Back to Blog September 30, 2022 in

Michigan Venture Capital Association Celebrates 20th Anniversary and State’s Entrepreneurial and Investment Successes at 2022 Annual Awards Dinner

Navigate all the resources featured in the Landscape Guide by geographic location, industry sector, and organization type. Landscape Guide
Everything you need to know to make a meaningful first connection can be found in our 2021-22 Landscape Guide! Download the Guide

2023 MVCA Research Report

Our state's entrepreneurial economy hinges on our ability to provide capital to our high-growth, high-potential companies. Download the Report

Upcoming Events

Learn More

Michigan Venture Capital Association Celebrates 20th Anniversary and State’s Entrepreneurial and Investment Successes at 2022 Annual Awards Dinner

Eight organizations and individuals receive awards for their contributions to the Michigan community

 Bloomfield Hills, Mich. – September 29, 2022 – Michigan Venture Capital Association (MVCA), the trade association for the venture capital and angel community in Michigan, celebrated its 20th anniversary during its 2022 Annual Awards Dinner held at Greenfield Village (Dearborn, MI) on September 29. At this event, MVCA announced awards recognizing the capital events that are fueling the growth of Michigan’s companies, the significant investment milestones enabling companies to grow and excel in Michigan, the companies that are producing groundbreaking solutions in their sectors, and the organizations working to engage with their communities and enrich their local economies.  The MVCA Annual Awards Dinner attracted 175 attendees from across the state to celebrate the successes of the entrepreneurial and investment community in the state.

Awardees of the 2022 MVCA Annual Awards Dinner were voted by MVCA members in each category. They include:

  • Workit Health, Financing of the Year Award
  • Benzinga, Exit of the Year Award
  • Airspace Link, Up-and-Coming Company of the Year Award
  • Invest Detroit, Community Impact Award
  • Robin McIntosh & Lisa McLaughlin, Entrepreneur of the Year Award

“This was an extra special year for our annual award dinner as we celebrated MVCA’s 20th anniversary” said Ara Topouzian, Executive Director of MVCA. “We expanded the number of awards we presented this year and look forward to a bright future for both the investment and entrepreneurial community in Michigan.”

The evening featured a tribute to Michael A. Finney former CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Ann Arbor SPARK and most recently, the Miami-Dade Beacon Council who passed away this past year. His wife, Gina, accepted the award on his behalf.

This year, MVCA presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Sam Valenti III. This award recognizes the achievements of individuals who formed the foundation of Michigan’s entrepreneurial and investment community. Mr. Valenti has paved the way for the next generation of investors in the community with his leadership and expertise.  “Sam believed so much in the need for this organization – at a time when there was question about where both Michigan and venture capital were headed – that he paid for the first group meeting of MVCA,” said Chris Rizik, CEO & Managing Partner, Renaissance Venture Capital.

2022 MVCA Annual Awards Dinner Awardees

Financing of the Year Award

The Financing of the Year Award recognizes the significant investment milestones enabling companies to grow and excel in Michigan.

  • Autobooks
  • Genomenon
  • SkySpecs
  • Workit Health

 Exit of the Year Award

The Exit of the Year Award recognizes companies that were funded by Michigan investors and achieved a successful acquisition or exit. The following nominees are companies that are strengthening the entrepreneurial and investment community by increasing capital available in the state

  • Benzinga
  • Facility Health
  • Sportsman Tracker

 Community Impact Award

The Community Impact Award recognizes organizations, events or individuals that create the meaningful, effective connections necessary to build Michigan’s entrepreneurial economy.

  • ID Ventures
  • Michigan Founders Fund
  • Michigan Rise Pre-Seed Fund
  • New Community Transformation Fund

 “Up and Coming” Company of the Year Award
The “Up and Coming” Company of the Year Award recognizes Michigan companies across all stages of growth that are producing groundbreaking solutions in their industry.

  • Airspace Link
  • MemryX
  • Navv Systems
  • Signal Advisors

 Entrepreneur of the Year Award
The Entrepreneur of the Year Award recognizes organizations and individuals that have fostered a vibrant entrepreneurial community in Michigan.

  • Danny Ellis, Co-founder & CEO, SkySpecs
  • Robin McIntosh & Lisa McLaughlin (Co-Founders & Co-CEOs WorkIt Health)
  • Justin Turk (Founder & CEO, Livegistics)
  • Dan Rhodes (Co-founder & CEO, Strata Oncology)