Originally uploaded September 14th, reloaded September 28th. Jeffrey Mosher welcomes back Pete Martin, director of portfolio management at the MSU Research Foundation: Pete, let's start with the expanded funding. The potential semifinal prize has grown from $250,000 to as much as $375,000. Why was increasing that investment important, and what does it change for the founders competing? There's up to $1.5 million available across the four semifinals, but the founders are also receiving intensive coaching and connections. What do you hope these companies take away from PitchMI regardless of whether they ultimately win the money? Pete, the semifinals are spread across Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Marquette and Detroit and are organized around four different industry areas. Why is that statewide approach important to the future of Michigan's startup ecosystem? For Alisyn Malek, CEO and co-founder of Averra Systems: Alisyn, you’re one of five founders competing in PitchMI’s Advanced Manufacturing, Materials & Outdoors semifinal in Marquette. You’re tackling some pretty big, technical challenges in advanced manufacturing with Averra Systems. What could that additional funding help you do sooner or differently as you grow? You’ve gone through that preparation firsthand. What part of the experience has been most valuable as you get Averra Systems ready for the semifinal stage? What makes Michigan a place where you believe your company can grow, and what excites you about being part of that broader startup community? Thanks to an incredible new $500,000 co-investment across the four semifinals, each PitchMI semifinal winner can now receive up to $375,000, an increase from the originally announced $250,000. With even more on the line as founders take the stage across Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Marquette, and Detroit this fall, four co-investors are stepping up alongside the MSU Research Foundation and MEDC to support Michigan startups: Grand Rapids - Anchor Up Ventures Kalamazoo - Kalamazoo Forward Ventures Marquette - JM Longyear Detroit - ID Ventures This updates the early September information indicating: The MSU Research Foundation and MEDC have announced the Top 20 companies advancing in PitchMI, one of the nation’s largest founder-focused startup competitions. Hundreds applied from across Michigan, including companies from Ann Arbor, Detroit, Lansing, Kalamazoo, Marquette, and beyond, earning a spot on the semifinal stage. This fall, five companies will compete at each of four industry-specific semifinals: Defense & Aerospace — Grand Rapids, Sept. 15 AI & Software — Kalamazoo, Sept. 22 Advanced Manufacturing, Materials & Outdoors — Marquette, Sept. 24 Healthcare & Life Sciences — Detroit, Oct. 1 One winner from each event will receive $250,000 and advance to the statewide PitchMI Championship in spring 2027, where another $1 million will be awarded. And before they ever pitch, all 20 semifinalists also get two weeks of coaching and startup development, covering everything from hiring and branding to fundraising, financial planning and go-to-market strategy.
