Register for the GLEQ Business Plan Competition by 5 p.m. on Friday, March 4, and be matched with a business coach, receive feedback from venture investors, and compete for cash prizes up to $25,000 and possibly win the $100,000 SmartZone Award.

PLEASE NOTE: The registration deadline is Friday, March 4, but documents are not due until April 22 (for the $100,000 SmartZone Award) and May 6 (for the other categories). There’s plenty of time for newcomers to work with a coach to prepare the documents.

Michigan-based entrepreneurs are encouraged to participate. Join the GLEQ competition and you’ll be:

• Matched with a business coach for advice and support as you prepare your plan,
• Invited to Ask-the-Investors Roundtables March 24 and March 29 to meet venture capital and angel investors one-on-one and find out what makes a winning plan and attractive investment,
• Provided with written feedback on your plan from investors, and
• In the running for cash prizes, innovation awards and possibly the new $100,000 SmartZone Award.

Plus… we’ve added more exciting opportunities for competition participants, including:

NEW – A chance to win presentation time at the Midwest’s premier investor conference − the Michigan Growth Capital Symposium − next May.

NEW - A chance to advance to the semi-finals of the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition this fall.

NEW - Qualification for the 25% Angel Tax Credit. Participants in the GLEQ Business Plan Competition may offer their investors an opportunity to qualify for the 25% Michigan Angel Investor Tax Credit. Specific requirements and details will be announced in March. Register for the competition by Friday, March 4, to lock in this potential opportunity.

NEW – Participate in Entrepreneur Connect 2011, an exciting two-day, Lansing-based conference and networking event June 9-10. This new event will feature the GLEQ Annual Awards Celebration and Entrepreneur/Investor golf tournament, along with workshops, investor presentations, roundtables, virtual tours and more.

Three categories of competition offer opportunities for ventures in various stages of development. Executive summaries and business plans are due May 7 for participants in the New Business Idea and Emerging Company categories. Participants competing for the SmartZone Award must have a complete business plan and a letter of recommendation from a SmartZone by April 22.

Winners will be announced on Thursday, June 9, at the GLEQ Annual Awards Celebration in Lansing.

Find out more and register for the competition at www.GLEQ.org.