Statewide PitchMI Competition Announces Championship on April 7

LANSING, Mich. – Four regional winning teams in Michigan’s statewide startup competition will compete in the PitchMI Championship, where they will go head-to-head for an additional $1 million investment.

The championship will be held on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Grewal Hall, 224 S. Washington Square in downtown Lansing, Michigan, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. as a part of 517 Entrepreneurship and Innovation Week and co-hosted by the Michigan State University (MSU) Research Foundation and Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).

In late September and early October 2025, founders across Michigan competed for a total of $1.7 million in investment through four regional pitch events, building on 2024’s inaugural PitchMI competition in Detroit and Michigan’s growing status as a startup hub. “Michigan’s startup and innovation ecosystem is on fire,” said Alison Todak, vice president of entrepreneurship and innovation at MEDC. “At PitchMI, we heard from some of the state’s boldest and brightest founders, and honestly — I wish we could invest in every single one of them!”

“The four finalists competing in the PitchMI Championship demonstrate that the future of Michigan's position at the forefront of innovation in healthcare, aerospace, outdoor recreation and technology remains bright. With the support of our partners at the MSU Research Foundation, we're anticipating a stellar set of pitches,” said Quentin L. Messer, CEO at MEDC. “I'm proud of the great work Team Michigan is doing on the daily to strengthen our state's entrepreneurial ecosystem, attract talent and capital, and expand opportunity for startups to ‘Make It in Michigan’. We cannot wait for these finalists to grow into companies that help shape the next generation of the state’s economy!”

“PitchMI is designed to support founders with access to serious capital, rigorous evaluation, and meaningful guidance right here in Michigan," said David Washburn, CEO of the MSU Research Foundation. “The statewide structure brings partners and investors into a common process that helps companies move from early traction to scale.”

The four finalists demonstrate the breadth and depth of the state’s thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem:

• Adrenaline Interactive, a startup that lets advertisers place in-game ads inside titles such as Fortnite and Roblox;
• BedConnect, which runs an online system that shows hospitals which nursing home beds are open so patients can be discharged more efficiently;
• Electric Outdoors, Inc., a startup that builds a portable canopy system supplying off-grid power, clean water, internet, and EV charging for remote camping sites; and
• General Orbit, which creates navigation hardware and software that make satellites easier to build and control.

PitchMI is one of the nation’s largest founder-focused startup competitions, designed to identify and invest in Michigan’s most promising startups. It drew 375 startup applications from more than 100 Michigan communities in both peninsulas, and dozens of investors have participated through pitch reviews, office hours, and follow-up conversations.  

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn, and Twitter.