U-M Innovation Partnerships’s Venture Accelerator Wins 2011 Deals of Year Award

November 4, 2011

On the evening of Friday, November 4, at the annual 2011 Deals of the Year awards gala hosted by AnnArbor.com, U-M Innovation Partnerships was recognized for having successfully launched its 16,000 square foot start-up incubator facility at the University’s North Campus Research Complex. The Venture Accelerator, which is already home to 14 high-tech start-up companies built around U-M technologies, was the recipient of the Research award. Ken Nisbet, the executive director of U-M Innovation Partnerships said that the recognition of their efforts was gratifying. “Over the past ten years, our team has launched over 100 companies, which is incredible” said Nisbet, “but we didn’t feel as though we really hit our stride until this year. Having the Accelerator gives us an opportunity to provide even more guidance to our startup projects, and we’re certain that this will lead to even better results in terms of quality. And it’s great to know that the community appreciates these efforts to help create jobs, diversify Ann Arbor’s economy, and ultimately bring products and services to market that will make life better.”

Photo: Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation CEO Cheryl Elliott (second from right) presents 2011 Deal of the Year award to U-M Innovation Partnerships Executive Director Ken Nisbet, Venture Accelerator Manager Megan Reichert-Kral, and U-M Venture Center Director Jim O’Connell