MTEC SmartZone to Hold Demo Day in Detroit for Inaugural AMMP Accelerator Cohort
Five Michigan-based businesses to compete for share of $15,000 in funding
DETROIT, July 25, 2024 – The Michigan Tech Enterprise Corporation SmartZone (MTEC), a leading organization in fostering innovation and supporting local businesses, today announced it will be holding a Demo Day for participating companies in its inaugural Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Program (AMMP) Accelerator cohort.
The Demo Day, which will be held at NewLab in the Michigan Central Station in Detroit, will give five AMMP Accelerator cohort participants the opportunity to pitch their organization to a panel of judges in hopes of obtaining their share of $15,000. The AMMP Accelerator Demo Day will also feature a keynote address by Ara Topouzian, an awards ceremony and networking opportunities.
“The AMMP Accelerator Demo Day is the culmination of an impactful three-month accelerator that provided these companies with high-value educational programming about market insight, strategic planning, access to investors and peer support,” said Katie Kirsch, co-director of the AMMP Accelerator. “We have worked closely with our participants to help them polish their pitch for future investment opportunities, and we look forward to witnessing their growth at an event where they will obtain valuable experience, partnership opportunities in manufacturing and, hopefully, critical funding for their company.”
Participants include:
Flow Shield Nano operates under The Waterborne Biosensor Project, leading the charge in introducing revolutionary monitoring technology to combat water pollution and ensure water safety.
BioMang is building on research conducted since 2005 to use metal-reducing bacteria for low-cost, environmentally sustainable recovery of industrially important metals, particularly manganese and iron.
Resurgent Innovations is in the process of commercializing a new pyrolysis reactor design that aims to handle plastic waste by building a missing link in the circular economy of plastics.
Integrated Molecular Innovations, LLC is revolutionizing healthcare by shifting from reactive diagnostics to proactive health monitoring with their cutting-edge biosensing technology.
O2 Innovate (AIRS) has developed a medical device that integrates a higher oxygen concentrator and user monitoring to enable oxygen users to finally be mobile again.
The AMMP Accelerator program is designed to support around five or more cohort companies every three years, fostering a sustainable model for startup acceleration.The curriculum and partnership with Michigan Tech University specifically supports advanced materials companies. Through targeted training and mentorship, the initiative aims to catalyze economic growth, with a projected creation of 40 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs in the Upper Midwest region.
Advanced materials is an industry defined as engineering the molecular structure of materials for specific purposes across industries and manufacturing. These “ingredient” companies have invented new materials to support the advancement of many industries, but have formulated specific business models most in need of materials advancement, including mining, recycling and healthcare. According to Spherical Insights, a leading market research and industry consulting firm, advanced materials was a $68.5 billion industry in 2023, and is expected to grow to $121.8 billion by 2033.
MTEC Accelerator Demo Day
Held at NewLab in the recently-renovated Michigan Central Station in Detroit, the AMMP Accelerator Demo Day will take place from 2 p.m. - 6 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 16.
The keynote address will be given by Ara Topouzian, the Executive Director of the Michigan Venture Capital Association (MVCA). In his leadership role at MVCA, Topouzian advocates for Michigan’s entrepreneurial and venture investor community with legislative and government officials and promotes Michigan venture investment opportunities to regional and national markets. He also supports membership growth, guides program development and sets strategic direction for the organization.
Full event schedule:
2:00 PM - Doors Open for Reception
2:30 PM - AMMP and MTEC: Welcoming Remarks from Sponsors
2:45 PM - Keynote Address with Ara Topouzian
3:15 PM - AMMP Accelerator Company Pitches
4:35 PM - Demo Day Awards Ceremony
4:45 PM - Closing Remarks
5:00 PM - Afterglow: 1 on 1 Mixer
“The AMMP Accelerator Demo Day will give five innovative businesses the opportunity to showcase their companies, as well as demonstrate the value of the AMMP Accelerator program in fostering a collaborative community of entrepreneurs,” said Jason Mack, vice president of business development for MTEC. “These companies are well-positioned to create jobs, revenue and value for the Upper Peninsula, and we are so grateful to be part of their journey.”
The event would not be possible without the generous support of sponsors, which include MTEC SmartZone, Michigan Technological University, Kupari Ventures, Warner Norcross & Judd, Haberl and Hsia LLC, Siren and Monte.
The AMMP Accelerator is housed within the MTEC SmartZone, and is made possible through grant funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) with partial matching funds from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).
To learn more about the AMMP Accelerator, you can visit ammpaccelerator.com.
About AMMP Accelerator
The AMMP Accelerator program is designed to support around five cohort companies every three years, fostering a sustainable model for startup acceleration. Through targeted training and mentorship, the initiative aims to catalyze economic growth, with a projected creation of 40 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs in the Upper Midwest region. Additionally, the program will provide guidance and mentorship to approximately 120 companies in the community, driving forward the region's entrepreneurial ecosystem.
About MTEC
Michigan Tech Enterprise Corporation (MTEC) is one of 21 SmartZone Incubators in the State of Michigan. MTEC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization working with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), its mission is to facilitate the creation and ongoing success of high-tech value propositions in conjunction with the local entrepreneurial ecosystem. Since 2003, the MTEC SmartZone has provided mentoring, technical support, and other services to local companies that have led to the creation of over 800 high-tech jobs in the Houghton and Hancock Michigan area.
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