space.template.Bizdom




 * Name:** Bizdom, __ [] __
 * Date Founded:** 2007
 * City:** Cleveland
 * Address:** Center Court Cleveland, Ohio 44115 (map)
 * Twitter:** __ [] __


 * Investment & Equity:** $10,000 plus $4,500 per founder in exchange for 8% equity


 * First Class:** 2007
 * Total Classes:** 4
 * Total Companies Graduated:** 8 launched
 * Notable Graduates:**
 * Founded by:** Dan Gilbert
 * Next Deadline:** Accepting applications for 2011 session "within the next few months."
 * Next Class:** Summer 2011


 * **Bizdom** is an entrepreneurship accelerator. We train, mentor and fund aspiring entrepreneurs to launch innovative, growth-oriented startups in Detroit and Cleveland through two distinct programs: the Idea Generator and Launch Labs.


 * Idea Generator.** Great ideas are a dime a dozen. But most people don’t know how to take their idea and turn it into a well developed, client focused business concept. That’s where we come in. We will train you on how to break down your idea and turn it into a business or to go back to the drawing board if the model doesn’t prove out. Training is offered 2 – 3 nights a week, and 1 or 2 Saturdays over an 8-week period. By the end of the training, assuming your business model proves out, you have the opportunity to pitch for seed funding from the Bizdom Fund and launch your business in the Launch Labs accelerator.


 * Launch Labs.** Entrepreneurs who have a well developed, client focused, scalable business idea and are ready to build the demo, prototype or full fledged business can pitch for an opportunity to join Launch Labs. If accepted, we invest $10,000 plus $4,500 per founder in your business in exchange for 8% equity. During the 3 months, you’ll launch your business in a collaborative incubator, receive relevant training in Sales, Marketing & Business, and get real time coaching and feedback from seasoned business experts, entrepreneurs, sales, marketing and technology experts. At the end of the program, we’ll put you in a room with multiple investors to pitch for the funding necessary to blow up your business to the next level.


 * Our Connections & Network.** Bizdom is part of the Quicken Loans Family of companies, which includes over 40 innovative, tech-based businesses in Detroit and throughout the country. That means you’ll have access to the expertise and network of everyone who works with these companies. You’ll develop your marketing plan with experts from companies like ePrize, One on One Marketing, and Stylecaster. You’ll nail down your sales strategy and actually get coached by the top sales trainers and coaches from Quicken Loans, the #1 online mortgage lender in the country. You’ll practice pitching in front of different investors to prepare you for your next level of funding and you’ll hear from crazy successful entrepreneurs like Dan Gilbert and also from rising entrepreneurs like Vince Thomas, Founder and CEO of Billhighway.com and Ernst and Young 2011 Entrepreneur of the Year. || media type="custom" key="10267339" ||


 * Mentors (updated 19-08-2011):**


 * < [[image:http://www.bizdom.com/images/team/amy-gill.png caption="Amy Gill"]] ||< Amy Gill ||< **Amy Gill** is the Training Leader for Bizdom U, designing and implementing performance based training to guarantee each entrepreneur acquires the practical skills necessary to develop and pitch their business for funding.

Amy was brought on to the Bizdom team in 2007 to help reshape the curriculum into its current format. Prior to this she had a successful career at Rock Financial and Quicken Loans as a Sales Trainer. In this role, she implemented initiatives to transform the Sales Training program into measurable, accountable, skill-based training. She worked with top leaders to incorporate the most relevant sales strategies into the program and directed the reformation and maintenance of curriculum to ensure consistency with ever-changing markets and industry guidelines. Her commitment to excellence in this role earned her a companywide award in 2006. In addition to her experience training mortgage bankers and entrepreneurs, Amy is a certified horseback-riding instructor through the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International, and she is the Equine Director for Camp Casey, a summer horseback-riding program for kids with cancer and their families.

Amy graduated from Michigan State University with a BA in Cultural Anthropology, focusing on urban culture. ||
 * < [[image:http://www.bizdom.com/images/team/dan-izzo.jpg caption="Dan Izzo"]] ||< Dan Izzo ||< **Dan Izzo** is the Detroit Business Launch Leader for Bizdom U, helping our entrepreneurs turn their success in funding their businesses into success in running their businesses.

Dan joined Bizdom U in 2006, where he designed and implemented the training program for Bizdom U entrepreneurs. He has a comprehensive and diverse background. He successfully ran his own law practice in Chicago for seven years. He then moved to Michigan and founded Improv Inferno, a successful comedy club in Ann Arbor. He has extensive experience as an instructor, having taught at the Second City Chicago and Detroit and Columbia College of Chicago. He’s also provided training to several companies in the area of communication and team building. Dan was a speaker at TEDx Detroit, the Crain’s Detroit Small Business Awards and the National Summit. Dan graduated with a degree in Psychology from the University of Notre Dame in 1989, and his law degree from Loyola University of Chicago Law School in 1992, where he was a senior member of the law journal, and graduated magna cum laude. || Maria graduated from Michigan State University with a BA in Communication, having an emphasis in Organizational Communication. || Kim was born and raised in the city of Detroit, attended Cass Technical High School and received her Bachelor’s degree in Finance and a Masters in Business Administration at Wayne State University. || Ross received his Bachelor’s Degree from Michigan State University, earned a Master of Business Administration Degree from Wayne State University and is trained as a Six Sigma Black Belt. ||
 * < [[image:http://www.bizdom.com/images/team/maria-lalonde.png caption="Maria Lalonde"]] ||< Maria LaLonde ||< **Maria LaLonde** is the Detroit Recruiting and Development Leader for Bizdom U. Maria oversees the recruiting and interview processes and connects with the community to raise awareness about Bizdom U as an available resource. Maria was born and raised in the city of Detroit and the Detroit metropolitan area. Her background includes a successful career with Enterprise Rent-A-Car, where she managed branch offices and oversaw the recruiting process for 35 branch offices. She has also been a top producing Realtor in residential real estate. Maria has always had an entrepreneurial spirit, and has owned businesses in the fields of recruiting and the automotive industry. Maria is passionate about doing her part to create a vibrant and thriving community in Detroit. She believes that encouraging diverse, growth-oriented businesses is essential to the creation of a brighter future for Detroit.
 * < [[image:http://www.bizdom.com/images/team/kim-delaney.jpg caption="Kim Delaney"]] ||< Kim Delaney ||< **Kim Delaney** is the Operations Analyst for Bizdom U. In this capacity, she monitors and adds order to the daily operations for Bizdom. Kim’s dedication to providing exceptional client service and living a culture of success at Quicken Loans allowed her to seamlessly develop another culture of success at Bizdom. Since joining Bizdom in 2006, Kim has been involved in many aspects that have helped Bizdom to grow, including recruiting, administration, financials and operations. She also supports her husband in owning and managing a unisex salon in Oak Park, Michigan. Kim is determined to utilize her experience and her passion for making dreams a reality to help aspiring entrepreneurs to build up Detroit into the best city ever.
 * < [[image:http://www.bizdom.com/images/team/ross-sanders.jpg caption="Ross Sanders"]] ||< Ross Sanders ||< **Ross Sanders** is the CEO of Bizdom U. In this capacity, he oversees all operations encompassing recruiting, training, fundraising, business launching and organizational planning. Prior to this role, he served on the leadership team of Rock Financial and Quicken Loans for 10 years. In this capacity, he coordinated the creation of a joint venture, start-up of a national branch network, relocation of the corporate headquarters, development of metrics and implementation of numerous process improvement initiatives. Prior to this experience, Ross spent 10 years at MetLife, where he managed large projects for clients including General Motors and General Electric. There he led the development of the GM National Retiree Servicing Center and managed a GE Benefit Center.
 * < [[image:http://www.bizdom.com/images/dan-gilbert.jpg caption="Dan Gilbert"]] ||< Dan Gilbert ||< **Dan Gilbert** Chairman and Founder, Quicken Loans Inc. Majority Owner, Cleveland Cavaliers. Dan Gilbert is chairman and founder of Quicken Loans Inc., which consists of Quicken Loans – the nation’s largest online home lender – as well as One Reverse Mortgage, In House Realty and Title Source.

Dan is also majority owner of the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers, the American Hockey League’s Lake Erie Monsters, and is the operator of the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.

Quicken Loans closed more than $25 billion in home loan volume in 2009. The company employs nearly 3,000 people nationally and has been ranked in the top-30 of FORTUNE Magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” the past seven years (ranking as high as #2). The company also has been ranked as one of Computerworld Magazine’s “100 Best Places to Work in Technology” the past five years, ranking #1 in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Dan founded Rock Financial in 1985. Rock Financial grew into one of the largest independent mortgage lenders in the country. In the late 1990s, Rock launched its Internet strategy and quickly positioned itself as the fastest growing online direct mortgage lender on the Internet.

In January 2000, software maker Intuit purchased Rock Financial and the national online lending business was renamed “Quicken Loans.” With Dan as CEO, Quicken Loans became the leading national provider of home loans on the Internet. QuickenLoans.com has gone on to earn “Best of the Web” accolades from Forbes, Money and PC Magazine. In 2002, Dan and a small group of private investors purchased Quicken Loans Inc. from Intuit.

Dan became majority owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers in March 2005 and immediately undertook a complete overhaul of the front office, coaching staff, player personnel, the Quicken Loans Arena (“The Q”) and game presentation. During Dan’s ownership, the Cavaliers won the 2007 Eastern Conference Championship, advancing to the NBA Finals for the first time in the team’s 37-year history. The team finished the 2008-2009 regular season with a franchise record and NBA-leading 66 wins; the Cavaliers are currently the only team in the NBA to advance past the first round of the playoffs in each of the prior four seasons. Dan is a founding partner in private equity group Rockbridge Growth Equity LLC. The partnership invests in growing businesses in the financial services, Internet technology, consumer-direct marketing, and the sports and entertainment sectors.

Dan and his partners also operate and invest in several consumer-based, technology-centered businesses, including: Quizzle.com; ePrize; Fathead; Northcentral University; StyleCaster; Veritix; Xenith; Ready Financial and Protect America. In November 2009, through his Rock Ventures partnership, Dan successfully backed a constitutional amendment bringing casino gaming to Ohio. Rock Ventures will own and operate two casinos (Cleveland and Cincinnati) expected to open mid 2012. He also is an investor and financier with Rock Companies in residential and commercial real estate developments in several states.

Dan launched Bizdom U in Detroit in 2007. The nonprofit boot camp trains, mentors and partners with aspiring entrepreneurs to open innovative, growth-oriented businesses in the cities of Detroit and Cleveland. Bizdom U’s mission is to create successful businesses, jobs, growth and wealth in large urban cities.

Gilbert serves on the boards of the Cleveland Clinic, the Children’s National Medical Center and the Children’s Tumor Foundation (CTF.org).

Gilbert earned his bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and his law degree from Wayne State University. He has received the “Entrepreneur of the Year” award from Ernst & Young and has been inducted into the Junior Achievement Hall of Fame. ||


 * Advisors (updated 19-08-2011):**

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 * Startups Graduated:**

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