Early-stage tech investing is our passion. We love being involved in the first institutional capital round (typically the Series A)—early enough to be able to truly partner with you and materially impact the growth trajectory of your company. We limit the number of investments in each portfolio to ensure adequate capital and partner bandwidth per company to maximize the chances of success across the board. With .406, you do not get one or two partners, you get the resources of our full team—every investment team member touches every company. We are also dogmatic about never investing in competitive companies, so we will be explicitly aligned with you. We invest in companies aiming to disrupt industries that we know extremely well and where we have the networks to truly accelerate company success.

At 1776, we know that startups can change the world and we’re building the global community to provide the intellectual, social, and financial capital to help them make that a reality. At its core, 1776 is a global incubator and seed fund that helps engineer the success of the world’s most promising startups tackling important challenges in areas like education, health, energy & sustainability, and transportation & smart cities. Our Focus We’ve purposely chosen challenging, government-dominated markets because our roots in Washington, DC give us proprietary connections, insights, and tools that can be used to drive massive scale revenue growth. The key to it all is connections. We connect our startups to the latest wisdom on how to build highly scalable businesses through our curriculum. To expert mentors who can help startups quickly solve problems. To markets through our institutional and corporate partners. To capital through our investor network and the 1776 Seed Fund. And to talent through our community relationships across the globe.

20Fathoms is a technology hub and startup incubator focused on cultivating a thriving and connected startup ecosystem in Northern Michigan.

4490 Ventures is a technology-focused, early-stage venture capital fund

50 South Capital is an alternative asset management firm designed to meet the needs of investors seeking access to hedge funds, private equity, and real asset solutions. As of December 2017, they have approximately $5.0 billion in assets under management and $1.9 billion in assets under advisement.50 South Capital manages the Next Level Fund, which is the State of Indiana’s Fund of Funds. The Next Level Fund aims to invest up to $250 million during the next five years in order to encourage the investment and philanthropic communities to explore investment opportunities in Indiana’s innovation community.

50 South Capital is an alternative asset management firm designed to meet the needs of investors seeking access to hedge funds, private equity, and real asset solutions. As of December 2017, they have approximately $5.0 billion in assets under management and $1.9 billion in assets under advisement.50 South Capital manages the Next Level Fund, which is the State of Indiana’s Fund of Funds. The Next Level Fund aims to invest up to $250 million during the next five years in order to encourage the investment and philanthropic communities to explore investment opportunities in Indiana’s innovation community.

5AM's portfolio of advanced life science technologies is diversified within the healthcare industry's biopharmaceutical, medical, technology, and research instrument sectors. Within each sector, 5AM evaluates innovative platform technologies, corporate spin-offs and products with shorter development cycles and invests across multiple therapeutic areas.

5AM's portfolio of advanced life science technologies is diversified within the healthcare industry's biopharmaceutical, medical, technology, and research instrument sectors. Within each sector, 5AM evaluates innovative platform technologies, corporate spin-offs and products with shorter development cycles and invests across multiple therapeutic areas.

A3Ventures is the innovation lab and capital investment arm of AAA Northern California, Nevada & Utah (NCNU). Our mission is to develop groundbreaking solutions that serve communities in face of disruption. Our diverse team of designers, product managers, engineers, analysts, researchers and strategists work to prototype solutions and bring them to market. Our venture capital arm invests directly in innovative startups whose products that can benefit the communities we serve. In April 2017 we launched our first product, GIG Car Share — the Bay Area's first hybrid-electric, one-way car share. We are a proud investor in RapidSOS, a breakthrough technology that solves the 911 mobile location problem.

ACRE AgTech, a non-profit corporation, specializes in providing ag-tech connections, resources, and expertise to help entities commercialize their ag-tech innovations.

Allos invests in early-stage companies, augmenting the capital provided by founders and angel investors who have helped the companies reach a stage at which they have initial customers and are ready for their first institutional financing round. Allos believes an “engaged” approach to venture capital investing is critical to the success of these companies. The firm works closely with its partner companies to help them leverage the business-building skills and resources developed by their team, as well as those of their investors, most of whom are successful entrepreneurs themselves.

By definition, we’re a venture capital group, but we like to think of ourselves as catalysts for what’s next. We understand that you want to impact this world. We’re prepared to help.

Amherst Fund makes venture capital investments in early-stage companies and also makes private equity investments in later stage companies. While investing carefully to achieve sound returns, Amherst Fund offers flexibility in structuring investments to best meet the needs of the company. Amherst Fund investments have included equity, subordinated debt, and senior debt structures when appropriate.

Amy Cell Talent was launched in March of 2015 to help Michigan startups and small businesses have access to high quality, yet affordable talent acquisition services. In the prior decade, Amy had led talent programs for Ann Arbor SPARK and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and had designed dozens of programs to help attract, retain and develop talent. She understood the gap in programs to help job seekers and employers, and felt that she had a unique background and passion for this issue. Since launching her "talent agency" her team has grown and has been able to help dozens of employers and hundreds of job seekers connect to resources and each other. She is honored to work with an incredible team, an amazing entrepreneurial ecosystem in Michigan, and with hundreds of people that trust her resources and support to find their next career adventures.

Ann Arbor Angels was founded in 2004 and has evolved into a member-driven angel investment organization, comprised of former CEOs and founders as well as business and investment leaders in the Ann Arbor community. Ann Arbor Angels invests in young companies with breakthrough products or services. In addition to providing capital, they share expertise, provide mentoring, and facilitate connections to the broader marketplace.

Ann Arbor SPARK advances the region by encouraging and supporting business acceleration, attraction, expansion, and retention. The organization identifies and meets the needs of companies at every stage, from startups to large organizations. Ann Arbor SPARK collaborates with business, academic, government and community investment partners to position the region as a destination for innovation.

Apex Venture Partners, established in 1987, is one of the oldest venture capital firms in Mid-America. The firm has invested in over 150 companies throughout the United States. Apex's guiding investment philosophy is to provide exceptional returns for our investors by partnering with entrepreneurs and executives to build significant value in their companies.

Apjohn Ventures is a life sciences-focused fund which does deals in Michigan and the Midwest. Nine portfolio companies with several exits were part of the fund, including Afmedica, ProNAi, ZyStor, Ikano, Asterand, Cytopherx, Renamed, Svelte, Kereos. The partners have been involved in starting a third of these companies and assisted in raising over $300M in financing.

Medical device development begins with an idea. The idea, often in the form of a napkin sketch, must cross a ‘development valley-of-death’. Med device development requires a broad range of science, engineering, and business resources. applied Medical Device Institute (aMDI) serves the med device community as a means to cross the development valley-of-death, by providing access to researchers, engineers, medical professionals, business and entrepreneurial expertise within an integrated process that includes technical, intellectual property, business review and mentoring.

Arbor Dakota is a company dedicated to growing Great Ideas into Great Companies. Simply put, we help early stage companies implement growth strategy which will in turn, enhance shareholder value. We focus on early stage tech companies and have particular expertise with “Software as a Service” (SaaS) businesses. We help these companies with their growth acceleration strategies, strategic marketing plans (How to Win) and sales discipline. We understand that the holy grail to valuation is high growth, profitable companies that have recurring and defensible revenues. We have combined years of technology experience and knowledge in early stage companies with practical strategies and tools that have proven to create exciting companies with great referenceable customers, outstanding growth rates, and high valuations. We have experienced the “end game” and know how to implement a plan to get from “resource-constrained” to “high growth/profitable”. And most importantly, we will help you to think differently about your business. We are experts at Blue Ocean Strategy development and know how to disrupt markets and help you take on entrenched and fierce competitors and make them irrelevant. We love the challenge.

Arbor Partners provides equity capital and entrepreneurial assistance to early and growth-stage enterprise software and technology-enabled services businesses.

Arboretum Ventures is a venture capital firm specializing in the healthcare sector. Founded in 2002, the firm manages $450 million in capital and has invested in more than 30 companies. It focuses on medical device, diagnostic, healthcare IT and healthcare service companies that can achieve significant milestones and value creation in a capital-efficient manner.

ARCH Venture Partners is a premier provider of seed and early stage venture capital for technology firms, with a special competence in co-founding and building firms from start-up. Our mission is to deliver promising technologies from the earliest stages to successful commercial application – from concept to commerce.

Arsenal is a growth-stage venture capital firm that focuses on the intersection of the government, large corporations, and emerging technology companies. The firm partners with visionary entrepreneurs to build exceptional businesses in the enterprise, commerce/logistics, healthcare and resource efficiency sectors.

Arsenal is a growth-stage venture capital firm that focuses on the intersection of the government, large corporations, and emerging technology companies. The firm partners with visionary entrepreneurs to build exceptional businesses in the enterprise, commerce/logistics, healthcare and resource efficiency sectors.

Athenian Venture Partners invests in early stage Technology and Healthcare companies. We identify transformative businesses in rapid growth markets and partner with next-generation leaders to build great companies, enabling them to deliver truly innovative products and solutions.

Atlas Venture is an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in life sciences startup companies in the U.S.

Augment Ventures invests in software, software-enabled hardware, and physical sciences innovations that drive impact in efficiency, sustainability, and health and wellness through products we use at work and home.

We are experts in strategic intellectual property portfolio development, providing high-touch IP portfolio management services. Our dedicated services connect the IP, technology and business strategy for each client, providing fuel for rapid growth and strategic management.

Automation Alley is a nonprofit technology and manufacturing business association and Michigan’s Industry 4.0 knowledge center, with a global outlook and a regional focus. We connect industry, academia and government to fuel Michigan’s economy and accelerate innovation.

We partner with disruptive B2B founders to accelerate their ideas to market. We’re focused on high-growth enterprise software opportunities across functions and industries, including Infrastructure Software, SaaS and Data Services, Marketing Tech, FinTech and Healthcare. We invest in great founders, with investments ranging from $1 million of seed capital through $100 million of growth equity.

Baird Capital makes venture capital, growth equity, and private equity investments in strategically targeted sectors around the world. Baird Capital’s venture team invests in early and expansion stage technology-enabled B2B services and healthcare companies. Having invested in more than 300 companies over its history, Baird Capital partners with entrepreneurs and leverages its executive networks to build exceptional companies. The venture team has partnered with many of today’s leading emerging businesses in the targeted sectors, including such companies as Accuri Cytometers, Interlace Medical, MI Bioresearch, NeuMoDx Molecular, Autobooks, and Strata Oncology.

Baird Capital makes venture capital, growth equity, and private equity investments in strategically targeted sectors around the world. Baird Capital’s venture team invests in early and expansion stage technology-enabled B2B services and healthcare companies. Having invested in more than 300 companies over its history, Baird Capital partners with entrepreneurs and leverages its executive networks to build exceptional companies. The venture team has partnered with many of today’s leading emerging businesses in the targeted sectors, including such companies as Accuri Cytometers, Interlace Medical, MI Bioresearch, NeuMoDx Molecular, Autobooks, and Strata Oncology.

Bamboo Detroit is the largest co-working space for entrepreneurs in Detroit. It offers 24/7 access to shared offices downtown, conferences rooms, fiber Internet, coffee and tea, workshops and events, and a talented network of support for growing businesses.

Barton Consulting Services was founded in 2006 by successful corporate executives wishing to apply their skills toward creating sustainable value for a variety of enterprises. Strategic development is a generic process which can be successfully applied in any industry or organization, and similar approaches are required whether the business is for-profit or nonprofit, well established or starting up. We work with the technical, marketing and financial resources within each organization, and add process expertise to channel that knowledge to determine the best way forward. Incorporated into that expertise are Decision Analysis, Six Sigma and Lean Organization concepts. Our relationship with each client is a synergistic partnership; we listen carefully and work within the existing culture to help the client both understand what they do know and identify what they don’t know, and then use our experience and education to determine the specific needs of and best approach for that client.

We are a global, technology-focused investment firm pursuing the most promising companies and ideas. Founded in 1983, our firm makes venture-capital and private equity investments from offices in Boston, Silicon Valley and Israel. We work hard, but humbly, and are guided by data-driven processes. We seek out extraordinary businesses and leaders who operate the same way.

BBCetc manages the Michigan SBIR/STTR Assistance Program, which provides SBIR/STTR training and proposal development services to technology companies with most costs covered by the state. BBCetc is nationally recognized for its success in helping emerging companies win funding through the federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs and use those funds strategically to propel growth. Its Michigan clients have been awarded over $205 million in funding since 2002.

BBCetc manages the Michigan SBIR/STTR Assistance Program, which provides SBIR/STTR training and proposal development services to technology companies with most costs covered by the state. BBCetc is nationally recognized for its success in helping emerging companies win funding through the federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs and use those funds strategically to propel growth. Its Michigan clients have been awarded over $205 million in funding since 2002.

Beaumont Health, a major healthcare system serving Michigan and beyond, recognizes the inherent value of research as a major contributing factor to future improvements in healthcare delivery and the health of its local and global communities. Beaumont Research Institute strengthens Beaumont’s ability to conduct medical research and supports strong translational research in numerous areas, including Orthopedics, OB-GYN, Urology and Radiation Oncology. Beaumont Commercialization oversees the development, patenting and licensing of Beaumont technologies with the goal of bringing technology from idea to market and can also serve as a conduit to outside parties seeking collaborations with Beaumont researchers.

BELLE Michigan's mission is to provide superior returns for investors while serving the early stage capital needs of women-led companies. The companies invested have access not only to BELLE's capital but to a network of limited partners who bring years of experience as entrepreneurs, professionals, and corporate executives to support the success of portfolio companies.

Beringea is a private equity firm providing growth capital to market-leading businesses. The firm’s team offers portfolio companies the resources to grow their businesses and create value for shareholders. Beringea invests $2-15 million in equity in companies seeking capital for business expansion and growth.

BioArbor, an entirely volunteer-run organization, hosts educational networking events for the life sciences industry in the greater Ann Arbor area. BioArbor events explore technology commercialization (product, device, and service), financing strategies, business development, regulatory affairs, marketing, and other topics useful to life science entrepreneurs. Each event, held six times per year, features a networking session, invited speaker(s), and a post-presentation Q&A period. Invited speakers from both the national and local ecosystem share experience on topics such as drug discovery and development, medical devices, diagnostics, and tools. BioArbor events are open to the public and are especially suited for those interested in starting or growing life science businesses.

BioStar Ventures is a strategic venture capital partnership focused on accelerating value creation for medical device technologies in cardiovascular and orthopaedic medicine. Combining the insight of seasoned venture capitalists and world-renowned medical thought leaders, BioStar Ventures identifies proprietary technologies that serve unmet patient needs and fit the acquisition criteria of leading medical device companies. BioStar Ventures fills an important gap in translational medical device innovation and acts as a true value-added investor, providing both capital and clinical expertise to mitigate risk, optimize product development, and secure successful exit.

BioStar Ventures is a strategic venture capital partnership focused on accelerating value creation for medical device technologies in cardiovascular and orthopaedic medicine. Combining the insight of seasoned venture capitalists and world-renowned medical thought leaders, BioStar Ventures identifies proprietary technologies that serve unmet patient needs and fit the acquisition criteria of leading medical device companies. BioStar Ventures fills an important gap in translational medical device innovation and acts as a true value-added investor, providing both capital and clinical expertise to mitigate risk, optimize product development, and secure successful exit.

BlueWater Angels is a network of accredited investors and select organizations investing capital in promising companies in the Great Lakes Bay Region. The group recognizes the value of supporting and nurturing the entrepreneurial community for the economic benefit of Mid-Michigan and the State of Michigan. BlueWater Angels addresses the tremendous shortage of seed capital through creative initiatives and unique financial approaches.

Braemar Energy Ventures is a leading energy venture capital firm. Our principals have more than 100 years of combined energy experience, and an investment record that dates back to the mid-1980s. We partner with exceptional companies and management teams, in both alternative and traditional energy markets, that can contribute to a more profitable and efficient energy landscape through innovation and marketplace expertise.

Focused on the development of major trade programs in China providing business services to Chinese enterprises such as CADF, SINOPEC, CNPC, SNPTC, Foton, FAW, Sino Truck. . and provide a bridge between Western companies and Chinese businesses focused on M&A, JV, Technology Cooperation, and Corporate Training Programs.

Business Leaders for Michigan (BLM) is the state’s business roundtable, composed of the chairpersons, CEOs or most senior executives of the state’s largest job providers and universities. Together, our members power one-third of the state’s economy and educate nearly one-half of the state’s university students, which makes us a powerful driver for economic development and change. BLM’s work is concentrated on developing strategy, raising awareness, advocating policy and championing initiatives that grow the state’s economy. Our members know what it takes to make the economy grow and create new jobs, and they’ve distilled that knowledge into the Building a New Michigan Plan, a comprehensive strategy for making Michigan a “Top Ten” state for jobs, personal income and a healthy economy. Our organizational activities are geared toward achieving the goals outlined in that plan. What’s more, we keep our focus on the cutting edge by continually researching and benchmarking new data and strategies that can help advance Michigan’s growth. BLM is a private, nonprofit organization. We communicate our agenda through a variety of ways including two political action committees.

Founded and incorporated in the State of Michigan in August 1989, CAEtech has clearly established itself as a leading provider of high-tech services and solutions in Information Technology and Engineering. Our vision, philosophy and guiding principles helped us become a preferred supplier to many major corporations including Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corporation, DaimlerChrysler, Delphi Automotive, and many other tier-1 and tier-2 suppliers. Our reputation for quality service delivery and performance helps us maintain consistently higher ranking amongst our competitors. Our services and solutions are designed to assist both manufacturing industry and commercial businesses, large and small. Our Small Business Solutions strategy offers customized products and services to small to mid-size companies in the areas of Engineering, Information Technology and Human Capital Management. CAEtech is a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), certified by the Michigan Minority Business Development Council affiliated with the National Minority Supplier Development Council. Also, we are an 8(a) Certified business with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Our success is evident from the fact that we were ranked three times as the Fastest Growing Company amongst Michigan Private 100 during the last decade.

Cahoots is an endeavor of passion, by tech entrepreneurs, for tech entrepreneurs. We believe Ann Arbor delivers compelling advantages to startups. Cahoots offers a home to companies looking for desirable downtown space and provides a central and purposeful hub for our vibrant tech community.

Capital Community Angel Investors is a nonprofit organization that seeks to introduce qualified entrepreneurs to its member investors. The group looks for Michigan-based “disruptive” early stage investments that offer sustainable competitive advantage.

Capital Midwest Fund is a venture capital firm that invests in advanced manufacturing, B2B, and healthcare technology companies based in the Midwest. The fund concentrates on investments where companies have excellent management and technology, and will address significant markets. We look for management with successful previous experience; markets that are established and growing; defensible IP positions; and sustainable competitive advantages. The principals of the fund are professionals who have operated in the investment banking, investing, and technology industries for many years. They have significant experience in raising money for early-stage companies and sourcing deals. In addition, they have significant experience in assisting management teams prepare viable business plans, evaluate strategic partnerships, and craft lucrative exits.

Cascade Partners is an investment banking and private investment firm serving entrepreneurs, businesses and investors active in the middle market. Drawing on the deep management, investment and transaction experience of its principals, Cascade Partners provides the guidance and resources necessary to navigate the complexities of managing growth through acquisitions, divestitures, financing and other strategic initiatives. Cascade Partners manages Cascade Growth Partners (CGP), an operationally focused private investment fund that provides growth capital to healthcare, value-added manufacturing and technology-enabled service businesses. CGP funds growth financings, acquisitions, management buyouts and change-of-control transactions. CGP invests in the lower-middle market companies with EBITDA between $500,000 and $5,000,000. CGP targets healthcare, value-added manufacturing, and technology-enabled businesses that have strong growth potential.

The LTU Collaboratory is a hands-on, regional resource center at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield fostering business growth and economic vitality. They assist entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs and second stage start-ups in growing and launching their ideas through education, resources, networking, mentoring and connection to funding sources, all in our state-of-the-art collaborative environment for innovation.

Venture Capital Firm

We specialize in launching female-led companies and new businesses targeting the female demographic

Chrysalis Ventures manages one of Mid-America's largest funds for early-stage and growth investments, with approximately $400 million under management. Since 1993, Chrysalis has invested in over 65 companies, primarily in the Healthcare and Technology sectors.

The mission of the City of Grand Rapids Economic Development Department is to retain and foster employment opportunities by improving our business environment and encouraging sustainable business development. Our economic development effort is aimed at facilitating greater levels of economic prosperity through innovation, collaboration and the linking and leveraging of resources. This is primarily accomplished through numerous programs, including the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, tax abatement programs, the SmartZone Local Development Finance Authority, and Corridor/Business Improvement Districts.

Claremont Creek Ventures is a seed and early-stage venture capital firm, founded by experienced entrepreneurs to partner with other entrepreneurs in building ambitious, exceptional technology companies.

The College of Business Administration offers an innovative, high quality, business-connected learning environment to prepare students for a variety of careers in the ever-changing world of business. The college offers a quality education through the School of Accounting and the Departments of Business Information Systems, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Finance and Law, Management, and Marketing and Hospitality Services Administration.

The CMU Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship is a campus-wide early stage entrepreneurship and innovation center that provides education, experiential learning, and support for student entrepreneurs to create and incubate business ideas and launch startup ventures. Support programs include workshops and events covering ideation/concept crafting, team building, customer discovery, business model generation, lean startup concepts, pitch competitions, investor presentations, and startup coaching by a pool of alumni and faculty mentors and advisors. Student teams are connected to resources and opportunities throughout the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the state of Michigan. Top teams earn seed funding to launch their business and have the chance to participate in a summer accelerator program.

CMURC is a leader in advancing economic development in the Great Lakes Bay Region by leveraging the resources of Central Michigan University, the Mt. Pleasant SmartZone and its local, regional and State-wide partners to accelerate the success of entrepreneurs, growing businesses and jobs.

Cleary University's vision is a world where everyone understands, experiences and benefits from innovation and entrepreneurship. As America’s foremost applied for business university, Cleary University will be the country’s preferred partner for innovation and entrepreneurship education. The mission of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Cleary University is to enrich the community of students, entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs, managers, corporations and small business owners in Southeastern Michigan through knowledge, skills, credentials, and resources that are accessible, innovative and experiential. Their resources include space, services, events, and education.

Cue Ball Capital is a venture firm build around human capital. They are business builders with an operator-mindset who have started, scaled and led companies from the seed stage to public company Fortune 500′s. This means having an experience base that can be drawn upon as needed and “entrepreneurial empathy” for any speed bumps along the way. The evergreen structure of our fund is unique – giving us a permanent and flexible capital pool that has only a single fund with a single investor base at one time and a fund without an arbitrary fund life that may or may not map to your time line for value creation.

Cultivian Sandbox is a venture capital firm focused on building next generation disruptive agriculture and food technology companies capable of generating superior returns. As early investors and active board members, Cultivian employs a hands-on approach to building companies and is often directly involved in setting company strategy, recruiting key executives, and raising additional capital.

Dandelion is data, design, media and technology for the public and social sector. The organization helps government and nonprofit agencies redefine the way they engage community, activate underutilized assets and deliver services.

Design Core Detroit offers direct and strategic business and technical guidance, mentorship, and connections to new market opportunities for design businesses, including those in visual, communications, digital, and product sectors. Through one-on-one consultations, emerging and established designers get help starting, operating, and growing their businesses and their teams. Design Core also supports businesses across all industries by connecting them to available talent in digital design, the built environment, and product development. Design companies and potential design buyers should visit www.designcore.org or email Cydney Camp at [email protected]

The Detroit Regional Chamber is a well connected and influential force powering the economy for Southeast Michigan. Serving the business community for more than 100 years, the Detroit Regional Chamber is one of the oldest, largest and most respected chambers of commerce in the country. Chamber activities and initiatives are centered on four strategic pillars: economic development, regional collaboration, education reform and member value.

Detroit Venture Partners (DVP) invests in seed and early-stage technology startups. The firm looks for companies that can be synergistic with DVP’s collective experience in product development, operations, sales, and marketing. DVP intends to help rebuild Detroit through entrepreneurial fire.

Dow Venture Capital — an investment arm of The Dow Chemical Company — is focused on pursuing strategic investments that enable and accelerate Dow’s business growth while adding value to its portfolio companies.

Draper Triangle Ventures is a Pittsburgh-based early-stage venture capital firm focused on technology investing in the Midwest. With $200 million under management across three funds, the firm focuses on early-stage technology businesses with enormous market potential, and helping entrepreneurs achieve their maximum potential through team building, partnership, advice, and support.

Draper Triangle Ventures is a Pittsburgh-based early-stage venture capital firm focused on technology investing in the Midwest. With $200 million under management across three funds, the firm focuses on early-stage technology businesses with enormous market potential, and helping entrepreneurs achieve their maximum potential through team building, partnership, advice, and support.

Out of State VC

The Economic Development Alliance (EDA) of St. Clair County is a regional non-profit economic development agency that has served the Blue Water Area for over 60 years. The EDA is supported by public and private sector investors and works closely with community stakeholders and regional partners to stimulate the economy and drive job growth and investment. EDA attracts new industry to the county with a focus on the advanced manufacturing, automotive plastics, automation, logistics and transportation, and the Internet of Things related to global mobility and smart cities. EDA manages The Underground Incubator in the Port Huron SmartZone and the Eastern Michigan Manufacturing Association.

The University of Michigan’s Economic Growth Institute leverages the University of Michigan’s expertise, research, technologies, and other resources to work with small- and medium-sized enterprises to foster innovation and boost local, state, and national economies.

EDF Ventures is a leading venture capital firm investing in early-stage healthcare companies. The firm focuses on young companies that are developing breakthrough technologies to address large, well-recognized problems or transform existing markets. The individuals pioneering these kinds of solutions require far more than just capital; they need venture investors who are committed for the long haul, true partners who can help transform their vision into strong, profitable companies.

Located in Plymouth, MI, seated alongside our manufacturing partners’ 50,000 sqft advanced design and assembly space. The FDA registered facility has been manufacturing and delivering devices to the Fortune 500 community for over fifteen years. The location was carefully chosen to allow EhmetDx the ability to drive prototypes efficiently through the design stage allowing rapid adaptation to market needs.

eighteen94 makes minority investments in companies pursuing next-generation innovation, bolstering access to cutting-edge ideas and trends. The investment mandate includes start-up businesses pioneering new ingredients, foods, packaging, and enabling technology.

eLab Ventures is an early-stage technology venture capital fund created to capitalize on the growth of emerging entrepreneurial markets outside of Silicon Valley and to create bridges to those markets to seek startups with disruptive innovations, exceptional teams, and capital efficient business models that have the potential to serve large markets. The firm focuses on auto mobility, big data, security, cloud computing and digital healthcare opportunities.

eLab Ventures is an early-stage technology venture capital fund created to capitalize on the growth of emerging entrepreneurial markets outside of Silicon Valley and to create bridges to those markets to seek startups with disruptive innovations, exceptional teams, and capital efficient business models that have the potential to serve large markets. The firm focuses on auto mobility, big data, security, cloud computing and digital healthcare opportunities.

eLab Ventures is an early-stage technology venture capital fund created to capitalize on the growth of emerging entrepreneurial markets outside of Silicon Valley and to create bridges to those markets to seek startups with disruptive innovations, exceptional teams, and capital efficient business models that have the potential to serve large markets. The firm focuses on auto mobility, big data, security, cloud computing and digital healthcare opportunities.

eLab Ventures is an early-stage technology venture capital fund created to capitalize on the growth of emerging entrepreneurial markets outside of Silicon Valley and to create bridges to those markets to seek startups with disruptive innovations, exceptional teams, and capital efficient business models that have the potential to serve large markets. The firm focuses on auto mobility, big data, security, cloud computing and digital healthcare opportunities.

Elevate Ventures is a venture firm that also provides entrepreneurial development programs for startups. Angel investments total $15M in 48 companies with three (3) exits. The State of Indiana launched its most recent entrepreneurial effort with Elevate Ventures, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit intended to provide entrepreneurs with the expertise and resources they need to transform their ideas into the next generation of companies. With this effort, Indiana will be able to provide direct support to emerging start-ups, including a variety of business support resources, mentorship programs, and investor and venture capital.

At Eastern Michigan University (EMU), much of the research has the end goal of developing or improving a product with commercial potential. The Technology Transfer Office at EMU is responsible for business engagement and dissemination of University-developed technology into the marketplace, much of which has broad application in industry. Numerous opportunities for collaboration on research projects or with EMU I-Corps teams are available.

Endeavor Detroit provides Michigan-based entrepreneurs with a world-renowned suite of services and programs along with access to an exclusive mentorship network to accelerate the growth of their companies. Benefits of selection to Endeavor Detroit include introductions through a network of more than 3,000 local and international business mentors along with access to capital, talent and international markets. Globally, Endeavor supports more than 1,400 entrepreneurs leading over 900 high-impact companies which have created 650,000 jobs and generated over $10 billion in revenue last year. Endeavor currently operates in 27 markets throughout Europe, Latin America, North America, Africa, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

Energy Foundry invests venture capital in today’s most promising energy innovators, and we work with the world’s leading energy companies to build and scale new ventures. Our approach merges venture capital with the perks of partnership, and includes an arsenal of essential tools and relationships to help bring great ideas to market.

The Entrepreneur Institute of Mid-Michigan’s provides small businesses and entrepreneurs with access to capital, business plan development training and networking opportunitites. As an entrepreneurial resource for Ingham, Eaton, Clinton and Shiawassee Counties, the organization strives to economically strengthen the businesses, entrepreneurs and communities they serve.

Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) Detroit is a peer-to-peer network of the most driven and accomplished entrepreneurs in Southeast Michigan. They are a local chapter of The Enterpreneurs' Organization, which is comprised of over 150 chapters worldwide. Laser focused on creating, building & innovating, members fuel each other's passions through killer learning & social events, meaningful experience shares, accountability partnerships and once in a lifetime experiences. With 105 members accounting for more than $1.4 billion in revenue and more than 6,300 employees, EO Detroit is not a club, a networking group nor a marketing “target” —it's a business, family, self and community game changer!

EntryPoint advances the entrepreneurial community by promoting inclusion, community engagement and education. The organization works with entrepreneurial support organizations and startups at all stages of growth foster an inclusive organizational culture, expand their networks, and conduct research for education, outreach and advocacy purposes.

We are a Starup Accelerator with our own seed fund and co-venturing space in the heart of Ferndale, Michigan

We are a Starup Accelerator with our own seed fund and co-venturing space in the heart of Ferndale, Michigan

Fontinalis Partners, founded in 2009 and with offices in Detroit and Boston, is a venture capital firm strategically focused on next-generation mobility (i.e., the efficient movement of goods, people, and services). The firm invests across all facets of the world’s mobility systems on a stage-agnostic basis.

Founded in 1991, Frazier Healthcare Partners is a leading provider of growth and venture capital to healthcare companies. With nearly $3.0 billion total capital raised, Frazier has invested in over 170 companies, with investment types ranging from company creation and venture capital to buyouts of profitable lower-middle market companies. The Life Sciences team invests in therapeutics and related areas that are addressing unmet medical needs through innovation. Frazier has offices in Seattle, WA and Menlo Park, CA, and invests broadly across the US, Canada, and Europe.

gener8tor is a “Top 15” accelerator that invests in high-growth startups. Twice a year we invest up to $140k in each of five startups who receive a concierge experience during our 12-week accelerator program. gener8tor supports the growth of these startups through our network of experienced mentors, technologists, corporate partners, angel investors and venture capitalists.

gener8tor is a “Top 15” accelerator that invests in high-growth startups. Twice a year we invest up to $140k in each of five startups who receive a concierge experience during our 12-week accelerator program. gener8tor supports the growth of these startups through our network of experienced mentors, technologists, corporate partners, angel investors and venture capitalists.

General Atlantic is a leading global growth equity firm providing capital and strategic support for growth companies.

General Motors Ventures, LLC was formed in 2010 to identify, engage and build relationships with other venture capital firms and companies to deliver innovative technology to the global transportation sector. GM Ventures’ investment strategy includes early and growth stage companies focused on automotive cleantech, infotainment (connected vehicle), advanced materials, and other automotive-related technologies. The firm has 22 active portfolio companies and 12 successful exits to date.

Golden Angels Investors began in 2002 with the goal of helping capital formation for entrepreneurs in the Midwest. In 2012, it was one of the twelve most active groups in the United States according to a study jointly sponsored by Silicon Valley Bank and the Angel Resource Institute. Its members are or have been founders, CEOs, venture capitalists and business leaders. They bring a track record of success and a willingness to assist entrepreneurs in building great companies. Golden Angels Investors is not a fund; its members make individual investment decisions under terms negotiated with entrepreneurs. The opportunity assessment and review processes are member led. In all cases, submissions begin by visiting our For Entrepreneurs page. Golden Angels participates in opportunities led by other investors as well as lead opportunities ourselves. As the lead investor we provide board directors with specific industry expertise and connections to our broad network for business development.

Grand Angels makes investments in new ideas that will have a positive effect on our world. It measures this through business growth, job creation, and the attraction and retention of talent to West Michigan. Established in 2004, the group only invests in companies based in Michigan and bordering states. To the entrepreneurs with whom they invest, Grand Angels brings engaged, experienced business leaders who provide both financial and intellectual capital.

Grand Ventures focuses on seed and Series A B2B technology companies (mostly software) with strong Midwest roots that are focused on agriculture, energy, mobility, manufacturing, and other Midwest industries. Grand Ventures portfolio includes Astronomer.io, a data engineering platform automates this heavy lifting through the release of a library of reusable connectors and pipelines “recipes” that seamlessly collect and route data from any source, like Salesforce or Google Analytics, to any destination, like Redshift or MySQL, in an enterprise.

Great Lakes Angels focuses on providing funding to capital-efficient early-stage companies located in the Midwest. We are open to pre-revenue companies that are close to revenue and can demonstrate strong potential customer interest.

We are one of the most active Seed investors in New York. We partner with talented, focused founders fixing societal, business and consumer problems by leveraging technology. Typically we invest between $50,000 and $500,000 in Seed or Series A financings. The majority of our investments are based in New York, NY and San Francisco, CA, though geography is not a limitation in our investment process, including international. Our goal is to help founders grow their businesses rapidly and attract growth financing. We work most closely with founders ahead of their Series A financings when they are attempting to find product market fit and develop relationships with investors.

Greater Fort Wayne (GFW) Inc. is the chamber of commerce and economic development organization for Fort Wayne & Allen County, Indiana, a regional market with $30 billion in GDP and 1.4 million residents. It supports local business growth, which includes leveraging opportunities to connect them with national businesses. GFW Inc. is a champion for bold projects that improve its ability to grow jobs, wages, and the economy. GFW Inc. is advancing five visionary projects totaling over $600 million: revitalization of a historic downtown GE campus, riverfront development, STEAM Park, revitalization of The Landing district, and a mid-sized event center downtown.

The Muskegon Innovation Hub (the Hub) is a business innovation center that provides coaching, funding, networking, and a synergistic work environment to help businesses and entrepreneurs maximize their growth potential. We are a key partner in the region's innovation ecosystem, supporting startup businesses, entrepreneurs, and corporate innovation teams.

The Richard M. and Helen DeVos Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation (CEI), in the Seidman College of Business, is dedicated to developing best practices in entrepreneurship education and community engagement that enhance and impact the creation of new ventures and opportunities. Through a combination of courses, curriculum, peer to peer networking, competitions, and mentorship, CEI provides all students an environment that fosters entrepreneurship and enhances entrepreneurial activities.

The Technology Commercialization Office (TCO) protects and promotes research enterprise by facilitating the conversion and licensing of intellectual properties to benefit the community. The TCO aids the economic development of the region and state through mutually beneficial relationships between Grand Valley State University and the private sector.

Hacker Fellows is a one-year fellowship program where recent Computer Science college graduates work as a developer at a Michigan start-up. Hacker Fellows start with 5 weeks of cohort-based training before diving into Michigan start-up. Hacker Fellows are an elite group of developers passionate about making an impact through tech. Cool, huh?

Healthbox Studios is a new breed of accelerator model designed to help the most serious startups in healthcare to rapidly pressure test and validate their businesses to scale.

At HealthQuest these three words describe us best: OPEN to new ideas and ways of doing things, which means we won’t dismiss something just because other investors find it out of fashion; CONNECTED to an exceptional network of industry leaders and organizations that can help our portfolio companies achieve their goals; finally, we’re CATALYTIC with our portfolio companies adding critical value beyond just capital.

HealthX Ventures is a digital healthcare-focused seed fund based in Madison, Wisconsin. We support teams that can help make healthcare safer, more affordable and provide better results. The time is right as founders build solutions for a system that is too costly, inefficient and slow moving. Wisconsin has the right talent, infrastructure and community to help lead change.

High Alpha Capital, provides capital to high growth companies building enterprise cloud companies. They are backed by Greenspring Associates, Foundry and angel investors from tech companies. They have raised 136.7M over the course of three funds; they have had two exits. High Alpha Studio is an incubator that conceives, launches and scales next generation enterprise cloud companies.

The Holland SmartZone serves to provide support to start-ups in Ottawa County by providing navigation to resources such as grants and loan programs as well as by implementing program that help entrepreneurs overcome barriers to growth.

Hope College Entrepreneurial Program provides hands-on coursework, workshops and summer fellowships for students to create startups. Students from all majors are invited to explore entrepreneurship and join teams. From greeting cards and granola bars to video resume apps and underwater drones, the program is a hub for innovation where students are making a positive impact on communities across the world.

Hopen Life Science Ventures invests in exceptional early to mid-stage healthcare and life science opportunities. The firm’s investment strategy focuses on Midwest companies with innovative solutions that deliver significantly better outcomes and at lower total system costs. Hopen leverages its rich life science talent and resources, and investor syndicates to provide the financial and human capital necessary for building value.

Huron River Ventures is a venture fund focused on early-stage agriculture, energy, and manufacturing and mobility technology companies based primarily in Michigan and the Midwest. The fund backs great people with big ideas and the team prides itself on rolling up its sleeves to add value and help entrepreneurs succeed.

Pinnacle Aeropark

Hyde Park Angels is the largest and most active angel group in the Midwest. With a membership of over 100 successful entrepreneurs, executives, and venture capitalists, the organization prides itself on providing critical strategic expertise to entrepreneurs and the entrepreneurial community.

Hyde Park Venture Partners (HPVP) is an early stage venture fund focused on software startups in the Midwest. HPVP focuses its investment activity on B2B software and consumer marketplace startups raising their first or second round of capital. The investment team is a combination of experienced operators, strategists, and investors and helps its portfolio companies scale with a strong network of talent and go-to-market experience. The team prides itself on being active and engaged across the Midwest ecosystem, and Pitchbook recently recognized HPVP as one of the most active VCs in the Great Lakes region.

Hyde Park Venture Partners (HPVP) is an early stage venture fund focused on software startups in the Midwest. HPVP focuses its investment activity on B2B software and consumer marketplace startups raising their first or second round of capital. The investment team is a combination of experienced operators, strategists, and investors and helps its portfolio companies scale with a strong network of talent and go-to-market experience. The team prides itself on being active and engaged across the Midwest ecosystem, and Pitchbook recently recognized HPVP as one of the most active VCs in the Great Lakes region.

Invest Detroit Ventures was founded in 2010 and has invested in over 80 companies since inception based on the philosophy that, while the firm cannot invest in every entrepreneur, its team can provide assistance to every one of them. Invest Detroit Ventures is committed to supporting the entrepreneurial ecosystem with capital, ongoing mentorship, and community engagement. The firm implements targeted venture development programs to help build and promote scalable businesses in the region. The team is committed to growing a robust tech community in Detroit and throughout Michigan. They are collectively focused on implementing an investment strategy that is inclusive and supportive of minority, immigrant, and women entrepreneurs.

Medical Device Design, Product Development Welcome to in2being, LLC, Michigan's leading medical device design and life-science product development firm. Your product must ultimately satisfy the needs of its users, the demands of the regulatory environment, and the ups and downs of the patent landscape while simultaneously being feasible for long-term manufacturing. Our novel approach to medical device design and product development puts you in the driver's seat, and provides maximum visibility so that you can keep your investors, future customers, and other stakeholders informed and engaged throughout the process. Come see how in2being can work for you.

IncWell is an early-stage venture capital fund that was founded in 2013 by Tom LaSorda, former CEO of Chrysler. IncWell offers seed funding, strategic partnerships, and mentorships for U.S. and Canadian startup companies that present breakthrough or disruptive technologies backed by great leaders.

Inforum is the only professional organization in Michigan — and one of a few in the country — that combines strategic connections, proven professional development programs, a respected forum for new ideas, and original research to accelerate careers for women and boost talent initiatives for companies. inGAGE is Inforum’s strategy to position Michigan as the Midwest hub for high-tech, high-growth women entrepreneurs. The approach delivers programs to increase the number of women angel investors in Michigan, provides women access to its network of investors and advisors, guides women through the process of commercializing technology, and assists emerging second-stage companies to scale.

Innovate Marquette is an MEDC-designated SmartZone with a mission to help position Marquette County and the Upper Peninsula grow and support a world-class entrepreneurial ecosystem which fosters technology innovation and accelerates new job-creating tech-based businesses.

The mission of Henry Ford Health System (HFHS) Innovations is to enhance patient care and HFHS’ profile through research, training, and commercialization. HFHS Innovations leads product development opportunities emanating from both HFHS clinical operations and select private corporate partners on a global level. The Henry Ford Innovation Institute is the flagship of HFHS’ commitment to innovation and serves as both a physical and virtual resource. It provides HFHS innovators access to an array of intellectual asset-related resources and programs that include technological opportunity assessment, design and engineering services, challenges and broad educational offerings in the realms of translational medicine and entrepreneurship.

The Innovation Shore Angels Network aim to grow the economic base of the Upper Peninsula through the growth of early to mid-stage companies and provide members an above market financial return on their invested capital and time commitment.

Whether you're seed stage or ready for growth, Intel Capital can help take it to the next level. Since 1991, Intel Capital has invested US$12.2 billion in 1,480 companies worldwide, and 627 portfolio companies have gone public or been acquired.

[email protected], based at Northern Michigan University, empowers students, inventors, entrepreneurs, and existing businesses across the state of Michigan. The program is a platform for anyone with a product idea to explore, define, develop and bring products to market. [email protected] concentrates on physical products that, when possible, can be sourced or manufactured in Michigan. It’s the first place fledging inventors can go to find out if their ideas are worth pursuing, and if they are, find help to define a path forward.

Invest Michigan is a Michigan nonprofit corporation and the fund manager for the Michigan Pre-Seed Fund II, a $10.5 million investment fund providing capital to early-stage technology companies in Michigan. Its funds come from the state's Michigan Strategic Fund but governed by a private independent board of directors, and its investment decisions are independent of the State, as are the members of its leadership team.

JJDC is the venture capital subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. JJDC is comprised of experts and leaders in the health care and technology venture communities who identify early market indicators, health care trends, and strategic investment opportunities. Unlike traditional venture capital firms, JJDC determines the success of an investment’s performance not only in financial returns, but also in the viability of providing strategic growth options for Johnson & Johnson. JJDC invests in companies with technologies that we believe have the potential to make significant impact on patient health. With a focus on a diverse range of opportunities in pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device, diagnostic and Consumer healthcare investing, JJDC doesn’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. We understand that each idea is unique and requires equally distinct investment strategy. We customize each deal to fit the opportunity, ranging from Seed and Series A investments in earliest stage startups, to Series B and beyond in more mature companies.

JJDC is the venture capital subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. JJDC is comprised of experts and leaders in the health care and technology venture communities who identify early market indicators, health care trends, and strategic investment opportunities. Unlike traditional venture capital firms, JJDC determines the success of an investment’s performance not only in financial returns, but also in the viability of providing strategic growth options for Johnson & Johnson. JJDC invests in companies with technologies that we believe have the potential to make significant impact on patient health. With a focus on a diverse range of opportunities in pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device, diagnostic and Consumer healthcare investing, JJDC doesn’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. We understand that each idea is unique and requires equally distinct investment strategy. We customize each deal to fit the opportunity, ranging from Seed and Series A investments in earliest stage startups, to Series B and beyond in more mature companies.

JumpStart provides intensive, high-impact assistance to diverse Northeast Ohio founders leading high potential early-stage companies, working one-on-one with entrepreneurs to establish and achieve value-creating milestones of growth. These include things such as raising capital, generating revenue, hiring employees, forming a board of directors, testing the commercial viability of a product or service, and moving a product or service into the market. JumpStart also has its own fund and invests early stage dollars in Northeast Ohio-based companies positioned to excel in high opportunity markets, focusing on entrepreneurs with novel, innovative technologies.

Ka-Zoo Angels formed as an affiliate of Grand Angels in August 2017. Together Ka-Zoo and Grand Angels have created a larger presence in Michigan to efficiently deploy more capital in the startup space. Ka-Zoo Angels has seen 15 pitches and has invested $385,000 in seven companies. The organization measures impact through business growth, job creation, and the attraction and retention of talent to West Michigan.

KCRise Fund is a co-investment fund which co-invests with institutional venture capital investors in early stage companies based in the Greater Kansas City area.

Invest KOREA (IK), Korea’s national investment promotion agency, was established as part of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) to support the entry and establishment of foreign businesses in South Korea by providing comprehensive services to foreign businesses, including consultations, assistance with investment and corporate establishments, support for business activities in Korea and grievance resolution.

Kyyba Xcelerator -- a global second stage accelerator. At Kyyba Xcelerator our team members are dedicated to one thing only, the success of our entrepreneurs with whom we collaborate. We are a diverse team of individuals where each of us brings in years of experience, different perspective and business, technical, and legal expertise.

Lakeshore Advantage is the nonprofit economic development organization serving Ottawa County in West Michigan. It provides a full range of economic development services for companies doing business in Ottawa County. Also, see the profile for Holland SmartZone.

The Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) is a coalition of area leaders committed to building a prosperous and vibrant region where businesses can thrive. To do this, LEAP helps entrepreneurs start new businesses, help existing businesses grow, and attract new businesses to the region.

Lenawee Now is a nonprofit organization dedicated to economic and business expansion throughout Lenawee County. By attracting new businesses, helping to grow established businesses, and supporting entrepreneurial endeavors in Lenawee, Lenawee Now is creating an economically viable and vibrant region. In addition to business attraction, retention and start-up activities, Lenawee Now provides critical services to support business growth including access to funding sources and talent enhancement.

Lilly Ventures is a corporate venture fund spun out from Eli Lilly. It focuses its investments in great companies with compelling life science innovations. They invest in early stage biotech companies, particularly those that can create multiple drugs. They partner actively with their portfolio company management teams and provide intellectual, as well as financial, resources to accelerate the path to success.

Lorient Capital manages permanent capital for a high-net worth family providing long-term alignment with our portfolio companies as well as unique flexibility in decision making and structuring. We deploy capital in industry leading companies where we can provide added value post-close, and due to the structure of our fund, we are able to bring a unique creativity to our transaction approach.

Lake Superior State University (LSSU) Product Development Center offers prototyping and engineering services, provided by students and managed by administrative professional staff with extensive industrial, manufacturing and entrepreneurial experience. LSSU engineering students get real world project experience, and clients benefit from economical engineering services. The related LSSU Business Development Center can provide business plan support, marketing, and other similar services.

Ludlow operates differently because it's a different kind of VC. It believes in VC without ego. The team wears their hearts on their sleeves, avoiding the puffery and posturing that has given venture capital a bad name. The firm funds the dreams of entrepreneurs and startups, becoming close friends with all of the teams they invest in. VC is a customer service business; whether it’s testing product, leveraging their network, or forcing people to download a company's app, they're here to help.

M25 Group is a Midwest, seed-stage micro-VC firm. Our mission statement is: M25 Group seeks to responsibly steward our investors’ capital by sourcing alternative investments with substantial potential to multiply.

The Macomb-Oakland University Incubator supports economic development in Southeast Michigan by accelerating high-tech businesses, cultivating academic innovation and encouraging research and development in the targeted industries of defense, homeland security, advanced manufacturing, and technology. Its mission is to provide comprehensive development and support services to startup and emerging businesses, support an entrepreneurial climate, commercialize new technologies, attract investment, and create new jobs. In addition, Mac-OU Inc manages the publicly-accessible, unclassified Velocity Hub of the Michigan Cyber Range (MCR), powered by the Merit Network, the first-of-its-kind, connected-to-an-incubator program targeted towards startup companies in Michigan.

MadDog Technology is a venture operator and investor. In addition to investing, the company partners with venture capital firms and entrepreneurs to immediately complete the full team required to elevate each venture to expansion-round funding or the next level. MadDog Technology specializes in advanced technology and mobile device development.

McPherson Commercial Capital (MCC) provides capital and funding solutions for businesses of all types. These may include equipment financing or leasing or working capital financing in the form of asset based loans as well as assisting and advising our clients in regard to real estate loans or leases and in raising equity in the form of capital, mezzanine, or subordinated debt. MCC provides services to businesses in a spectrum of industries including: Chain Restaurants Franchised Businesses Retailing Wholesaling Broadcasting Manufacturing/Industrial Medical/Dental Real Estate Developers and Owners

Mercury is an early-stage venture capital firm. Mercury focuses on entrepreneurs and technology innovation originating in the U.S. Midcontinent. Its investment themes target SaaS, Cloud, and Data Science/AI platforms. Over a decade ago, Mercury recognized the rise of entrepreneurs and innovation in the underinvested Midcontinent. The firm's venture investment strategy leverages its unparalleled network of midcontinent startup development organizations, corporate innovation partners, and co-investors to assist entrepreneurs with the resources they need to rapidly scale their businesses. The firm believes now, more than ever, the Midcontinent represents a great venture capital opportunity.

Mercury is an early-stage venture capital firm. Mercury focuses on entrepreneurs and technology innovation originating in the U.S. Midcontinent. Its investment themes target SaaS, Cloud, and Data Science/AI platforms. Over a decade ago, Mercury recognized the rise of entrepreneurs and innovation in the underinvested Midcontinent. The firm's venture investment strategy leverages its unparalleled network of midcontinent startup development organizations, corporate innovation partners, and co-investors to assist entrepreneurs with the resources they need to rapidly scale their businesses. The firm believes now, more than ever, the Midcontinent represents a great venture capital opportunity.

Mi-Light is a nonprofit trade association that serves as the focal point for the photonics industry in Michigan, bringing together professionals from companies, academia and organizations, dedicated to mutually supporting, promoting and growing Michigan’s photonics industry. Mi-Light’s mission is to promote and grow Michigan's internationally-recognized talent pool and leverage strong industrial and academic capabilities in order to expand the photonics industry, attract funding and stimulate innovation in the state.

Michigan Accelerator Fund I invests in promising early stage Michigan-based companies with the goal of achieving significant, long-term capital appreciation for investors. Prime investment candidates have novel, potentially game-changing technologies, are capital efficient, have near-term market impact, and fill an unmet market need.

Michigan Angel Fund provides funding to capital-efficient early-stage companies located in Michigan. The fund works closely with other stakeholders in the Michigan entrepreneurial ecosystem to ensure that it invests in the most promising companies and to ensure the future success of those companies and its investments.

Michigan Association for Female Entrepreneurs (MAFE) is a nonprofit, membership-based organization committed to supporting and promoting the economic growth and advancement of women business owners in Michigan. MAFE provides opportunities for female entrepreneurs, in both new development and growth-stages of their businesses to build their entrepreneurial capacity through educational programs focused on sustainable business growth and development. MAFE gives women entrepreneurs the opportunity to expand their influence and increase their visibility by providing a forum where business women can unite, network, and leverage best practices.

The Michigan Biomedical Venture Fund (MBVF) invests in biomedical startup companies with U-M licensed IP in the domain of therapeutics, devices, diagnostics, or health IT. The MBVF is a collaborative effort between the U-M College of Engineering’s Center for Entrepreneurship (CFE) and U-M Medical School’s Fast Forward Medical Innovation program (FFMI) program.

MichBio is the statewide biosciences industry association in Michigan. It represents the interests of over 1,700 companies, organizations and institutions across the agri-/industrial biotech, medical devices and equipment, pharmaceuticals and therapeutics, research and testing, and distribution/logistics sectors. MichBio offers its members various resources and programs, educational and networking events, business-to-business connections, marketing and promotion, information and business intelligence, talent recruitment and retention support, and advocacy on public policy. Its mission of “driving bio-industry growth” is meant to create strong economic benefits statewide and ensure that Michigan is a global leader in biosciences research, development, and manufacturing.

Michigan Business Innovation Association (MBIA) is comprised of the state's best business incubators, accelerators, co-working spaces, maker spaces, economic development partners, and entrepreneurial support professionals who are focused on creating jobs and developing Michigan's local economies. The MBIA provides a supportive entrepreneurial environment that stimulates the growth of business to ensure economic vitality and encourage job creation.

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, talent and jobs, tourism, film and digital media, arts and cultural grants, and overall economic growth. The MEDC offers a number of business assistance services and capital programs for business attraction and acceleration, talent enhancement, and urban and community development.

Southeastern Michigan’s premier wet lab incubator and innovation center, the Michigan Life Science & Innovation Center is a 70,000 square foot life science incubator complete with state-of-the-art wet labs, a 13-bed Phase 1 Clinical Trial facility, well-appointed offices and conference rooms, ample parking, and every possible business amenity. Tenants include very early stage start-ups through growth stage companies; life science leaders provide plenty of opportunities for mentoring, networking and expertise sharing.

The Michigan Research Institute provides wet lab and office space in addition to services for startups and growing biotech companies.

The Michigan Small Business Development Center (SBDC) enhances Michigan’s economic well-being by providing counseling, financial prep, training, secondary market research, and technology commercialization services to new and existing small businesses and advanced technology companies. With 11 offices statewide, the SBDC positively impacts the economy by strengthening existing companies, creating new jobs, retaining existing jobs, and assisting companies in defining their path to success. The SBDC also administers Michigan’s Business Accelerator Fund and Emerging Technology Fund.

The Michigan Small Business Development Center (SBDC) enhances Michigan’s economic well-being by providing counseling, financial prep, training, secondary market research, and technology commercialization services to new and existing small businesses and advanced technology companies. With 11 offices statewide, the SBDC positively impacts the economy by strengthening existing companies, creating new jobs, retaining existing jobs, and assisting companies in defining their path to success. The SBDC also administers Michigan’s Business Accelerator Fund and Emerging Technology Fund.

The Michigan Unmanned Aerial Systems Consortium (MUASC) is a 501(c)(3) organization offering a large spectrum of services and equipment vital to UAS manufacturers, operators and organizations performing research & development. MUASC provides turnkey flight operation services including all FAA requirements related to flight activity, Certificates of Waiver Authorization or COAs, and documentation for FAA certified independent evaluation processes. MUSAC is a partner of the NUAIR Alliance based out of New York. A coalition of more than 200 private and public entities and academic institutions working together to operate and oversee Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) testing.

Michigan Venture Capital Association (MVCA) is a nonprofit trade organization designed to increase the amount of capital and talent available to venture and angel investors for the funding of Michigan’s most innovative entrepreneurs, as well as to work closely with them to transform breakthrough ideas into new companies and industries that drive Michigan job creation and economic growth. MVCA membership includes private and corporate venture capital funds, angel investors, universities and economic development participants, and service providers. More than 400 individuals are members of MVCA, representing over 100 organizations across the nation.

Michigan Women's Foundation (MWF) works to eliminate the barriers to economic and social equality by developing a scalable model across Michigan that provides assess to capital and a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem for women starting and growing businesses with the goal of preparing them to qualify for traditional funding sources. MWF is helping women achieve economic and social equality by providing access to entrepreneurial training, capital and resources to start or grow their businesses.

Midland Tomorrow is a private, nonprofit 501©(3) founded in 1963 as the Midland Economic Development Corporation. The organization's mission has always been to enhance the quality of life in the County of Midland, Michigan, and its municipalities, through the retention and creation of quality jobs and diversification of the economic base.

Midland Tomorrow is a private, nonprofit 501©(3) founded in 1963 as the Midland Economic Development Corporation. Our mission has always been to enhance the quality of life in the County of Midland, Michigan, and its municipalities, through the retention and creation of quality jobs and diversification of the economic base.

MiQuest collaborates with business development, economic development and membership organizations across the state to introduce growth-stage companies from all industries to support resources, opportunities for CEO peer networking and learning, and increased media exposure. By supporting and promoting programs, events, and competitions such as Michigan 50 Companies to Watch, CEO Growth Symposiums, and Michigan Growth Capital Symposium, MiQuest connects entrepreneurs to relevant and timely resources. MiQuest researches and publishes the annual Michigan Entrepreneurship Score Card, which has benchmarked metrics across 50 states and has provided a measure of the state’s entrepreneurial vitality, climate, and change over the past 12 years.

MK Capital offers multi-stage growth equity and venture capital to innovative software and cloud services companies that accelerate the transformation to a digital economy. As members of the MK Capital portfolio, companies get access to a dedicated partner with deep operating experience. The firm leverages insights from a strong understanding of its sectors to help its portfolio companies grow.

MK Capital offers multi-stage growth equity and venture capital to innovative software and cloud services companies that accelerate the transformation to a digital economy. As members of the MK Capital portfolio, companies get access to a dedicated partner with deep operating experience. The firm leverages insights from a strong understanding of its sectors to help its portfolio companies grow.

The Mobile Technology Association of Michigan (MTAM) is a nonprofit trade association for Michigan's mobile/wireless (connected) technologies industry, businesses that provide these technologies, and the businesses - in all industries - that use these technologies. They are the first state-based mobile/wireless (connected) technologies trade association in the United States and are focused on increasing demand for Michigan-based mobile/wireless technology products and services within the state, nationally and globally, thereby generating increased entrepreneurial and enterprise-level opportunities and creating sustainable jobs in Michigan. MTAM sponsors Michigan-based growth of the Mobile Monday organization which to-date boasts 3000+ members in chapters located in Ann Arbor, Detroit, Grand Rapids and Lansing; performs research for members and other interested parties; facilitates idea sharing, entrepreneurial programs, training programs and jobs creation; acts as a liaison with the mobile/wireless tech community inside/outside of Michigan; and serves as a resource for all things related to mobile/wireless (connected) technologies.

The Mobile Technology Association of Michigan (MTAM) is a nonprofit trade association for Michigan's mobile/wireless (connected) technologies industry, businesses that provide these technologies, and the businesses - in all industries - that use these technologies. They are the first state-based mobile/wireless (connected) technologies trade association in the United States and are focused on increasing demand for Michigan-based mobile/wireless technology products and services within the state, nationally and globally, thereby generating increased entrepreneurial and enterprise-level opportunities and creating sustainable jobs in Michigan. MTAM sponsors Michigan-based growth of the Mobile Monday organization which to-date boasts 3000+ members in chapters located in Ann Arbor, Detroit, Grand Rapids and Lansing; performs research for members and other interested parties; facilitates idea sharing, entrepreneurial programs, training programs and jobs creation; acts as a liaison with the mobile/wireless tech community inside/outside of Michigan; and serves as a resource for all things related to mobile/wireless (connected) technologies.

The Mobile Technology Association of Michigan (MTAM) is a nonprofit trade association for Michigan's mobile/wireless (connected) technologies industry, businesses that provide these technologies, and the businesses - in all industries - that use these technologies. They are the first state-based mobile/wireless (connected) technologies trade association in the United States and are focused on increasing demand for Michigan-based mobile/wireless technology products and services within the state, nationally and globally, thereby generating increased entrepreneurial and enterprise-level opportunities and creating sustainable jobs in Michigan. MTAM sponsors Michigan-based growth of the Mobile Monday organization which to-date boasts 3000+ members in chapters located in Ann Arbor, Detroit, Grand Rapids and Lansing; performs research for members and other interested parties; facilitates idea sharing, entrepreneurial programs, training programs and jobs creation; acts as a liaison with the mobile/wireless tech community inside/outside of Michigan; and serves as a resource for all things related to mobile/wireless (connected) technologies.

The Mobile Technology Association of Michigan (MTAM) is a nonprofit trade association for Michigan's mobile/wireless (connected) technologies industry, businesses that provide these technologies, and the businesses - in all industries - that use these technologies. They are the first state-based mobile/wireless (connected) technologies trade association in the United States and are focused on increasing demand for Michigan-based mobile/wireless technology products and services within the state, nationally and globally, thereby generating increased entrepreneurial and enterprise-level opportunities and creating sustainable jobs in Michigan. MTAM sponsors Michigan-based growth of the Mobile Monday organization which to-date boasts 3000+ members in chapters located in Ann Arbor, Detroit, Grand Rapids and Lansing; performs research for members and other interested parties; facilitates idea sharing, entrepreneurial programs, training programs and jobs creation; acts as a liaison with the mobile/wireless tech community inside/outside of Michigan; and serves as a resource for all things related to mobile/wireless (connected) technologies.

Motus Ventures is a seed stage venture capital fund and business accelerator focusing on the intersection of three industries key to the future of modern civilization: Transportation, Small Infrastructure, Internet of Things (IOT).

Designed to help both newer and established companies overcome business hurdles, the Conquer Accelerator emphasizes smart planning and growth. Built with a strong bench of more than 40 entrepreneur and business leader mentors, each of the ten weeks in the Conquer program focuses on completing specific goals, as well as working with mentors and instructors on topics like fundraising, technology, and sustainability. The Conquer Accelerator is a collaborative effort between Michigan State University, the MSU Foundation, Spartan Innovations and MSU Federal Credit Union.

Michigan State University Entrepreneurship Association is a registered student organization open to all majors who are passionate about creating solutions to real world problems. Services and resources offered include monthly meetings to share and collaborate on ideas, networking with peers, talks with industry professionals, road trips involving business competitions, conferences, and more. This is a great organization to meet like-minded motivated individuals. Membership is open to all.

The Financial Markets Institute at Michigan State University provides comprehensive training to a select group of highly motivated finance and accounting students at the Broad College of Business. Admission to the institute is based on each individual’s academic success, informed desire to pursue a career in the financial services industry, and demonstrated potential to achieve established goals.

Michigan State University (MSU) Innovation Center creates economic value for Michigan from MSU’s intellectual assets through partnering with Michigan companies in R&D, capturing MSU innovations and licensing them for commercial use at existing companies, and starting new companies based on MSU intellectual property and/or MSU student innovations. MSU Innovation Center is a hub for faculty and student experiential learning and creating new startups in Michigan.

MSU Technologies (MSUT) is Michigan State University’s technology transfer and commercialization office. MSUT facilitates the commercial development and public use of technologies and copyrightable materials developed by MSU faculty and staff. Housed within the MSU Innovation Center, MSUT moves MSU’s technologies from the lab to the marketplace to improve lives and communities locally, regionally, and around the world.

MTEC is a Michigan SmartZone supporting the commercialization of technologies and related needs emerging from Michigan Technological University and the Houghton/Hancock area.

The MTRAC Innovation Hub for Advanced Materials at Michigan Tech University is a grant program supported by Michigan Tech University and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation with the goal of offering gap funding for proof-of-concept, prototype development and other activities appropriate for early stage technologies. Milestones are designed to create opportunities for significant outside funding or licensing. Institutions of higher education, non-profit research centers, and hospital systems throughout the State of Michigan are eligible to submit proposals.

The MTRAC Innovation Hub for Advanced Transportation at the University of Michigan is a grant program supported by the University of Michigan and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation with the goal of offering gap funding for translational research applications in advanced transportation materials, robotics and autonomy, sensors, electric vehicle drivetrain/propulsion, software/controls/data, and advanced manufacturing processes. The mission of this program is to advance transportation technologies that address poorly met market needs. Since 2013, U-M housed the MTRAC Advanced Transportation program and accelerated the commercial development of mobility projects. Institutions of higher education, nonprofit research centers, and hospital systems throughout the State of Michigan are eligible to submit proposals.

The MTRAC Innovation Hub for Life Sciences at the University of Michigan is a grant program supported by the University of Michigan and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation with the goal of providing mid-stage, translational research funding and resources to identify, nurture, and “fast forward” projects with a high potential for commercial success. Projects funded by MTRAC enhance the internal innovation pipeline for long-term success in commercialization. And while invention reports and IP licensing are important milestones for MTRAC projects, positive impacts to human health — as well as job creation — are the ultimate measures of success. Institutions of higher education, nonprofit research centers, and hospital systems throughout the State of Michigan are eligible to submit proposals.

The MTRAC Innovation Hub for Ag & Bio at Michigan State University is a program supported by Michigan State University and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation that provides funding, support, and guidance to facilitate the development of agricultural, food and natural resource technologies from the laboratory benchtop to the point where they can be successfully commercialized via a licensee to a startup or existing company. Researchers from state institutions of higher education, nonprofit research centers, and hospital systems throughout Michigan are eligible to submit proposals.

The Michigan Tech Innovation Center for Entrepreneurship is a campus-based early-stage innovation and entrepreneurship center, which provides services and events in support of early stage entrepreneurs, innovators, and companies. Support programs include I-Corps and other training activities, pitch competition support, networking events, access to mentors, and general startup counseling. Programs are targeted to students and researchers at Michigan Tech but are open to the public and conducted in close collaboration with community-based partners including the Small Business Development Center, MTEC SmartZone, and Innovate Marquette.

The Michigan Tech Office of Innovation and Industry Engagement (IIE) works closely with startups and established companies to identify commercial needs and match them with research discoveries, technologies, and faculty expertise that can help overcome technical challenges or present new market opportunities. IIE can act as a single point of entry to craft a relationship which maximizes the value of research and technology development investment from its partners.

Muskegon Angels is a member-led organization committed to finding, funding, and mentoring great young companies from pitch through successful exit. Its priority is job creation, with a particular emphasis on Muskegon-area development.

The National Center for Manufacturing Sciences fuels innovative solutions for manufacturers. A nonprofit, member-based consortium, the organization’s objective is to drive the global competitiveness of North American Manufacturers through collaboration, innovation, and advanced technologies.

The New Economy Initiative (NEI) is the largest philanthropy-led economic development initiative in the U.S. working to build a regional network of support for entrepreneurs and small businesses. NEI makes grants (over $150 million since 2008) to entrepreneurial service providers that are helping all types of businesses grow and thrive in metro Detroit. Equity and Inclusion are guiding principles of NEI's investments. A special project of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, NEI is supported by 13 national and local foundations.

The New Enterprise Forum (NEF) is an all-volunteer organization of experienced service providers, entrepreneurs, and executives. The organization provides coaching, at no cost to startup entrepreneurs, to perfect their investor pitches. They critique and provide insights on the pitch’s content, including both business and investor perspectives, to help the team succeed. The organization also helps companies connect with local and regional investors as well as other resources. Startups have the opportunity to present their pitch to the entrepreneurial community at one of NEF’s monthly Forum meetings, with follow-on distribution of their executive summary to NEF’s curated list of investors.

Next Coast Ventures focuses on supporting the best entrepreneurs in the world as they build their businesses. Instead of focusing on sectors, its investment strategy focuses on thematic investing where the firm is constantly reflecting on what it sees in the marketplace. The firm especially likes to invest in entrepreneurs who are building disruptive companies in big industries. Next Coast’s focus is Series A and Series B rounds. The firm looks to lead rounds and take board seats where appropriate.

Founded in 2002 as 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, NextEnergy is an innovation center accelerating advanced energy, mobility, and built environment technologies to enable smarter and more sustainable cities. Since its inception, NextEnergy has worked with more than 400 companies, universities, federal agencies, and philanthropic organizations to drive more than $1.5 billion in advanced energy and mobility technology investments.

North Coast invests in early-stage, technology-driven companies, primarily in the Midwest. Its goal is to work with talented entrepreneurs who want to build great companies. They do this by focusing on a long-term and sustainable plan, creating rapid growth through access to capital, and being good partners.

North Coast invests in early-stage, technology-driven companies, primarily in the Midwest. Its goal is to work with talented entrepreneurs who want to build great companies. They do this by focusing on a long-term and sustainable plan, creating rapid growth through access to capital, and being good partners.

Northern Michigan Angels is a premier network of successful entrepreneurs and business leaders in Northern Michigan who provide accredited investment capital, strategic advice, and mentoring to early-stage companies. The mission of the angel group is to help grow the economic base of Northern Michigan and to provide members an outstanding financial return on their time and invested capital.

Middle market investment bank and investment firm. We have interests in healthcare, natural resources, agriculture, and biotechnology. We believe the future is in the road less traveled, and are opportunistic looking to back people, ideas, and entrepreneurs, and not a secular market vertical or a pre-defined revenue/EBITDA model. We like working with creative, smart, ethical people, and enjoying the process of building a company together.

Novus Biotechnology Fund 1 is an investment partnership with offices in Kalamazoo, Michigan and suburban Chicago. The purpose of the targeted $10 million fund is to achieve significant, long-term capital appreciation for its investors through investments in early stage biotech companies. The fund will focus on innovative solutions having a positive economic impact on health care expenditures; technologies which will not only have clinical utility but ultimately lower healthcare costs for the system as a whole.

The NSF Applied Research Center (ARC) is NSF International’s research and development arm, providing custom R&D services to academia, industry, and government. Services include proof-of-concept testing, method development, product validation/commercialization, next generation sequencing, clinical health services, toxicology, and risk assessment. The ARC furthers NSF’s mission of public health and safety by supporting scientific innovation and leadership. The ARC forms strategic partnerships with academia (researchers and tech transfer centers), industry (startups through Fortune 500 companies) and regulatory bodies for research and development to promote innovative public health solutions in the food, water, healthcare, sustainable products and consumer goods sectors.

Oakland County provides workforce development assistance, site location assistance, local and state incentive coordination, debt funding packaging, SBA 504 loan funding, and expat services. Oakland County initiatives Medical Main Street and Tech248 directly engage the health/life sciences and IT sectors by hosting networking events, supporting the success of businesses in Oakland County, and offering fresh ideas regarding talent attraction solutions.

The Oakland County One Stop Shop Business Center provides education, one-on-one consulting, and connections to Oakland County-based small businesses. The team has over 70 years of experience working with small businesses and specializes in helping companies grow. Through advanced marketing, financial, and management tools, clients get critical information to help them make better decisions about their business, secure capital, expand into new markets, find talent, improve processes, and grow profit.

OCEAN is the first independent, faith-based accelerator in the United States. Each year, we select 10 high-potential startups for a 5-month journey that builds solid infrastructure, deepens character, attracts investors and set the course for long-term success

Concentrating on Series A investments, our typical first check size is $1M-$3M. We look for companies in large, growing categories which have demonstrated product/market fit. We also back exceptional entrepreneurs in earlier stages who disrupt or create markets through unconventional, innovative approaches. We are focused on the following industry sectors: software, content, and marketplaces.

OU INC is a state-designated SmartZone business incubator and technology accelerator. OU INC’s mission is to advance the economic strength of the region by transforming industry and university innovations into commercial successes. Its vision is to be recognized as an integral contributor to Southeast Michigan’s success as a global hub of high-tech companies led by the best and brightest minds.

Plymouth Growth Partners (formerly Plymouth Ventures) invests in growth stage businesses throughout the Great Lakes region. With over 100 years of combined investing experience, Plymouth takes a flexible approach to partnering with management teams, helping to drive growth, build value and realize full potential. Plymouth focuses on B2B product and services companies that have a scalable technology and proven growth. Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Plymouth Growth Partners has over $140 million under management and is actively investing out of its fourth fund.

We help our clients quickly realize deal synergies for their acquisitions using our accelerated integration approach, allowing a swift return to "business as usual".

Operating from its 33,000 square foot building in Corktown, Ponyride is a catalyst for deploying social capital to a diverse group of artists, creative entrepreneurs, and makers who are committed to working together to make communities in Detroit sustainable.

Pritzker Group comprises three professional investment teams: private capital, technology venture capital and asset management. nlike private equity and venture capital firms with traditional limited partner structures, Pritzker Group’s permanent capital base brings significant advantages, including alignment with management teams, efficient decision-making and flexible transaction structures.

A group of experienced investors committed to helping the region grow and it is the longest-running organized angel group in the entire region. Among our investors are numerous business leaders from the Greater Cincinnati area including many former CEOs and founders of successful companies. We are eager to apply our talents and expertise to mentoring and coaching as well as funding the right ventures. Committed to providing ongoing guidance to our portfolio companies, we assist with business development, strategic planning, capital raising, and management team building.

The foundation created by the late Ralph C. Wilson, Jr., longtime owner of the NFL's Buffalo Bills franchise, plans to dedicate more than $1.2 billion over the next 20 years to sustained investment in the quality of life of the people of western New York and southeastern Michigan. The foundation will focus its grant making on five causes that resonated with Wilson in his lifetime — healthy lifestyles; early childhood and youth development; education, training, and success for young adults and working-class families; education, training, and support for caregivers; and community development, regional economic growth, and nonprofit sector productivity.

re:purpose is a curated marketplace that matches highly curated talent with startup companies. We leverage our placement algorithm and curation team to make matches. We are the only company in the world that matches based on culture. Yes, we’ll match based on role and compensation, too. But that’s the easy stuff! We want everyone to be able to pursue their passions and be a part of something greater than themselves.

Red Cedar Ventures, the venture investment arm of the Michigan State University Foundation, focuses on growing startup companies created by MSU faculty, staff, and students. Red Cedar Ventures manages two funds—a $3.5M Pre-Seed Fund and a $5M Opportunity Fund—and participates at any financing stage.

Renaissance Venture Capital Fund (RVCF) is an innovative venture capital fund-of-funds formed by some of Michigan’s most important organizations to profitably invest in the growth of ground breaking Michigan technologies and companies. RVCF provides capital that increases entrepreneurial activity and creates a strategic connection between innovative young companies and Michigan’s strong business and industrial base, providing benefit to both communities and increasing the financial success of the RVCF’s investments.

Resonant Venture Partners is a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage companies developing security, industrial IoT and cloud-based products and services.

River Cities invests in world-class management teams, backing progressive, proven leaders in the markets of healthcare and information technology. River Cities participates as a trusted partner side-by-side with company executives, investing significant human capital to leverage what the team has learned from its successes as well as its mistakes during the course of more than 100 investments. With over $500 million of capital raised and a 20-year track record of success, River Cities has established itself as a preferred source of growth capital.

River Cities invests in world-class management teams, backing progressive, proven leaders in the markets of healthcare and information technology. River Cities participates as a trusted partner side-by-side with company executives, investing significant human capital to leverage what the team has learned from its successes as well as its mistakes during the course of more than 100 investments. With over $500 million of capital raised and a 20-year track record of success, River Cities has established itself as a preferred source of growth capital.

RPM Ventures, founded in 2000, is a seed and early-stage venture firm that focuses on investing in B2B enterprise solutions, online marketplaces, and, its specialty, automotive IT (which includes connected car, mobility, and transportation). The firm has a deep commitment to its portfolio CEOs and focuses on markets and models where its specific expertise can make a significant impact on the growth of the business – a reflection of RPM’s relationship-driven approach.

S2G Ventures (Seed 2 Growth) is a multi-stage food and agriculture venture fund investing in entrepreneurs whose products and services meet the shifting demands for healthy and sustainable food. S2G looks for companies that can take leadership positions in emerging and fast growing sectors in food and agriculture.

SSMart is a Michigan SmartZone located in Sault Ste. Marie, which provides support to technology-based companies in collaboration with MEDC strategic service providers, MI-SBDC, and local and regional economic development agencies.

Funding the Future of Work. Investing in the people and technologies that are modernizing how we work, create and interact.

Seamless is a global commercialization program, pairing startups with large enterprises to bring smart, connected things to market. This first-of-its-kind collaboration merges the best from startup culture and enterprise expertise.

Serra Ventures is an early stage venture capital firm investing in technology companies in emerging Midwest technology centers and selected other geographies. Sectors we focus on include information technology, devices/instrumentation and agricultural technologies.

Shell Ventures targets startups and Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) from their early stages to their scale and growth phases. It makes minority investments that help to develop new technologies or disruptive business models in areas of strategic interest to Shell’s businesses.Investing in venture funds and incubators is also critical to expanding our scanning capabilities, making introductions to great companies and potential investment opportunities.

We are a Global Incubator That Focuses on Innovative Technologies and Great People Sky7Ventures provides seed, venture, and growth-stage funding to the best companies. We provide these companies unparalleled support in design, recruiting, marketing, and more.

Southwest Michigan First is an organization of privately funded economic development advisors who act as the catalyst for economic success in Southwest Michigan. Founded in 1999 on the principle that the most powerful force for change is a well-paying job, the organization works across all industries throughout the seven counties making up the Southwest Michigan Region. Looking to expand, locate or start something new? Southwest Michigan First’s people and services are focused on connecting community capital to respond to its customers’ needs, wants and desires to generate meaningful results. Community driven, Southwest Michigan First is committed to company growth, government and education alignment, acceleration of its vibrant core communities, talent development and communication of its regional advantages.

Southeast Michigan Entrepreneurs Association is a member-based organization focused on providing entrepreneurs with vital support through mastermind groups. Mastermind groups allow entrepreneurs to brainstorm, problem solve, learn and grow with like-minded entrepreneurs and small business owners. Meetings are held once a month.

Spartan Innovations is a venture development organization turning inventions created at Michigan State University into successful businesses. Programs include Conquer Accelerator, Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, Greenlight Business Model Competition, The Hatch, The Hatch Dev Shop, Mentors, Sparta Hack, Venture Fellows, and many more.

To make strategic investments in organizations whose products, projects or services will drive innovative health solutions, create alternative revenue streams and align with Spectrum Health System’s Mission and Vision.

SR One is the corporate venture capital arm of GlaxoSmithKline. The firm invests globally in emerging life science companies that are pursuing innovative science which will significantly impact medical care. We have a team of investment professionals, located in the US and UK. As a Team, our experience spans basic science, industry and the market. We take an active role in our portfolio companies and work with management teams and our fellow venture investors to create significant value. Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2015, SR One has invested $1B in more than 170 companies, and its current portfolio includes 40 private and public companies. Our expanded remit also focuses on maximizing the value of GSK technological innovation to establish new businesses and revenue opportunities across a range of industries.

Port Huron

Start Garden originated in 2012 to fund fast growing startups at their very earliest stages. Now, it operates as three different entities. Wakestream Ventures focuses on early-stage investing in the Internet of Things (IoT) space. Start Garden Foundation is a 501c3 to make entrepreneurship more accessible for everyone in West Michigan. Lastly, Start Garden is a management company administering the Grand Rapids SmartZone and running the Seamless program that bridges new IoT startups to regional enterprises.

We invest in the building blocks of automated systems—starting with the very first check.

Tamarind Hill provides entrepreneurial stage capital to fast-growing, recurring revenue model, software-enabled companies addressing healthcare business needs or supply chain efficiencies. The firm focuses on opportunities throughout the lower Great Lakes region from its Ann Arbor and Columbus offices. Tamarind Hill is often the lead institutional investor in a Series A round with check size from $1.0-2.5 million; it also participates with smaller investments in earlier rounds to partner with Series A prospects. The firm has significant experience with entrepreneurial stage companies and knows where it can add value by challenging but not second-guessing management.

Tappan Hill invests in B2B software that solves difficult problems in large markets. Tappan Hill is industry agnostic and invests anywhere in the United States.

TC New Tech’s event is free and open to the public. From Traverse City to Alpena, Sault Ste. Marie to Grand Rapids – all are welcome! Up to five presenters each month will take the stage to highlight their new tech products or business ventures. Each presenter will be allowed five minutes to present and five minutes of Q&A (time limits will be politely enforced). Between presenters, the audience is allowed to make brief announcements for things such as job openings, persons seeking employment, and other events happening in the area related to technology. An optional informal social hour is after the meeting for further discussion and networking. The audience is typically made up of technology-minded people and consists mostly of programmers, IT staff, people looking for opportunities for their tech companies, tech companies looking for staff, individuals looking for investment opportunities, startup founders looking for investors, and tech geeks that like learning about new offerings. Meetings are held monthly on the first Tuesday of every month at 6:00 pm and will last no longer than 75 minutes… guaranteed! The presenter line-up is announced one week before the meetup. The goal of the meetings is to facilitate networking and interaction among technology enthusiasts in northern Michigan.

Techstars Mobility invests in startups building technologies and innovative business models that impact how people and goods move across all modes of transportation (including pedestrian). Dominant mobility themes include autonomous, connected, shared, and electric. This program encompasses a wide range of industries including automotive, trucking, transportation, smart city, energy, logistics, supply chain, and travel. Techstars Mobility runs in downtown Detroit.

TechTown is Detroit’s most established business accelerator and incubator. At TechTown Detroit, powerful connections are made to a broad network of resources, catalyzing entire communities of entrepreneurs best poised to energize the local economy. Through both tech-based and place-based entrepreneurship support programs and technical assistance, TechTown Detroit strives to deliver both economic and community development strategies that bolster the local and state-based economies.

TGap Ventures serves entrepreneurs throughout the Midwest by helping them define, develop, grow, and build value in their businesses. The TGap team is a mix of successful venture capitalists, managers, and entrepreneurs with aptitudes, experience, empathy, realism and patience required to build great businesses from, and add value to, developing companies. TGap invests in medical devices, software, media, specialty manufacturing, and services.

The A2 Startup Garage is a coworking space in downtown Ann Arbor dedicated to helping early-stage startups make an impact.

The Ascent Group is a technology investment fund headquarted in Detroit, MI.

The Enterprise Group of Jackson, Inc. (EG) was established in 1997 to lead business recruitment and retention in Jackson County. The EG is a nonprofit private/public partnership organized to promote and coordinate economic development initiatives and create wealth within Jackson County.

The Hire Effect™ (THE) gives business owners the power to build a stronger business, living success every day with a stronger team. We co-design THE Right Fit™, THE Obstacle Course™ and THE Proof™ through a two day work session – THE Certification™. Once your team is certified, you’ll hire the right person – every time.

The Right Place is a primary source for business success in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It is a private, nonprofit economic development organization that has led West Michigan's economic growth for over 30 years. It provides business growth assistance to both local and international companies including site location services, connections to regional supply chain and service providers, regional business tours, consultation on state and local business incentives, and more.

Since 2006, The Starting Block has served as West Michigan's nonprofit regional kitchen incubator and entrepreneurial center. As a shared-use facility, it helps entrepreneurs start their food-related businesses at reasonable rentals without the initial investment in costly facilities and equipment. The Starting Block offers low-cost kitchen rental, refrigerated, frozen, and dry storage, warehouse space, and office rental. From product development to marketing and outreach, it provides the assistance and support to help people achieve their business dreams. The Starting Block offers a fully-equipped licensed, commercial kitchen as well as two additional commercial, licensed kitchens for specialty and small-scale production, including a USDA-inspected meat processing facility and a dairy production facility with a pasteurizer. The USDA-inspected meat processing incubator facility is the only one in the state, and one of few in the country. Certified staff in food handling and equipment operation are available for assistance and training. The Starting Block kitchens and meat facility are available for use 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Three Leaf Ventures firmly believes that people’s lives will continue to benefit from the advance of wireless, mobile and communication technology. Combined with a shift in how people think about their health, technological advances will pave the way for a transformation of the current system. Three Leaf Ventures has a dedicated focus to invest with passionate individuals that are aligned with driving this change. Its thesis incorporates three prominent themes: 1.) involving an increasingly pro-active, educated and invested consumer of healthcare; 2.) leveraging significant advances and penetration of wireless and mobile communication technology, and 3.) pursuing a shift to individualized healthcare from population based medicine.

Three Leaf Ventures firmly believes that people’s lives will continue to benefit from the advance of wireless, mobile and communication technology. Combined with a shift in how people think about their health, technological advances will pave the way for a transformation of the current system. Three Leaf Ventures has a dedicated focus to invest with passionate individuals that are aligned with driving this change. Its thesis incorporates three prominent themes: 1.) involving an increasingly pro-active, educated and invested consumer of healthcare; 2.) leveraging significant advances and penetration of wireless and mobile communication technology, and 3.) pursuing a shift to individualized healthcare from population based medicine.

Trucks Venture Capital funds a future of autonomous, connected and shared vehicles. Investments by Trucks partners include: Nauto, Cruise (acquired by GM), Zendrive, Local Motion (acquired by Zipcar), Tactus Technology, and Boosted. Our strategy is to back the entrepreneurs changing transportation. It is now quite clear that the tech giants (Google and Apple), the automotive upstarts (Uber and Tesla), and the automotive incumbents (GM, Ford, VW, and Toyota) are all racing toward the same goal: autonomous, connected, shared vehicles. None of these companies currently have all of the pieces (sensors, maps, driving behaviors, HMI, manufacturing, and distribution), but they collectively have $800B cash on hand and a historic pace of 300 acquisitions per year. Our firm was designed to fund these critical startups that enable the future of transportation.

Therapeutic Systems Research Laboratories (TSRL), Inc. is a privately owned, specialty pharmaceutical firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. A key aspect of our strategy is our Technology Accelerator, an ongoing collaborative process that lends our expertise and capabilities to entrepreneurs seeking to obtain the data and non-dilutive funding necessary to develop and/or commercialize their inventions. One focus is improving existing drug products by applying our versatile prodrug platform technologies to optimize therapy regimen for treating infectious diseases. Potential target indications include: influenza, HSV, VZV, CMV, EBV, poxvirus, HPV, Adenovirus, and RNA viruses.

The U-M Coulter Translational Research Partnership Program is a commercialization fund that seeks to accelerate the development of university technologies into new products to improve health care. The program funds 5-7 projects per year for an average of over $100,000 each. Each project must involve a collaboration between UM faculty from any college of engineering department and a practicing clinician from a clinical department. Each project aims to generate a new medical device, surgical tool, diagnostic assay or other biomedical tool and is mentored by a team of industry experts to guide projects to the point of start-up, partnering with industry, and/or follow-on funding. The program is funded by the proceeds of an endowment from the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation, with a match from the University of Michigan Medical School and UM College of Engineering.

TechArb is the venture accelerator for University of Michigan student entrepreneurs. The program empowers these students to bring their ideas to life outside of the classroom through an intensive entrepreneurial experience. Teams involved in the program should be highly motivated to build and launch their venture. TechArb offers invaluable perks to early stage startups, such as dedicated office space among a community of peers, pairings with seasoned mentors (both regionally and in the Bay Area), access to free legal counsel and design consultation, and opportunities for equity-free funding. Teams are required to attend weekly standup meetings and biweekly office hours, make substantial progress toward their milestones, and take advantage of the resources at their disposal. Early stage companies are encouraged to apply if they are designing a new technology, product, or service, or have identified a market need and are exploring if a business can be created around it. TechArb is a joint initiative between the Center for Entrepreneurship and the Zell Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies, with additional support provided by the University of Michigan Office of Research and Innovate Blue.

The mission of the Center for Entrepreneurship (CFE) is to inspire and transform the University of Michigan community into entrepreneurial thinkers and doers. The CFE provides active learning experiences to all students and faculty at the university through classes and programs that are designed to teach the skills needed to translate high-potential projects and ideas into the world successfully. In learning these skills, individuals become better prepared to identify and act on opportunities to solve problems in any organization, or entrepreneurial endeavor.

The Desai Accelerator is an intensive program of funding, mentorship, and resources to help early-stage ventures scale and succeed. Startups are accepted in cohorts, and the program culminates with a Demo Day, where each team will pitch to investors. The Desai Accelerator is a collaborative effort at the University of Michigan between the Zell Lurie Institute of Entrepreneurial Studies at the Ross School of Business and the Center for Entrepreneurship at the College of Engineering. While the accelerator is a University of Michigan-supported program, applications are open to the public.

Fast Forward Medical Innovation is part of the University of Michigan Medical School. Its team offers resources and support to world-class biomedical researchers at the University of Michigan and across the state, in the realms of diagnostics, therapeutics, devices, and healthcare IT. Fast Forward Medical Innovation's groundbreaking funding programs (including the statewide MTRAC for Life Sciences Hub), dynamic educational offerings, and deep industry connections help biomedical researchers navigate the road to successful innovation and commercialization, with the ultimate goal of positively impacting human health.

University of Michigan (UM) Tech Transfer is responsible for the commercialization of UM technology, licensing and helping to create new startups based on UM IP. The office includes the Tech Transfer Venture Center, the hub for investors and entrepreneurs interested in UM startup opportunities.

Michigan Ross develops leaders who make a positive difference in the world, through top-ranked MBA, bachelor's, and specialty master's programs.

Located within the Ross School of Business, the globally recognized Samuel Zell & Robert H. Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies provides the curriculum, program initiatives, community involvement, and alumni outreach activities that deliver exclusive resources for entrepreneurs at the University of Michigan. The Institute and its Center for Venture Capital and Private Equity Finance bring together a potent mix of knowledge, experience, and opportunities from the front lines of entrepreneurship and alternative investments. The school’s four student-led investment funds, with over $8.5M under management, immerse students in the business assessment and investment process.

The Zell Entrepreneurship and Law Program (ZEAL) at the University of Michigan (UM) Law School offers an Entrepreneur Clinic that provides free legal services to UM student-led startups and other startups in Southeastern Michigan. The clinic also offers legal office hours around the UM campus as well workshops and other legal training activities. ZEAL also provides other law school courses such as the Venture Capital Lab, internships and others.

At the Office for Technology Commercialization (OTC), we help University research move beyond the lab and into the marketplace.

Michigan’s University Research Corridor (URC) is one of the nation’s top academic research clusters and the leading engine for innovation in Michigan and the Great Lakes region. An alliance of Michigan State University, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University, the URC focuses on increasing economic prosperity and connecting Michigan to the world. In 2015, the three URC universities produced $2.15 billion on research and development, granted degrees to more than 34,500 graduates and contributed $16.5 billion to Michigan’s economy. The URC has also cultivated 210 startup companies since 2002. Among the top eight United States academic research clusters to which the URC benchmarks itself each year, the URC ranked second in the Innovation Power Ranking, an index of R&D, talent, and technology transfer metrics. For the second year in a row, the URC has outperformed university innovation clusters in well-known regions such as North Carolina’s Research Triangle, California’s Silicon Valley, and Massachusetts’ Route 128 Corridor. The alliance makes Michigan attractive to business and talent by training the next generation of highly skilled, in demand workers, finding solutions through innovative research, and fostering an array of international business and academic partnerships.

Venture Investors Health Fund makes seed and early-stage venture capital investments in high potential healthcare companies. The firm focuses on the Midwest and has a national reach. It specializes in university spin-outs from Midwest universities, with a focus on the Universities of Michigan and Wisconsin, where its two offices are located.

Venture Investors Health Fund makes seed and early-stage venture capital investments in high potential healthcare companies. The firm focuses on the Midwest and has a national reach. It specializes in university spin-outs from Midwest universities, with a focus on the Universities of Michigan and Wisconsin, where its two offices are located.

Vonzos Partners, a venture capital firm with a high-contact and in-person approach, is redefining the industry. Vonzos is both a VC and strategic business growth firm. We also facilitate a non-profit angel group, Vivify Angels. The Vonzos Partners team of approximately 30 experts from investment, executive management, and technology sectors provides coaching, mentoring, and executive leadership to revenue generating companies in the health and wellness and core technology market segments looking to improve momentum. By combining personalized services with the required growth capital, the Vonzos team transforms under-performing companies into high-growth overachievers thereby producing higher rates of return for investors and founders alike.

Wakestream Ventures, previously a part of Start Garden, wears the hat of early stage financier and likes startups that take advantage of the Midwest expertise in manufacturing and global enterprise. Wakestream backs fascinating founders working where physical products converge with the internet.

Corporate venture group that is focused on the Health IT space

Wayne State University is an American public research university located in the Midtown Cultural Center Historic District of Detroit, Michigan.

The Entrepreneurship Center at Washtenaw Community College is a meeting place and resource hub open to the public. Their purpose is to connect the community to resources and professional assistance in order to help entrepreneurs bring their ideas to market. In addition to many free workshops, the Entrepreneurship Center has an open coworking space available for people to work on business ideas, study or do business research and share computer and printing resources. For current business owners and future entrepreneurs, they offer one-on-one appointments to assist individuals with their business questions and challenges.

At West Loop Ventures, we are futurists funding the next wave of human capital propelling our communities forward. At WLV we seek to find new ways out of “the box”. Our investments and entrepreneurs are our roadmap to new ideas, self expression, and the pursuit of happiness.

WeWork is a global network of workspaces where companies and people grow together. We transform buildings into dynamic environments for creativity, focus, and connection. We believe that CEOs can help each other, offices can use the comforts of home, and we can all look forward to Monday if we find real meaning in what we do.

WeWork is a global network of workspaces where companies and people grow together. We transform buildings into dynamic environments for creativity, focus, and connection. We believe that CEOs can help each other, offices can use the comforts of home, and we can all look forward to Monday if we find real meaning in what we do.

Windsor Essex Capital Angel Network (WECAN) is an Angel Investors Ontario (AIO) member with 40+ investor members from across Ontario, the Great Lake States, Canada and the USA. WECAN reviews 20+ Canadian & US companies each month with two to three chosen to present to its investor members; it has hosted 160+ startups. WECAN is an active member of National Angel Capital Organization (Canada), Angel Capital Association, and MVCA. WECAN members work together and with other investment groups on deal syndication, and also provide mentorship, sector expertise and valuable business contacts. Key 2018-2019 sectors include: artificial intelligence, automotive, clean-tech and information technology.

The Wisconsin Angel Network (WAN) is part of the Wisconsin Technology Council’s overall economic development and job creation efforts. WAN is a public-private initiative rooted in the Legislature’s Act 255 initiative, it is operated by the Wisconsin Technology Council. As a strategic partner, WAN receives partial funding from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC). WAN does not operate a fund or direct investments. Instead, WAN fuels the growth of capital in Wisconsin by operating as an umbrella organization providing services and resources to the early stage investing and entrepreneurial communities. Those resources include assisting with angel network and early stage fund formation; facilitating investor collaboration, investor education events, communications, and other resources designed to connect investors seeking opportunities and entrepreneurs seeking capital. WAN is comprised of a full-time director and many volunteers who help develop and launch our initiatives. WAN also looks to the Angel Advisory Committee (ACC) for guidance. The AAC is made up of leaders in the investment, business and governmental community who are committed to helping develop Wisconsin’s entrepreneurial climate.

WIP seeks to make early stage investments in technology and life science companies, through which we can leverage member expertise, contacts, and interests toward superior investment outcomes.

WMU Biosciences Research & Commercialization Center (BRCC) is based at West Michigan University and established in 2003 with a special $10 million appropriation from the Michigan Legislature as a nonprofit investor, designed to provide seed funding to early-stage companies focused on the life science sector. BRCC considers a wide range of life science technologies across all indications including but not limited to: biotech therapeutics, diagnostics, medical devices, software, food, environmental and analytical services. BRCC also provides growth capital funding to Contract Research Organizations (CROs) and Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOs) already servicing and on the market. The economic development focus of the BRCC aims to promote the growth of Michigan’s life sciences business sector and collaborates with the state’s entrepreneurial resource service providers.

WMU’s Business Connection is an office of Western Michigan University dedicated to strategically matching Western’s resources to the needs of the local business community. By working together with the numerous resources available on campus, the office serves as a “one-stop-shop” for companies that want to engage with the University.

WMU’s BTR Park fosters mutually beneficial relationships that involve resident businesses, the University and the Kalamazoo community. The private-sector firms located at the Park are recruited from three key business sectors — life sciences, advanced engineering and information technology. The Park is located on WMU’s 265-acre Parkview Campus, the home of WMU’s highly regarded College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. The proximity to the College and the University’s campuswide commitment to the three areas of focus mean opportunities abound for businesses to interact and partner with the faculty and students of one of the nation’s largest major research universities.

The WMU Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation strives to bring together community members, faculty, business experts and students to provide a setting for students to develop and commercialize new technology.