ANN ARBOR, Mich., June 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Mobile Sign Language Systems, LLC recently won Ann Arbor SPARK's Eastside Innovation Campus (EIC) pitch competition.  Besting four other finalists, Mobile Sign Language Systems won an engagement of up to $50,000 in business acceleration services, a one-year incubator lease at SPARK East and a package of additional start-up services including a one-year chamber of commerce membership.  

"Mobile Sign Language Systems is thrilled to have this great opportunity," said Jason Gilbert, CEO.  "Using Ann Arbor SPARK's business accelerator services, Mobile Sign Language Systems plans to quickly build a solid foundation for our young company. The vast resources and assistance that are available will help us to make our company vision a reality."

Mobile Sign Language Systems has developed smartphone software that translates spoken English into a video of sign language in real time. The software is designed to help deaf people, who often struggle to communicate with their counterparts in the hearing world, most of whom do not know sign language.

In its three-minute business pitch to the panel of judges at the Eastside Innovation Campus event, Mobile Sign Language Systems clearly identified and articulated market need, how its product meets that need and explained its business model.  In addition to the panel of experts, Mobile Sign Language Systems had to deliver its pitch in front of those in attendance at the competition.

EIC is a collaborative effort of Ann Arbor SPARK, Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Regional Chamber, Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center, Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), MichiganWorks! and Eastern Michigan University's College of Business. Drawing from these regional resources, EIC offers start-ups a unique combination of local expertise, business incubation, export assistance, meeting space, marketing services, and education.

About Ann Arbor SPARK

Ann Arbor SPARK, a non-profit organization, is the driving force in establishing the Ann Arbor region as a destination for business expansion, retention, and location by identifying and meeting the needs of business at every stage, from startups to large organizations. Ann Arbor SPARK represents all communities in the Washtenaw County. Ann Arbor SPARK collaborates with business, academic, government, and community investor partners including the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, Washtenaw Community College, Michigan Works!/ETCS, Washtenaw County, the City of Ann Arbor, the Bank of Ann Arbor and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. For more information, please call (734) 761-9317 or visit www.AnnArborUSA.org.

SOURCE Ann Arbor SPARK

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