The MIT Enterprise Forum of the Great Lakes believes strongly in joining forces with other high-tech focused organizations to support the growth of technology-oriented companies. In May 2001, we hosted the first collaboration meeting of over a dozen like-minded organizations to coordinate efforts. The result was formation of the Great Lakes High Technology Growth Collaboration ( HTGC). This collaboration is working to pool expertise and access, create focused forums in which investors can meet with top high-tech companies, and provide an organized critical mass to support the technology growth initiative here in the Great Lakes. Key goals of the HTGC organizations working together are:

• Hold Business Plan presentations and competitions
• Organize several coordinated, critical mass events in support of Life Sciences, Manufacturing Automation, IT/Software/Internet, Emerging Technologies and Entrepreneurship
• Promote increased pre-seed / seed / Angel-level funding activities
• Coordinate calendars to better inform the general public

A listing of several of the organizatons working in support of the HGTC effort follows with a short description and a web site link for each.