Following four industry-specific semifinal competitions, four startups are advancing to the 2027 PitchMI Championship — Common Vector Robotics, Motmot, OmegaCool, and Ollivate — as the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and Michigan State University Research Foundation announced today.

So far this year, PitchMI has awarded $1.7 million in total funding to the four semifinal winners, with each receiving $425,000 to accelerate their next stage of growth.

In addition to the previously announced $1 million investment in state funding, a $500,000 statewide co-investment from Anchor Up Ventures, Kalamazoo Forward Ventures, JM Longyear and ID Ventures increased each of the four semifinal prizes from $250,000 to $375,000. 20Fathoms, a Traverse City emerging venture fund, added another $200,000 in total funding, bringing each semifinal winner’s investment award to $425,000.

Beyond the cash award, each winner also received a package of business-building resources, including $100,000 in Google Cloud credits and a one-year VIP membership to the Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM).

PitchMI (pronounced “Pitch-Me”) is one of the nation’s largest founder-focused startup competitions, built to create opportunity beyond the prize itself. Through the statewide competition, the MEDC and the MSU Research Foundation connect promising Michigan founders with the capital, visibility, relationships, and resources they need to move farther, faster.

“These companies represent the strength, range, and ambition of Michigan’s startup community,” said Jeff Wesley, executive director of ventures at the MSU Research Foundation. “The talent is already here. PitchMI creates a place for Michigan founders to meet the investors, industry experts, and partners who can help them solve the next challenge and reach new milestones.”

“PitchMI is open to Michigan-based startups only, because the startups being built here are world-class. We are betting on our own. They are worthy of that bet,” said Alison Todak, vice president of entrepreneurship and innovation at the MEDC. “Thanks to the Michigan Innovation Fund, a $60 million state investment to power this ecosystem, we are taking a public stake in innovation as a key component of the MEDC’s strategy to achieve long-term economic prosperity for Michiganders.”

The four 2026–27 PitchMI semifinal winners are:

Common Vector Robotics, Detroit (Defense & Aerospace semifinalist)
Arnold Kadiu, CEO and founder of Common Vector Robotics (CVR), is building rugged ground robots for critical operations on and off the battlefield. The company develops key components in-house, helping create autonomous robotic platforms designed to operate in demanding environments.

CVR earned $425,000 at the Sept. 15 semifinal in Grand Rapids. Controlled Light, Ketchel Axle Systems, Modal Motors, and Neumo also competed.

“It’s incredible to build in Michigan and to be with all my other fellow founders building in the same space,” said Kadiu. “This is going to be huge for our business to grow and get it to that next stage. I hope for a lot more competitions like this, to allow a lot more companies to grow and succeed.”

Motmot, Detroit (AI & Software semifinalist)
Elliot Smith, CEO and co-founder of Motmot, is developing autonomous underwater robots that inspect active municipal water mains without costly or disruptive excavation. The company turns that inspection data into actionable information utilities can use to identify risks, prioritize repairs, and make better-informed infrastructure investments.
Motmot earned $425,000 at the Sept. 22 semifinal in Kalamazoo. BridgeCare Technologies, ConStrat AI, Helios Core AI, and MimoLabs also competed.

“You can’t do it alone,” Smith said. “If you have good relationships along the way, like the folks at the MSU Research Foundation and the MEDC, those are great resources to leverage. It’s never been a better time to be a startup. The ecosystem is primed and ready. The tools are there.”

OmegaCool, Ann Arbor (Advanced Manufacturing, Materials & Outdoors semifinalist)
Joey Mullick, CEO and co-founder of OmegaCool, is developing advanced metalworking fluids and fluid-management services that help manufacturers improve machining performance, extend equipment life, and reduce waste. The company’s technology is designed to make precision manufacturing more efficient while addressing common challenges tied to traditional coolants.
OmegaCool earned $425,000 at the Sept. 24 semifinal in Marquette. Averra Systems, Fen X Custom, GAIA Predictive, and Post Rock also competed.

“Without the leadership of the MSU Research Foundation and MEDC, this couldn’t have happened,” said Jim Burton, president of OmegaCool. “The publicity that comes out of this is going to open up a lot of doors, and we’re going to be able to work on scaling the manufacturing. It’s helped create an environment where people don’t compete with each other; they collaborate. If one of us wins, and we can make it so that everyone wins, we’ve got something really special.”

Ollivate, Detroit (Healthcare & Life Sciences semifinalist)
April Olson, co-founder and COO of Ollivate, and Josh Olson, CRNA and the company’s co-founder and CEO, are building a gamified healthcare education platform that turns board preparation, continuing education, and professional credentials into short, science-backed learning experiences. The platform combines learning science with game mechanics to make studying more engaging and help healthcare professionals retain complex information over time.

Ollivate earned $425,000 at the Oct. 1 semifinal in Detroit. Authsnap, PathwaysGI, TruVue, and Signal Bioscience also competed.

“The investor community, MEDC, the MSU Research Foundation, and the resources they give us have been phenomenal,” said April Olson. “I’m part of Femology, which is a female startup school here in Detroit. To be in that ecosystem and to be building on behalf of women and with women is another example of what happens when people get into community and lift each other.”

“This funding will allow us to put money back into the Michigan market, so we can hire people and do things here in Michigan and give back to the community,” said Josh Olson. “I’m so excited to see where we go, and I’m so excited for our learners and what they’re going to be able to do.”

This year, PitchMI attracted hundreds of applications from startup founders across Michigan. Twenty companies were selected to compete in the four semifinals, representing industries where Michigan has deep expertise and strong potential for continued growth.

Together, these competitions create a statewide network that strengthens Michigan as a place where ambitious founders can start, grow, and scale companies without having to leave the state. The approach earned PitchMI international recognition, earning a 2026 Silver Award from the International Economic Development Council in the Innovative Economic Development category.

For Common Vector Robotics, Motmot, OmegaCool, and Ollivate, the journey is far from over.

The four companies will meet on one stage in spring 2027 for the statewide PitchMI Championship, where they will compete for an additional $1 million. The champion will leave PitchMI with $1,425,000 in total prize funding.

Details for the 2027 PitchMI Championship will be announced at a later date. Learn more at PitchMI.org.

Led in partnership by the Michigan State University Research Foundation and Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), PitchMI is one of the nation’s largest founder-focused startup competitions, designed to identify, support, and invest in some of Michigan’s most promising startups.

A $500,000 regional co-investment from Anchor Up Ventures, Kalamazoo Forward Ventures, JM Longyear and ID Ventures increased each semifinal prize from $250,000 to $375,000. In Detroit, 20Fathoms, a Traverse City emerging venture fund, added another $50,000 to Ollivate’s award, bringing its total winnings to $425,000.

“For us, this funding means acceleration for things we couldn’t have done before,” said Josh Olson, co-founder and CEO of Ollivate. “This will allow us to put money back into the Michigan market, so we can hire people and do things here in Michigan and give back to the community.”

Rethinking how healthcare professionals learn
Ollivate develops gamified, mobile-first learning tools designed to make professional development, board preparation, and continuing education more engaging for nursing professionals.

The platform combines learning science with game mechanics such as short practice sessions, daily challenges, and interactive learning pathways to help nurses study consistently and retain complex clinical information over time.

Its offerings include board preparation and microcredentialing tools for registered nurses and student registered nurse anesthetists, including preparation for the CCRN and National Certification Examination. Ollivate also offers an AANA-approved continuing education platform that allows certified registered nurse anesthetists to earn Class A continuing education credits through short, mobile-friendly learning modules.

“There’s so much that we haven’t done yet with our product that we want to build, and this allows us to get there,” Josh Olson said. “I’m so excited to see where we go, and I’m so excited for our learners and what they’re going to be able to do.”

April Olson, co-founder and COO of Ollivate, and Josh Olson, co-founder and CEO, present Ollivate’s winning pitch before competition judges and the audience at the PitchMI Healthcare & Life Sciences Semifinal in Detroit.

“The investor community, MEDC, the MSU Research Foundation, and the resources they give us have been phenomenal,” said April Olson, co-founder and COO of Ollivate. “I’m part of Femology, which is a female startup school here in Detroit. To be in that ecosystem and to be building on behalf of women and with women is another example of what happens when people get into community and lift each other.”

The Detroit event was the fourth and final PitchMI industry semifinal held across Michigan. Ollivate joins Common Vector Robotics, Motmot, and OmegaCool at the statewide PitchMI Championship in spring 2027, where another $1 million will be awarded.

The Championship winner will leave PitchMI with $1.425 million in total funding.

Learn more about PitchMI at msufoundation.org/pitchmi.

Led in partnership by the Michigan State University Research Foundation and Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), PitchMI is one of the nation’s largest founder-focused startup competitions, designed to identify, support, and invest in some of Michigan’s most promising startups.

A $500,000 regional co-investment from Anchor Up Ventures, Kalamazoo Forward Ventures, JM Longyear and ID Ventures increased each semifinal prize from $250,000 to $375,000. In Marquette, 20Fathoms, a Traverse City startup incubator and entrepreneurship hub, added another $50,000 to OmegaCool’s award, bringing its total winnings to $425,000.

“What’s going to happen now at an accelerated rate is that we can immediately start to increase our sales channels and add more representatives who are moving our product into the market,” said Jim Burton, president of OmegaCool. “The publicity that comes out of this is going to open up a lot of doors, and we’re going to be able to work on scaling the manufacturing.”

Bringing innovation to the factory floor
OmegaCool develops advanced metalworking fluids and fluid-management services designed to help manufacturers improve machining performance, extend equipment life, and reduce waste.

Its Nanokut line uses nano-engineered lubrication technology to reduce friction, foaming, and odors during precision machining. The company also helps manufacturers manage their fluids through plant assessments, filtration, recycling, and laboratory testing.

Jim Burton, president of OmegaCool, shares a laugh with competition judge Jake Northey and Leo Isleib of co-investor JM Longyear while celebrating his PitchMI grand prize.

“Without the leadership of the MSU Research Foundation and MEDC, this couldn’t have happened,” Burton said. “What this platform has started to do is bring founders and established investors together. It’s helped create an environment where people don’t compete with each other, they collaborate. If one of us wins, and we can make it so that everyone wins, we’ve got something really special.”

The Marquette event was the third of four PitchMI industry semifinals happening across Michigan. Each semifinal winner advances to the statewide PitchMI Championship in spring 2027, where another $1 million will be awarded.

Learn more about PitchMI and RSVP for the upcoming semifinal events at msufoundation.org/pitchmi.
● Healthcare & Life Sciences: Detroit on Oct. 1.

Led in partnership by the Michigan State University Research Foundation and Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), PitchMI is one of the nation’s largest founder-focused startup competitions, designed to identify, support, and invest in some of Michigan’s most promising startups.

A $500,000 statewide co-investment from Anchor Up Ventures, Kalamazoo Forward Ventures, JM Longyear and ID Ventures increased each semifinal prize from $250,000 to $375,000. In Kalamazoo, 20Fathoms, a Traverse City startup incubator and entrepreneurship hub, added another $50,000 to Motmot’s award, bringing the company’s total winnings to $425,000.

“This funding is everything for the company,” said Elliot Smith, CEO and co-founder of Motmot. “It gets us from having to service the customer directly to our next scale chapter. And that’s something we’ve been looking forward to for the last two years. It really unlocks a lot for us in that capacity.”

Inspecting pipes beneath our streets
Motmot builds autonomous underwater robots and inspection technology that help utilities better understand the condition of active municipal water mains without costly or disruptive excavation.

Its robotic platform travels directly through active drinking water infrastructure to capture detailed information about pipe conditions, structural risks, and flow. Motmot then turns that inspection data into actionable information utilities and engineers can use to prioritize repairs and make infrastructure investment decisions.

Elliot Smith, CEO and co-founder of Motmot, celebrates his $425,000 PitchMI AI & Software Semifinal win alongside competition judges and Pete Martin, director of portfolio management at the MSU Research Foundation.

“You can’t do it alone,” Smith said. “If you’ve got really good relationships along the way, like the folks at the MSU Research Foundation and MEDC, those are great resources to be leveraging. It’s never been a better time to be in the startup space. The ecosystem is primed and ready for you. The tools are there.”

The Kalamazoo event was the second of four PitchMI industry semifinals happening across Michigan. Each semifinal winner advances to the statewide PitchMI Championship in spring 2027, where another $1 million will be awarded.

Learn more about PitchMI and RSVP for the upcoming semifinal events at msufoundation.org/pitchmi.
● Advanced Manufacturing, Materials, & Outdoors: Marquette on Sept. 24.
● Healthcare & Life Sciences: Detroit on Oct. 1.

The facility is named in honor of the late Dr. Barnett Rosenberg, the Michigan State University scientist whose discovery of cisplatin revolutionized cancer treatment and helped establish one of the most successful university technology commercialization stories in history.  

Located at 195 Crescent Road in East Lansing, the 65,000-square-foot facility will serve as the headquarters of the Michigan State University Research Foundation and its affiliated organizations while providing flexible innovation space for startup companies, corporate partners, researchers, and entrepreneurs. The project is part of the Foundation’s broader vision to transform Greater Lansing into a nationally recognized destination for innovation, research partnerships, and economic development.  

“The Rosenberg Center represents more than a building,” said David Washburn, Chief Executive Officer of the Michigan State University Research Foundation. “It is a statement about Michigan State University’s commitment to discovery, innovation, and impact. Dr. Barnett Rosenberg’s groundbreaking work changed the lives of millions of people around the world. By naming this center in his honor, we are connecting one of MSU’s greatest scientific achievements with the innovators, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders who will shape the future.”  

The Rosenberg Center will be developed as an adaptive reuse project of the former IBM and MSU Federal Credit Union building and will include modern office suites, collaborative workspaces, event venues, conference facilities, and incubation space designed to support high-tech, high-growth businesses. The building will serve as a hub where entrepreneurs, researchers, corporations, and investors can connect, collaborate, and accelerate the development of new technologies and ventures.  

The facility will become home to the Michigan State University Research Foundation and its innovation-focused subsidiaries, including Spartan Innovations, Red Cedar Ventures, Michigan Rise, and MSU Research Parks, while also supporting university commercialization activities and corporate engagement initiatives. The center is envisioned as a destination for early-stage ventures, corporate innovation teams, and organizations seeking deeper engagement with Michigan State University’s research enterprise.  

The Rosenberg Center is expected to strengthen the growing innovation district surrounding the site at Spartan Village on Crescent Road which also includes the worldwide headquarters of TechSmith Corporation. The Rosenberg Center is intended to increase collaboration among industry partners, entrepreneurs, researchers, and university stakeholders while supporting key growth sectors including advanced manufacturing, agricultural technology, biomedicine, biotechnology, and sustainability technologies.  

The naming of the facility honors Dr. Barnett Rosenberg, whose research at Michigan State University led to the discovery of cisplatin, a groundbreaking cancer therapeutic approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1978. Cisplatin and subsequent platinum-based cancer treatments have improved outcomes for millions of patients worldwide and remain among the most significant medical innovations to emerge from a university research laboratory. 

“The discovery and commercialization of cisplatin is central to the story of innovation at Michigan State University,” said Jeff Smith, Executive Director of Research Parks for the MSU Research Foundation. “The Rosenberg Center will serve as a gateway for future innovators whose ideas have the potential to solve significant challenges and improve lives around the world.”  

Upon completion, the Rosenberg Center will stand alongside other Foundation-supported innovation assets across Michigan and help position Greater Lansing as a leading hub for entrepreneurship, technology commercialization, venture formation, and corporate research collaboration.  

Led in partnership by the Michigan State University Research Foundation and Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), PitchMI is one of the nation’s largest founder-focused startup competitions, designed to identify, support, and invest in some of Michigan’s most promising startups.

A $500,000 statewide co-investment from Anchor Up Ventures, Kalamazoo Forward Ventures, JM Longyear and ID Ventures increased each semifinal prize from $250,000 to $375,000. In Grand Rapids, 20Fathoms, a Traverse City startup incubator and entrepreneurship hub, added another $50,000 to CVR’s award, bringing the company’s total winnings to $425,000.

“It’s incredible to build in Michigan and to be with all my other fellow founders building in the same space,” said Arnold Kadiu, CEO and co-founder of Common Vector Robotics. “I really wasn’t expecting the check. This is going to be huge for our business to grow and get it to that next stage.”

Building rugged robotics in Michigan
CVR builds rugged ground robots for critical operations on and off the battlefield. The company develops key components including battery packs, battery management systems, motor controllers, ECUs, and suspension systems in-house.

Its two signature products include:

• Ghostrunner: A high-speed, off-road robotic platform built for rugged field operations: distributed sensing, mobility, communications support, and field logistics. Engineered around the CVR vertically integrated hardware stack, Ghostrunner is built to operate where infrastructure cannot.
• GL-1: A 400 kg autonomous base built to carry your payload – robotic arm, sensor mast, or rack – into the field. It navigates by Visual SLAM, is supervised from a single command center, and a modular power payload up to 27 kWh runs the equipment it carries.

Arnold Kadiu, CEO and co-founder of Common Vector Robotics, accepts a $425,000 award after winning the PitchMI Defense & Aerospace Semifinal in Grand Rapids. Danny Ellis, founder and former CEO of SkySpecs and one of the competition judges, presents the check.

“Being in the PitchMI space is really exciting, just the energy of all these startups pitching,” Kadiu said. “I hope for a lot more competitions like this, to allow a lot more companies to grow and succeed.”

The Grand Rapids event was the first of four PitchMI industry semifinals happening across Michigan. Each semifinal winner advances to the statewide PitchMI Championship in spring 2027 for a chance at an additional $1 million.

Learn more about PitchMI and RSVP for the upcoming semifinal events at msufoundation.org/pitchmi.

• AI & Software: Kalamazoo on Sept. 22.
• Advanced Manufacturing, Materials, & Outdoors: Marquette on Sept. 24.
• Healthcare & Life Sciences: Detroit on Oct. 1.

Twenty of those companies will compete in the PitchMI semifinals this fall.

The Michigan State University Research Foundation and Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) have announced the Top 20 companies for the 2026-27 PitchMI competition, a partnership between the MSU Research Foundation and MEDC and one of the nation’s largest founder-focused startup competitions. The program connects promising Michigan founders with capital, visibility, relationships, and resources that can help them move farther, faster.

Hundreds of founders from across the state applied for a chance to compete. Now, the Top 20 are getting ready to take the stage.

Five companies will pitch at each of the four industry-specific semifinals in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Marquette, and Detroit. One winner from each event will receive $250,000 and advance to the statewide PitchMI Championship in spring 2027, where another $1 million will be awarded.

“Michigan founders are expanding the frontier of possibility, and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation is putting a rocket boost of attention and resources behind them,” said Alison Todak, vice president of entrepreneurship and innovation at the MEDC. “Twenty incredibly promising founders will take the PitchMI stage this fall, and I can’t wait to see what all of them create with the visibility and capital we provide.”

The Top 20 span some of Michigan’s strongest and fastest-growing industries. Their work ranges from electric vehicle systems, robotics, and defense technology to AI-powered business tools, advanced materials, medical technology, and new approaches to healthcare.

Defense & Aerospace: Grand Rapids on Sep. 15.

• Controlled Light, Ann Arbor — Bryce Rajabian
• Common Vector Robotics, Detroit — Arnold Kadiu
• Ketchel Axle Systems, Southfield — Bradley Ketchel
• Modal Motors, Farmington Hills — Michael Van Steenburg
• Neumo, Birmingham — Niall Berkery

AI & Software: Kalamazoo on Sept. 22.

• Bridgecare Technologies, Lansing — Sunny Nadolsky
• ConStrat AI, Detroit — Justin Turk
• Helios Core AI, Novi — Len Landale
• MimoLabs, Detroit — Michael Moceri
• Motmot, Detroit — Elliot Smith

Advanced Manufacturing, Materials, & Outdoors: Marquette on Sept. 24.

• Averra Systems, Canton — Alisyn Malek
• Fen X Custom, Grawn — Mike Lin
• GAIA Predictive, Detroit — Andrew DiMaggio
• Omegacool, Ann Arbor — Joey Mullick
• Post Rock, Pleasant Ridge — Chris Humphrey

Healthcare & Life Sciences: Detroit on Oct. 1.

• Authsnap, Marquette — Gretchen Heinen
• Ollivate, Detroit — April Olson
• PathwaysGI, Ann Arbor — Kevin Wittrup
• Signal Bioscience, Ann Arbor — John Cunningham
• TruVue, Kalamazoo — Khaldoon Alaswad

For the Top 20, PitchMI offers more than a shot at prize funding.

All 20 semifinalists are taking part in a two-week intensive development series designed to strengthen both their talent and the companies they are building. Experts will work with the founders on positioning and branding, hiring, go-to-market strategy, fundraising, financial planning, influencer marketing, and more. The MSU Research Foundation will also provide dedicated pitch and Q&A coaching.

No matter who takes home the semifinal prizes, every founder leaves with new skills, connections, and tools they can put to work as they keep growing their companies, according to Pete Martin, director of portfolio management at the MSU Research Foundation.

“Michigan is full of talented founders building ambitious companies,” said Martin. “Our job is to make sure they leave PitchMI with something that moves their company forward. This competition gives the MSU Research Foundation and our partners a way to rally around that talent and create more opportunities for founders to succeed here.”

And Michigan can watch its startup talent in action.

All four PitchMI semifinal events are free and open to the public. Investors, fellow entrepreneurs, business leaders, researchers, students, and community members can hear founders pitch their companies, meet people shaping Michigan’s startup ecosystem, and get an up-close look at some of the best early-stage startups being built across the state.

Learn more about the Top 20 companies and RSVP for the PitchMI semifinals at https://msufoundation.org/pitchmi/.

“This quarter’s investments reflect the diversity of innovation happening across Michigan and beyond,” said Jeff Wesley, Executive Director of Michigan Rise. “From healthcare technologies and AI-powered software to advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and financial services, we’re continuing to support founders tackling meaningful challenges and building scalable businesses. These investments demonstrate our commitment to helping entrepreneurs access the capital and support they need to launch, grow, and create lasting impact.”

Investments this quarter include the following:

• Akadeum Life Sciences (akadeum.com) – Uses buoyant microbubbles to separate cells and molecules, improving sample preparation for research and clinical use.
• Adrenaline Interactive (adrenalineinteractive.ai) – Puts real-world brands into video games as part of gameplay, allowing ads to appear naturally within the experience.
• Ankra Health (ankrahealth.com) – Uses data from labs, wearables, and medical records to predict health risks early and guide actions to improve health.
• AutoSitu (autositu.com) – Uses AI to review development plans for zoning and building code issues, enabling faster approvals with fewer revisions.
• Bit-Farms (bit-farms.com) – Creates subscription-based micro-farms that help schools, restaurants, and organizations grow fresh produce on-site while reducing waste and transportation costs.
• Bloom (bloomnetwork.ai) – Connects electric mobility and hard tech companies with services that bring products to market.
• Clicki Referrals (joinclicki.com) – Enables service businesses to launch and manage referral programs that drive customer growth.
• Crebit (crebitpay.com) – Provides a stablecoin-powered payments platform for faster, lower-cost tuition and remittance payments.
• Culturewell (getculturewell.com) – Tests surfaces in healthcare facilities to identify harmful germs, assess risk, and guide cleaning to prevent infections.
• Essata Technologies (essata.io) – Provides software to manage energy use and infrastructure in commercial buildings.
• FinGoal (fingoal.com) – Provides analytics tools that help financial institutions better understand customer spending habits and deliver more personalized banking experiences.
• Jupid (jupid.com) – Embeds business formation, accounting, tax, and compliance tools into digital banking platforms for entrepreneurs.
• Luminur – Supports emergency clinicians with decision tools that reduce unnecessary CT scans in pulmonary embolism care.
• PhotoniCare (photoni.care) – Develops imaging technology to diagnose ear infections and reduce unnecessary antibiotic use.
• Promethient (thermavance.com) – Manufactures heated and cooled seating systems for industrial, commercial, and specialty use.
• Sail (savewithsail.com) – Provides an HSA/FSA reimbursement platform that enables upfront payment and automatic reimbursement.
• Side Door (sidedoorapp.com) – Offers an online platform that helps home buyers and sellers manage their own transactions with support from vetted professionals when needed.
• ScopeMed (scopemedicine.com) – Develops a nasal cannula system that improves oxygen delivery during endoscopy.
• SPARE (gotspare.com) – Provides an embedded financial services platform that expands access to banking without physical branches.
• Sit Sense – Builds automated medical recliners that reposition patients to prevent pressure injuries and reduce strain on caregivers.
• VERN AI (vernai.com) – Uses real-time emotion recognition to support applications in customer service, mental health, and other industries.
• VETR Health (vetrhealth.com) – Combines in-home veterinary care, telehealth services, and wellness plans that make pet healthcare more convenient and accessible.
• Wimee AI (wimee.tv) – Helps children build vocabulary and reading skills through an interactive learning platform featuring stories, creative activities, and guided exploration.

The MSU Research Foundation invests in early-stage technology startups through its Red Cedar Ventures and Michigan Rise family of venture funds. This coordinated approach provides capital and support from pre-seed through follow-on investment, helping startups launch, grow, and scale in Michigan.

For more information about the MSU Research Foundation’s investment funds and portfolio companies, visit msufoundation.org/venture-funds.