MEDC announces public hearing for new Michigan Venture Match Fund

The Michigan Strategic Fund and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation today announced a public hearing to accept questions and comments on the new Pure Michigan Venture Match Fund.

LANSING– The Michigan Strategic Fund and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation today announced a public hearing to accept questions and comments on the new Pure Michigan Venture Match Fund.  

The hearing is scheduled to take place from 10 a.m. to noon on February 8 at the MEDC headquarters, 300 N. Washington Sq., Lansing, Mich. 48913.   

“Innovative early-stage companies often need venture capital to help finance critical stages of their development and commercialization,” said MEDC President and CEO Michael A. Finney. “We are aiming to bridge this capital gap and help entrepreneurs develop promising technologies to grow into new innovation companies, while we diversify Michigan’s economy and create new wealth in our state.”  

The Pure Michigan Venture Match Fund will match early stage investments from eligible venture funds in Michigan-based technology businesses. The minimum venture investment that will be considered is $700,000 and the maximum is no more than $3 million. The match from the MSF will be no less than $350,000 and no more than $500,000, with similar investment terms as the venture investment.    

Companies will only be allowed to apply for MSF funding once they have secured a qualified venture investment, making this a market-driven application process. There will be a peer review of the company business plan and investors as required under the 21st Century Jobs Fund legislation.    

The program is intended to attract venture funds, within and outside of Michigan, to consider investments in early stage and pre-revenue Michigan-based technology companies and to mitigate some risk for venture fund investments at this stage by participating with MSF funds in early rounds.   

After consideration of the comments and information received at the public hearing, the final MVM Fund program guidelines will be presented to the MSF Board for approval and implementation. The program is anticipated to launch on March 1 if approved by the MSF board at the February board meeting.   

The draft guidelines for the MVM Fund can be found at www.michiganbusiness.org/pmvm-timeline/.   

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn, and Twitter.