Contact Information:     karen.bantel@cybermichigan.org
                                   734.302.4798 - phone
                                   734.302.4996 - fax

Dr. Karen Bantel serves as the President of CyberMichigan. She previously served as the Executive Director of the Michigan Entrepreneurship Education Network (MEEN), a program funded by the State of Michigan's MEDC (Michigan Economic Development Corporation), and sponsored by the University of Michigan Business School’s Samuel Zell & Robert H. Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies. MEEN is dedicated to the development and strengthening of entrepreneurship education programs in Michigan’s traditional degree-granting public universities. Her background also includes consulting, specializing in the strategic growth and success of technology-based firms.  Her areas of focus: analysis of industry, market, and competition; development of key strategic plan elements - markets, technologies, partnerships, and value proposition; development of business plans; development of venture capital presentations; evaluation of technology spin out candidates from corporations; evaluation of strategic synergies for acquisitions; development of incubation strategy; strategic planning for academic units; and development of content in entrepreneurship strategy.  In this capacity she has conducted a variety of commercialization related projects with Michigan State University and others.

Dr. Bantel was previously the Executive Director of Bioinformatics and Technology Ventures for the Environmental Research Institute of Michigan (ERIM) (now Altarum).  In this role, she linked ERIM’s technologies in image analysis, signal processing, and wireless communications to biomedical and bioinformatics opportunities, with a particular focus on incubation of technology-based start-up firms.  In her earlier role as ERIM’s Director of Strategic Development, she directed activities related to the strategic direction of the firm, including technology strategy, acquisitions, and divestitures.

Prior to joining ERIM, Dr. Bantel was on the faculty of the University of Michigan Business School, and Managing Director of its Samuel Zell & Robert H. Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies.  In her teaching role, she taught several courses in entrepreneurship and strategic management, including Business Planning, Acquisitions, and High Growth Strategies. She also served as the Faculty Director of the UMBS Wolverine Venture Fund.  In her teaching and Wolverine Venture Fund roles, Dr. Bantel directed students in all aspects of new venture formation: sourcing of venture ideas, feasibility analysis, business planning, investment assessment, due diligence, investment negotiation, and portfolio monitoring. In her role with the Institute, she formulated its strategy and programs, developed relationships with donors, and created its staffing and procedures. 

Dr. Bantel’s research career took place at Wayne State University’s School of Business where she served on the faculty for eight years and earned tenure. She has also held a variety of board positions.  Dr. Bantel holds a Ph.D. and MBA from the University of Michigan Business School.