LANSING - Michigan’s innovation economy faces a growing competitiveness problem: Michigan ranks 32nd nationally in early- and growth-stage startup funding, according to a 2025 innovation scorecard from Business Leaders for Michigan. Leading innovation states including California, Washington and Colorado have grown their innovation economies at “twice the rate or more of Michigan” over the past
ANN ARBOR - Meet the Drapers, hosted by venture capitalist Tim Draper, brings together visionary entrepreneurs from every corner of the world. Draper was in Detroit in September where he hosted a panel of four innovators that pitched a panel of celebrity guest judges and competes for a life-changing $1 Million investment. He joined Matt
DETROIT - The redevelopment of the historic Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Midtown Detroit has reached a major milestone, with Invest Detroit officially moving in as the anchor tenant of the newly rebranded Jefferson Hub. The 115,000-square-foot innovation and office space is scheduled for full opening in fall of 2025 and is now leasing space
GRAND RAPIDS – Michigan Capital Network announced it has expanded its leadership team by promoting Jenni Li, Ph.D., to principal at the firm. Li first joined MCN as an analyst in 2020 after receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. Li was promoted to senior analyst at
Raising capital for your business can feel like an exhausting and frustrating performance. It requires strategic planning, preparation, and charisma in equal measures. Securing funds to launch or scale an existing company is very important, whether launching as a startup or scaling an existing one. Yet this challenge should not intimidate you. With knowledge at
ANN ARBOR - Renaissance Venture Capital, a fund of funds supporting the growth of venture capital investment in Michigan, has named Christina Drake and Kimberly Reno as partners. “Both Kimberly and Christina add so much expertise to the Renaissance team and we are proud to recognize their contributions by elevating them to partners,” Chris Rizik,
ANN ARBOR—The University of Michigan's Innovation Partnerships has received $5 million from the Michigan Economic Development Corp. to establish the Michigan University Innovation Capital Fund and Michigan University Innovation Capital Consortium. This venture fund will solidify the state's university research commercialization ecosystem through a partnership between U-M, Michigan State University, Michigan State University Research Foundation,
KALAMAZOO - Join Kalamazoo Venture Tuesday Jan. 30 at 9 am for an online pitch event via the Microsoft Teams virtual platform. You’ll have a rare opportunity to see inside the minds of three investors as they reveal what three company presenters did right and wrong. The Kalamazoo Venture Tuesday meeting is designed as a
ANN ARBOR — Renaissance Venture Capital will host its third Spring DEI UnDemo Day on April 17 and is now accepting startup applications at www.renvcf.com/undemoapp through February 16. Spring DEI UnDemo Day will feature startups from the Central U.S. led by women, people of color and other underrepresented communities so they can attract venture capital.
DETROIT - The Michigan Venture Capital Association is hosting its Awards Dinner Thursday Sept. 28 at the Fillmore in Detroit. MVCA Executive Director Ara Topouzian warns only 200 tickets are available and they are selling out fast. Ticket deadline is Sept. 15. TICKETS $200 MVCA Members Only $275 Non-MVCA Members More info at MichiganVCA.Org https://youtu.be/7yvnJHwI3ZA
