Brady PieperMichigan state officials will host a $100,000 “Shark Tank” style competition for innovators to develop creative solutions to transform the way Michiganders get from point A to point B, safely and efficiently.
The competition, PitchMI, will put Michigan’s top innovators and entrepreneurs on stage in front of representatives of the Michigan Growth Office and the states, who will then invest $100,000 into the pitch that’ll make the most impact. The Michigan Growth Offices anticipates the competition will catalyze entrepreneurial problem solving, connect innovators with investors and create a ripple effect to accelerate more innovation throughout the state.
PitchMI will take place Oct. 24 during the Future Mobility Conference (FMC) at the Newlab facility in Detroit. The conference is hosted by the State of Michigan’s Office of Future Mobility & Electrification and will showcase transformative mobility innovations for land, sea and air transportation.
Highlighting the FMC’s afternoon activities, PitchMI will support Growing Michigan Together Council’s strategy to establish Michigan as an innovation hub in the Midwest, securing their importance as America’s scale-up state. According to a Growing Michigan Together Council report, Michigan has the highest concentration of engineers and consistently produces innovative talent. The council anticipates the PitchMI competition will create a stronger innovation ecosystem and attract more innovators and entrepreneurs to the state.
Businesses that look to enter the competition must have a pre-seed, seed, Series A and Series B designation with 51% employment in Michigan. Applicants must also commit to presenting their pitch in-person with a working prototype prepared.
Applicants must submit their applications online by Sept. 16.
