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Three Ann Arbor companies were announced as winners of the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition. One of the companies, JOOL Health, was awarded third place overall in the competition, and won $50,000. Movellus Circuits was awarded a $25,000 sector-specific prize, and Workit Health won the $25,000 People’s Choice award.

The Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition’s $500,000 first place winner, SPLT, participated in Ann Arbor SPARK’s intern matching program and received support this summer as an incubator client at the SPARK Central Innovation Center. 

 “Ann Arbor SPARK’s services – mentorship, connections, and the ecosystem to accelerate an entrepreneur’s success – provide startup companies with a competitive advantage,” said Bill Mayer, vice president, entrepreneurial services, Ann Arbor SPARK. “The resources available in this region, through SPARK and our collaborative partner, make this an ideal location to grow an innovation-based business. It’s exciting to see these companies win at Accelerate Michigan, and represent the Ann Arbor region in such a tremendous way.”

Ben Harrington of SPARK’s entrepreneurial services team recently blogged about other Ann Arbor companies participating in the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition. He noted that 13 companies served by Ann Arbor SPARK were semifinalists in the competition, representing 36% of this year’s pool of semifinalists. 

Crain’s Detroit Business has more on the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition and its winners: http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20161104/NEWS/161109943/splt-takes-500000-top-prize-at-accelerate-michigan-innovation