One of the best places to keep tabs on great events for entrepreneurs in Michigan is GLEQ’s newsletter. Here’s a sampling from this month’s update as you won’t find all of these events posted in one place on the web – this newsletter is truly a great resource! To subscribe, send an email to Miche Suboski at . Although the events are focused on startups, you’ll find many applicable to second stage as well.

Post with Purpose. Social Media Strategies for Startups will present social media consultant Emily Hay of Hay There Social Media to discuss how small business owners can effectively use social media to increase engagement and ultimately drive business growth. You’ll learn how to define your content goals, create a social media strategy and communicate your message loud and clear.

Thursday, October 18, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
TechTown, 440 Burroughs, Detroit.
http://www.eventbrite.com/event/4472481312

The Collaboration Revolution. Join Dr. David E. Cole, Chairman of the AutoHarvest Foundation and Chairman Emeritus of the Center for Automotive Research, for this free webinar as he addresses this important challenge – Accelerating Innovation through an IP and Skills-rich Environment.

Thursday, October 18, 2-3 p.m.
Webinar.
https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/809997238

Entrepreneurship Forum. The Entrepreneurship Forum, a new, monthly breakfast speaker series at Western Michigan University’s Haworth College of Business, will attempt to bring the stories of area people who have had entrepreneurial success to the greater Kalamazoo community starting this month. Jen Randall, president of Maestro, which helps companies and organizations build communication, sales and training programs using online, mobile and blended-learning technologies, will be the inaugural speaker.

Friday, October 19, 7:30-9:30 a.m.
Western Michigan University, Schneider Hall, Kalamazoo.
269.387.6059

Social Networking for Small Businesses. Learn the basics and etiquette of social networking for your small business. Content will include how to leverage social networks to help grow your business while reducing your marketing costs. Benefits, disadvantages and tricks of the major social networks (Facebook, Twitter, and Linked-In) will be discussed.

Tuesday, October 23, 6-9 p.m.
Business Development Center, 18600 Haggerty, Livonia.
http://www.schoolcraft.edu/bdc

Jackson Inventors Network. The group’s monthly meeting features Dr. Ron Sadler who will help participants to better approach Market Research projects and get the results they need.

Tuesday, October 23, 6-8:30 p.m.
Jackson Community College, Justin Whiting Building Room 158, 2111 Emmons Road, Jackson.
[email protected]

Advancing Innovation: Tools and Resources for Your Business. The purpose of this event is to educate West Michigan entrepreneurs to the variety of programs available to help accelerate their company. Attendees will also have an opportunity to ask questions and network with the panel, including GLEQ’s executive Director, Diane Durance, after the event.

Wednesday, October 24, 3:30-5 p.m.
MSU Bioeconomy Institute, 242 Howard Ave., Holland.
www.LakeshoreAdvantage.com

SBIR/STTR 101 Plus: Introduction and Agency Overview. Come and learn more about this non-dilutive $2.4 billion federal R&D funding program set aside exclusively for small businesses with under 500 employees. This full-day workshop covers the SBIR/STTR program basics, including specific program information for key agencies such as National Science Foundation, Department of Defense and National Institutes of Health. The introduction section includes information on program purpose, eligibility and sources of funding.

Wednesday, October 24, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Michigan Tech Advanced Development Complex, 1402 E. Sharon Ave, Houghton.
http://bbctraining102412.eventbrite.com/

Working for Yourself: The Ins & Outs of Becoming a Consultant, a Contractor or other Service Provider. Are you an experienced professional with valuable-defined skill sets, looking for a new career avenue? Think about taking your expertise and becoming an independent consultant, a contractor, or a service provider. Explore the steps to form your business (LLC or other), market yourself and your services, create an action-oriented business plan, and define your client engagement.

Wednesday, October 24, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Business Development Center, 18600 Haggerty, Livonia.
http://www.schoolcraft.edu/bdc

Entre-SLAM. Entre-SLAM is a storytelling competition for entrepreneurs. Entre-SLAM offers a different theme each month and entrepreneurs voluntarily tell a related, true story for about 5 minutes. They are judged by a jury of their peers (ie., you) and at the end of the night, 3 folks will walk away with prizes. In between acts, the storytellers and/or audience members may be mercilessly (but lovingly) harassed by Al McWilliams from Quack Media (the emcee).

Thursday, October 25, 7-9 p.m.
LIVE A2, 1ST and Huron, Ann Arbor.
http://www.entreslam.com/

SBIR/STTR 101: Introduction and Overview. This half-day workshop covers the SBIR/STTR program basics, including: program purpose; eligibility; and sources of funding. It is designed to provide enough information for attendees to determine if they would like to seriously pursue proposal development.

Thursday, October 24, 9 a.m.-noon
TechTown, 440 Burroughs Street, Detroit.
http://bbctraining102512.eventbrite.com/

Crash Course: SBIR/STTR Proposal Prep – NSF Focus. NSF Phase I deadlines are nearing — Dec. 3 for SBIRs and Dec. 20 for STTRs. BBCetc hopes you are well on your way to preparing your proposal, but just in case…This National Science Foundation-focused crash course will arm you with helpful information to meet NSF requirements, avoid common pitfalls and problems, write a proposal that will meet reviewer expectations and more. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how to put your best foot forward!

Tuesday, October 30, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
BBCetc, 803 N. Main, Ann Arbor.
http://bbctraining103012.eventbrite.com/

Diary of An Entrepreneur. Vince Thomas, founder and CEO of Troy-based Billhighway, a provider of cloud-based financial management solutions tailor-made for nonprofit, donor and member-based organizations, will talk candidly about the ups and downs of his entrepreneurial journey, paying special attention to the most-important lessons learned. Vince’s discussion will be followed by Q&A and networking.

Thursday, November 1, 6-8 p.m.
Great Lakes Coffee Roasting Company, 3695 Woodward Ave., Detroit

eFest! 2012. According to e-merge Program Manager Suzanne Velarde, a number of organizations are working together to plan and host this year’s eFest! events. “We hope that eFest! will build awareness of the many resources available to people who are thinking about being business owners, people in the process of starting a business, or people who already own and run a small business in our region,” she said. “Some of these events have been offered in the past, and some are being offered for the first time. Promoting them all under the eFest! name allows us to showcase a sampling of what is regularly available, and demonstrates how a number of organizations are collaborating to offer programs and assistance to West Michigan entrepreneurs.” For more information go to http://bit.ly/TeyY14.

Look for events over the next few weeks:

• October 24, Fundamentals of Marketing Your Business
• October 26, State Resources for Small Business
• October 27,” Entrée-preneurship” for Food Entrepreneurs
• November 4, “Entrepremusic” for Musicians
• November 7, BOOST! Muskegon
• November 12, Meet the Lender
• November 13, BOOST! West Shore
• November 14, Fundamentals of Financial Management