In this podcast episode, Paul Krutko, President and CEO of Ann Arbor SPARK, interviews Mike Psarouthakis, a key figure in building the Ann Arbor Region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. They discuss the role of Innovation Partnerships in commercializing research from the University of Michigan, the creation of the Accelerate Blue Fund to support pre-seed investments in U of M startups, and the changing landscape of entrepreneurship in the region. Mike also highlights the importance of patient capital and collaboration between universities, businesses, and investors in fostering innovation and economic growth.
Ann Arbor SPARK CEO Podcast: Mike Psarouthakis, University of Michigan Innovation Partnerships
MIKE PSAROUTHAKIS’S BIO
Mike leads the Innovation Partnerships Ventures team supporting U-M faculty, staff and students on new company formation based on intellectual property discovered and developed at the University of Michigan’s 19 schools and three campuses. He also manages the Accelerate Blue Fund, a venture fund focused on U-M licensed startups. Mike has over 30 years of entrepreneurial, senior management and venture fund experience in both the public and private sectors.
Before joining the University of Michigan, Mike was the Vice President of Business Acceleration at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation where he oversaw a $250 million portfolio of investments in over 150 early stage technology companies. Prior to the MEDC he was an Assistant Vice President at Forest Health Services where he managed a $50 million corporate venture fund that focused on life sciences, IT and manufacturing opportunities.
Mike has directed several successful company exits and is the founder of four companies. He has served on numerous profit and non-profit boards and advisory boards including; eBay, PayPal, Compendia Biosciences, Online Technologies, the College of Creative Studies in Detroit, and the Ann Arbor Local Development Financial Authority. He remains very active in the Michigan startup community working with Invest Michigan, Ann Arbor SPARK, Invest Detroit, Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition, Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest, TechArb, DTE Energy Business Plan Competition and many others.
Mike earned his MBA with concentrations in corporate strategy and marketing and MS in natural resource management from the University of Michigan. He also holds a BS in history and political science from Eastern Michigan University.
