 million viewers in its first year.
During 15 years spent supporting the Midwest’s early-stage and venture community in positions at Michigan Venture Capital Association, Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Ann Arbor SPARK, Heintz saw a need in the market for a single organization dedicated to fostering inclusive and vibrant communities across the Midwest through research and community-focused programming. In 2018, she launched EntryPoint, a 501(c)(3) research institution which delivers comprehensive research insights and implement effective, data-driven programs which promote entrepreneurship across the Midwest. As founder and managing director of EntryPoint, Heintz works with key stakeholders including entrepreneurs, investors, economic developers and policymakers to gather and share research insights, diversify economies and design educational programs that create change and promote entrepreneurship. Under her leadership, the organization has produced over 25 in-depth research reports that were featured in nearly 100 publications and reached over 2.8 million people on EntryPoint’s website and social media channels.
Her professional accomplishments have earned Heintz recognition as a Crain’s Detroit Business “40 Under 40” awardee and mentions in respected industry publications like Forbes, Axios and VentureBeat. She holds Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in accounting from Michigan State University and lives in Ann Arbor, where she enjoys spending time with her husband and two young sons.