Sonali Vijayavargiya
What educational, entrepreneurial or business development programs, if any, have you taken advantage of?Michigan entrepreneurial ecosystem has successful entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, economic development agencies and university incubators and faculty. All these institutions played a vital role in enabling
Augment Ventures.
Where have you turned to find capital to grow your company and which institutions have provided it? Successful Entrepreneurs from the region have provided seed capital to launch Augment Ventures.
What advice would you give to someone who was thinking about opening a business here?Reach out to the regional business accelerators to learn about different funding options, relocation resources and recruiting local talent.
Name an idea, policy or mindset from elsewhere that you would like to see this region adopt?We need to enhance the depth of the financial sector to ensure easy availability of capital for different types of businesses at different stages.
What could local leaders do to help attract and retain more entrepreneurial young people to Metro Detroit? We need internship programs with local businesses, hi-tech labs, machine shops and rapid prototyping facilities for rent, programs to channel Michigan wealth to create next generation of innovative companies.
What are some of the advantages to doing business here?Talented work force, access to top manufacturing asset base and research universities and Pure Michigan beauty.
If you could change one thing about this region, what would it be?Stop looking back, understand the new rules of global business and move forward with determination to make Michigan a node on super highway of innovation.