LANSING, Mich. (Oct. 2, 2026) — Michigan’s entrepreneurial landscape is bustling with activity as innovative startups gain momentum in a competitive arena.
After rigorous industry-specific semifinals, four promising startups — Common Vector Robotics, Motmot, OmegaCool, and Ollivate — have been selected to proceed to the prestigious 2027 PitchMI Championship. This announcement was made by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the Michigan State University Research Foundation.
This year, PitchMI has disbursed a total of $1.7 million to these semifinal winners, each securing $425,000 to drive their growth initiatives.
An initial $1 million in state funding was bolstered by a $500,000 co-investment from Anchor Up Ventures, Kalamazoo Forward Ventures, JM Longyear, and ID Ventures. This funding elevated each semifinal prize from $250,000 to $375,000, with 20Fathoms adding $200,000, raising the total award to $425,000 per winner.
Alongside financial support, winners received 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, one of the largest founder-centric startup competitions nationwide, aims to enhance opportunities beyond financial rewards. It facilitates connections between Michigan entrepreneurs, capital resources, and strategic partnerships, fostering accelerated growth.
“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.”
Common Vector Robotics, Detroit (Defense & Aerospace semifinalist)
Arnold Kadiu, CEO and founder of Common Vector Robotics (CVR), is developing robust ground robots for critical operations, both in combat and civilian settings. The company specializes in creating autonomous robotic systems for challenging environments.
CVR was awarded $425,000 at the Sept. 15 semifinal in Grand Rapids. Competitors included Controlled Light, Ketchel Axle Systems, Modal Motors, and Neumo.
“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 innovating autonomous underwater robots for non-invasive municipal water main inspections. The technology converts inspection data into actionable insights for utility providers, aiding infrastructure decisions.
Motmot secured $425,000 at the Sept. 22 semifinal in Kalamazoo, competing against BridgeCare Technologies, ConStrat AI, Helios Core AI, and MimoLabs.
“You can’t do it alone,” Smith stated. “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 enhancing manufacturing efficiency with advanced metalworking fluids and management services aimed at optimizing machining and reducing waste.
OmegaCool received $425,000 at the Sept. 24 semifinal in Marquette, with competitors including Averra Systems, Fen X Custom, GAIA Predictive, and Post Rock.
“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 co-founder and CEO, are revolutionizing healthcare education with a gamified platform that integrates learning science and game mechanics to enhance engagement and knowledge retention.
Ollivate was awarded $425,000 at the Oct. 1 semifinal in Detroit, competing against Authsnap, PathwaysGI, TruVue, and Signal Bioscience.
“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.”
PitchMI 2026 drew hundreds of applications from across Michigan, with 20 companies advancing to the semifinals. These companies represented sectors where Michigan holds significant expertise and potential for growth.
This initiative forms a statewide network, reinforcing Michigan as a nurturing ground for ambitious entrepreneurs. This effort earned PitchMI 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 continues.
They will compete in the 2027 PitchMI Championship in spring, vying for an additional $1 million in funding. The champion will ultimately receive $1,425,000 in total.
Details for the 2027 PitchMI Championship will be announced later. More information can be found at PitchMI.org.
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