Celebrate Michigan's Superstar Second-stage Companies
Submit your 2013 nominations now
Sign up for a 2013 application alert
(All candidates must submit an application. Companies may apply without being nominated).
Watch the official video shown at the 2011 Michigan Celebrates Small Business event. The second-stage companies featured here are members of the 2011 class of Michigan 50 Companies to Watch and represent the 50 outstanding businesses honored at the April 2011 event.
Eligibility: Candidates must be privately held, commercial enterprises with the intent and capacity for further growth. Companies must employ between 6 and 99 full-time equivalent employees and have between $750,000 and $50 million in annual revenue (including working capital from investors or grants) in the calendar year 2011. The official eligibility criteria contains more details.
Companies in all industries are sought. Candidates may be nominated or apply directly, and all companies must complete an application.
| Nominate | Apply | Celebrate |
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Ready to nominate a company for the 2013 award? Get started now.
Not ready to nominate? Sign up for a nomination alert and we'll let you know when it's time to come back. |
Don't miss an opportunity to become one of the Michigan 50 Companies to Watch for 2013. We'll let you know when the application process opens for the next program—sign up for information below. | Attend the official festivities honoring the 2012 Michigan 50 Companies to Watch on May 3, 2012 at the Lansing Center. |
| NOMINATE A COMPANY | REQUEST AN APPLICATION ALERT | CELEBRATE AT THE AWARDS EVENT |
| WHY SUPPORT SECOND-STAGE COMPANIES? | |
| These companies are powerhouses for job creation. In 2008, Michigan's resident companies amounted to more than 56,000 second-stage establishments. These second-stage companies employed more than 1.3 million workers — that's nearly 35 percent of the jobs created by 8.7 percent of the companies headquartered in the state! Source: YourEconomy.org, an online resource of the Edward Lowe Foundation |
According to a venture capitalist . . . "We think second-stage growth companies are a great opportunity. They allow you to skip the risk involved with early-stage companies that haven't sold a product yet. The likelihood of a second-stage company becoming more successful and creating a substantial number of new jobs is significantly higher than for a pre-revenue company." — Jeff Barry, partner of Plymouth Management Co. in Ann Arbor, Mich., which manages the Plymouth Venture Partners and Plymouth Venture Partners II funds. |
| WHY NOMINATE A SECOND-STAGE COMPANY? | |
| If you serve second-stage companies, remind your clients that you applaud their achievements — and that you want others to take notice as well.
Ideal nominators include services providers such as attorneys, accountants and bankers; PR professionals; economic development practitioners; employees, customers and vendors of great second-stage firms; or anyone who knows of a second-stage company.
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According to a local host and nominator . . . "The SBTDC serves nearly 16,000 small business owners and entrepreneurs every year. We nominate SBTDC clients that are on a growth path and creating jobs.About one-third of Companies to Watch honorees are SBTDC clients, so the program definitely helps validate what our organization is doing. In addition, our clients view the SBTDC as their trusted resource for growing their businesses, receiving a Companies to Watch award strengthens this client view of the SBTDC. The program also gives us a list of potential new clients to reach out to and see if our services can help them." — Jennifer Deamud, associate state director at the Michigan SBTDC (managing partner of Michigan Celebrates Small Business) |
| WHY SHOULD YOU APPLY? | |
This award puts second-stage companies on an entirely different playing field. Here's a short list of winner benefits:
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According to two winners . . . "Being an honoree has definitely helped increase our visibility. We've won industry awards for certain projects and a local award for fast-growing businesses, which gave us some recognition in the community. Companies to Watch has helped our visibility at the state level. The awards ceremony itself was quite moving. When you're in business, there aren't many moments like that when you're recognized for just doing what you do." — Nawal Motawi, president and co-owner of Motawi Tileworks Inc. in Ann Arbor, Mich. (Michigan 50 class of 2008) "Being a Companies to Watch honoree has raised our visibility with peers both locally and nationally, and it's increased confidence with our customer base. I also think the award sparked some important introspection. It's prompted us to look back and see what we're really good at — at how we can expand into new areas with our strengths." — Lee Rouse, president and CEO of Omni Tech International, Ltd. in Midland, Mich. (Michigan 50 class of 2008) |
"The SBTDC serves nearly 16,000 small business owners and entrepreneurs every year. We nominate SBTDC clients that are on a growth path and creating jobs.
"Being an honoree has definitely helped increase our visibility. We've won industry awards for certain projects and a local award for fast-growing businesses, which gave us some recognition in the community. Companies to Watch has helped our visibility at the state level. The awards ceremony itself was quite moving. When you're in business, there aren't many moments like that when you're recognized for just doing what you do."
"Being a Companies to Watch honoree has raised our visibility with peers both locally and nationally, and it's increased confidence with our customer base. I also think the award sparked some important introspection. It's prompted us to look back and see what we're really good at — at how we can expand into new areas with our strengths." 




