Entrepreneurial Opportunity
Entrepreneurial Support For Your Tech Company
Find Local SupportMichigan is home to a robust, high tech entrepreneurship ecosystem, supported by the MEDC’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation Initiative. The initiative was created to assist researchers, high-tech startups and entrepreneurs in finding the programs, services and expert counsel they need to go from ideation to commercialization. Get started with our featured resources and programs below.
Commercialize University Technology
Faculty researchers can access entrepreneurial resources, including programs for matching funds, or get connected with mentors in the entrepreneur community.
Services for Tech Companies
MEDC assists high-tech startups and entrepreneurs find entrepreneurial resources to accelerate research, license intellectual property, form companies, create jobs and engage with other Michigan businesses.
Funding for Tech Companies
Financial assistance to entrepreneurs is critical to the success of startup companies and entrepreneurs. Through a number of programs and partnerships, MEDC is here to help you find the funding right for you.
Find Entrepreneurial Support Right for You
Not sure where to start? Use our interactive tool to discover the entrepreneurial programs, funding opportunities and resources available in Michigan specifically curated based on your place in the entrepreneurial journey. Watch our entrepreneurial journey video to better understand MEDC's Entrepreneurship and Innovation Initiative.
Michigan LIFT Launches to Accelerate Industrial Innovation, Scale Manufacturing Growth and Strengthen U.S. Competitiveness
Michigan Launchpad for Industrial Innovation & Transformation (Michigan LIFT) is a public-private initiative designed to strengthen manufacturers’ competitiveness and supply-chain resilience while accelerating the growth of innovative suppliers expanding production in Michigan. The platform translates manufacturing and supply-chain challenges identified by industrial buyers into “Open Calls” for innovative suppliers that can address them.
Michigan: Home for World Class Innovation
$200 Million
invested from angel, venture capital or other equity investment sources because of MEDC programs
$60 Million
from the Michigan Innovation Fund ensures Michigan's entrepreneurs have the support they need now
#6
state for business in CNBC's 2025 ranking
5 Unicorn Startups
Duo Security, Coupa, HistoSonics Inc., OneStream Software and StockX
Top 10
Innovation & Research Ecosystem state by Area Development
Why Michigan for Entrepreneurs?
Michigan is a rising hub for tech startups, offering top talent from leading universities, a thriving ecosystem of incubators, and a low cost of living. Cities like Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids and Detroit combine innovation, community, and affordability.
Without Start Garden and our partnership with the MEDC, Payload CMS wouldn’t be where we are today. Over the next few years, we’re going to build things that only we can do. We’re going to fix problems that no one else has even thought about before, and we refuse to make any compromises as we do it. There's a lot of opportunity to fix things in the digital design industry that haven't ever been fixed before. For us, that opportunity is right here in Michigan.
Michigan SmartZones
Local Support to Help Your Ideas Grow
SmartZones provide distinct geographical locations where technology-based companies, entrepreneurs and researchers can locate in close proximity to community assets that assist in their endeavors. SmartZones include technology business accelerators that provide resources and various services to Michigan entrepreneurs.
Success Stories
Functional Fluidics
Based in Detroit, Functional Fluidics is a global health company specializing in red blood cell health that leverages healthcare data and technologies to accelerate the development of life-changing therapies, support clinical trials and bridge the gap between clinical research and patient care.
Payload CMS
James Mikrut had an idea to fix a big problem in web development: the gap between design and code. With the support of MEDC-backed incubator Start Garden in Grand Rapids, he grew Payload CMS into a company that’s been acquired by a rising giant.
The Patient Company
The Patient Company, a Grand Rapids-based medical device startup, developed a product for making lateral patient transfers safer with support from the MEDC-funded Michigan Translational Research and Commercialization for Life Sciences Innovation Hub.
MEDC Services For Your Business
