LANSING, MI - On August 19, 2024, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that applications are officially open for PitchMI, a statewide shark tank style pitch competition. Michigan’s Growth Office will invest $100,000 in one innovative solution that transforms the way Michiganders get from point A to point B safely, affordably and efficiently. PitchMI is a commitment by the state to spur entrepreneurial problem solving, connect innovators with capital and create a ripple effect to accelerate more innovation.

PitchMI complements the Whitmer administration’s historic investments tolower costs, support a skilled workforce, restore infrastructure, and make Michigan the best place to raise a family. These investments build on Michigan’s rich heritage of innovation-the most engineers per capita, the 5th largest advanced manufacturing workforce in the country, and an unmatched university research and development corridor. 

“Building a more prosperous future for Michigan means supporting and investing in innovators and entrepreneurs. Earlier this year, I announced three new actions to invest in culture, capital and creativity to grow Michigan’s economy,” said Governor Whitmer. “PitchMI will unleash Michigan’s innovative spirit, strengthen our entrepreneurial ecosystem, create good paying jobs, and spur new ideas on the future of mobility. I can’t wait to see all the creative ideas and look forward to the competition in October.”

The PitchMI competition is scheduled to take place Thursday, October 24 at 2:30 p.m. during the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification’s inaugural MI Future Mobility Conference at Newlab in Detroit. Applicants for PitchMI must be available to participate in-person. PitchMI is open to pre-seed, seed, Series A, and Series B companies with 51% of their employees residing in the State of Michigan. Solutions should be demonstration ready with working prototypes.  

“In addition to capital, innovators and entrepreneurs across the state need visibility to grow. This competition offers our entrepreneurs a stage to share their ideas with the world and demonstrate yet again that Michigan is at the cutting edge of innovation,” said Chief Growth Officer Hilary Doe. “Investing in entrepreneurs and innovators will help our state become a magnet for both businesses and talent, working together to drive population growth. Supporting entrepreneurs in starting and scaling their businesses will also create a more prosperous place to live for all Michiganders.”

Michigan is committed to ensuring its investments tie knowledge economy growth to placemaking, allowing the state to foster an environment where innovation thrives, and communities prosper across the entire state. As evidence of this priority on innovation and building the state’s knowledge economy, Gov. Whitmer announced Ben Marchionna’s appointment as Michigan’s first Chief Innovation Ecosystem Officer earlier this year. He oversees and directs the holistic development, growth and sustainability of the rapidly growing Michigan innovation economy, ensuring entrepreneurs have a voice in state government. 

“I'm thrilled that MEDC's Entrepreneurship and Innovation team is a partner on this bold initiative that underscores our state's commitment to investing in innovators and their cutting-edge solutions. We are simultaneously driving economic growth and creating pathways for transformative ideas that will shape the future of mobility and beyond,” said Ben Marchionna, MEDC Chief Innovation Ecosystem Officer. “This competition will build on our work to empower innovators to tackle real-world challenges, building a stronger, more connected Michigan, and sparking the next wave of globally impactful solutions."

PitchMI ensures momentum on the Growing Michigan Together Council’s strategy to establish Michigan as the innovation hub of the Midwest and America’s scale up state. Michigan is number one in the nation for concentration of engineers and is a top state for patents. Identifying and addressing gaps in the innovation ecosystem will help retain and attract talent, scale companies and create high-paying jobs per the Council’s report.

The deadline to apply for PitchMI is Monday, September 16 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

For more information and to apply, visit: growingmichigan.org/opportunities

Governor Whitmer’s Work to Support Entrepreneur’s and Small Business

- Secured $45.5 million for Talent and Growth in the FY ’25 budget to support Michigan’s current and future workforce needs and to grow Michigan’s population

- Secured $10 million for Minority Owned Business Grants

- Signed an Executive Directive for Innovation, instructing state agencies to catalogue technology equipment and facilities across the state and work with owners to make items available to innovators who need it.

- Appointed Michigan’s first Chief Innovation Ecosystem Officer