Tom Gross
What educational, entrepreneurial or business development programs, if any, have you taken advantage of?
We have participated in the
Ann Arbor SPARK Fast Track program.
Who was your first customer and where did you find them?
Paramount Precision Products in Oak Park. We found them through my personal network.
Where did you find your first employee?
Through the founder’s personal network.
Have you promoted an intern to employee status, and if so how many times have you done it?
No.
Where have you turned to find capital to grow your company and which institutions have provided it?
We have received EPA Grants,
Automation Alley loans, NSF SBIR Grants, business plan contests and sweat equity.
What advice would you give to someone who was thinking about opening a business here?
Do it. Michigan is a great place to start a company with fantastic entrepreneurial support.
If you could change one thing about this region, what would it be?
The states financial institutions (banks and credit unions) avoid start-ups and entrepreneurship at all cost. They are clearly not on the same page as the
MEDC and other economic development institutions. It would be very helpful if area banks were incentivized to offer start up loans, credit cards, etc. to help start up companies achieve sustainable revenue.