Startups Take Home Over $265,000 at Michigan Tech Week
A look at the list of Michigan Tech Week pitch competition winners. Follow these startups as they grow in Michigan.
This past October, Michigan Tech Week brought together nearly 1,000 community members, students, entrepreneurs and innovators to Ann Arbor to celebrate our growing technology ecosystem.
As part of the event, the Michigan Founders Fund produced in partnership with Midwest House and Foundation Management four different pitch competition tracks to help early stage founders access capital and showcase their technologies on stage. Over $265,000 in cash prizes or investments was awarded across tracks in AI, Life Sciences, Fintech, Student Startups, and a unique team competition track produced by MFF that brought together 46 founders to present on stage.
“This year, Michigan Founders Fund worked with key ecosystem partners across different industries and communities such as AI, Life Sciences and Student startups, to develop four different pitch competitions that help solve the critical need of access to founder-friendly capital,” says Trista Van Tine, Co-Founder & Executive Director at MFF.
“These events within the conference are representative of our initial vision in creating Michigan Tech Week - to bring the entire statewide innovation ecosystem together to celebrate what makes Michigan's founders and cities the people to fund and places to thrive."
Learn more about the 11 startup teams awarded at Michigan Tech Week, all who are building their companies right here in Michigan.
AI Launchpad Pitch Competition
CircNova - Taking first place, CircNova is unlocking the power of RNA using a unique AI NovaEngine to generate, analyze, and identify circular RNA for therapeutic development. CircNova received a $50,000 SAFE investment (with a 20% discount) by sponsor eLab Ventures.
Brand XR - Taking second place, BrandXR has built the world’s easiest to use no-code augmented reality platform built for XR experiences. The team took home a $25,000 SAFE investment (with a 20% discount) by sponsor eLab Ventures..
Michigan Life Science Entrepreneurs Association Pitch Competition
EpiSLS - Taking first prize, this startup is creating a new way to receive fast, reliable allergy testing on-the-spot in places like emergency rooms or doctor’s offices. Results are available in thirty minutes via a finger prick. The team was awarded $15,000 in cash to move their startup forward.
ArtOva Therapeutic, Inc - In second place, ArtOva Therapeutic is a biotech firm treating ovarian cancer. The company’s immune-isolating ovarian tissue grafts are implanted under the skin, enabling patients to restore normal hormone function. Founded by Professor Ariella Shikanov, the startup took home $5,000 in cash.
MFF Venture Competition
A unique collaborative competition, three founders received a grand prize of $150,000 in non-dilutive funding: Katy Kelly the CEO and Founder of Total Reentry Solution, Keith Chaney the Founder of Peadbo, and Vanessa Lane the Co-founder of BetterPlay Studios.
Pitch + Pilot Showcase by Bamboo + CFCU
Tandem - Taking home a first place prize of $10,000 and a pilot opportunity with Community Financial Credit Union was Tandem. Tandem has built a consumer fintech platform for couples to manage their finances together.
Michigan Entrepreneur Summit Pitch
Reel Free - Taking home the first place prize of $7,500 non-dilutive funding is Reel Free. Reel Free has created a new way to manage oxygen tubing that does not restrict mobility and mitigates falls.
Pink Inference - Taking the second place prize of $2,500 in non-dilutive funding was Pink Inference, led by founder Johan Weinbaum. The biotech startup is building cost-effective multielectrode arrays (MEAs) to make neuro research more accessible.
Ultima Insights - Third place was Ultima Insights, using actionable intelligence systems to bring better research to investors.
Congratulations to all the winners of this past year’s pitch events. It was a successful event that brought together investors, founders, and ecosystem leaders across the country and state to celebrate Michigan innovation.
"Michigan Tech Week has become a crucial tool in helping us build a truly statewide innovation ecosystem,” said co-organizer Ted Viele of Midwest House. “For four days we're able to create an unparalleled density of the ambitious leaders who are all looking to connect with and be inspired by their peers. The energy that comes out of MTW will be the fuel that helps us build Michigan's future."
Stay tuned for the next Michigan Tech Week, returning to Detroit in 2024.
Learn more about Michigan Founders Fund.
Learn more about Midwest House.