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Michigan Angel Fund Portfolio Company BoostUp Wins $10,000 in NACD Competition

October 18th, 2016

Ann Arbor, Mich. — Michigan Angel Fund (MAF) investment BoostUp was a winner of the National Association of Corporate Directors’ (NACD) “Dancing With the Start-Upscompetition. BoostUp was awarded a $10,000 prize package.

The competition was a fast-paced, Shark Tank-style challenge where 12 start-ups from the health, energy, and financial services sectors had four minutes to sell their companies to a panel of expert judges and an audience of corporate directors.

“We are thrilled to have won the NACD’s Dancing With The Startup Competition,” said John Morgan, founder and CEO of BoostUp. “Our goal is to help people save for life’s biggest purchases and connect them with brands that also want to help them reach their goals.  We’re honored the judges recognized how important our platform is in creating a true win-win for consumers and brands.”

“The Michigan Angel Fund invested in BoostUp because of its novel concept that addresses a real consumer need: Saving for a major purchase,” said Skip Simms, managing director, MAF. “The company is a great example of how angel funding works to help early stage ventures grow. BoostUp was able to take the angel funding, achieve a few key milestones early on, progress as a business, and become positioned for other funding opportunities, like Dancing With the Start-Ups.”

The competition was judged by an esteemed panel:

  • Irene Chang Britt, director of Dunkin’ Brands Group Inc. and Tailored Brands Inc.
  • Barbara Duganier, director of MRC Global Inc.
  • John Farrell, national managing partner, Innovation and Enterprise Solutions at KPMG LLP
  • Sri Muthu, Head of Technology for Innovation, R&D, and Accelerator of Wells Fargo & Co.
  • Sonya Sepahban, director of Genomenon Inc. and Cooper Standard
  • Caroline Tsay, director of Rosetta Stone Inc. and Travelzoo Inc.

With 100 members, MAF is the largest angel organization in Michigan. MAF has invested in 16 companies in the last four years.

MAF was established by Ann Arbor SPARK, with administrative support from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, to help finance early stage companies in Michigan and to attract additional angel investors.

As managing member, Ann Arbor SPARK coordinates screenings of MAF applicants, conducts due diligence, and works with the New Enterprise Forum to prepare companies for their investor presentations.    Ann Arbor SPARK also works with business accelerator organizations around the state to identify quality companies for potential MAF investment.

About Ann Arbor SPARK

Ann Arbor SPARK, a non-profit organization, is advancing the region by encouraging and supporting business acceleration, attraction and retention. The organization identifies and meets the needs of business at every stage, from start-ups to large organizations. Ann Arbor SPARK collaborates with business, academic, government, and community investor partners including the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, Washtenaw Community College, Washtenaw County, Livingston County, Washtenaw County etcs/Michigan Works!, the City of Ann Arbor, Bank of Ann Arbor and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. For more information, please call (734) 761-9317 or visit www.AnnArborUSA.org.

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Media contact: Jenn Cornell, jenn@jenncornell.com, 734-765-0174