Entrepreneur Ecosystem and Events August -October 1, 2026 Michigan Founders Fund

In this issue:

Founder Wins

MFF Pre-Accelerator Kalamazoo

Ann Arbor founders meetup

MTW26 Session Rewind

Shine On Summit

Ecosystem Events & Opportunities

• Kall Morris Inc., founded by Troy Morris, Austin Morris, and Adam Kall, was selected to partner with NASA as part of a program to establish a long-term presence on the moon and enable human exploration of Mars!
• Avery Piantedosi, Founder & CEO of LifeKnight, has partnered with Becklar on a new pilot for senior living communities.
• OXR by Mixel Studio, Inc., founded by Chiao Lin and Anhua Wu, secured an investment from Union Heritage and joined the firm’s portfolio. Additionally, they won the TCCNA Global Startup Challenge and $12,500 first prize!
• Meegan Winters, Founder & CEO of AbleVu, released AbleBot™, one of the first AI accessibility answer engines built for real-world access questions!
• Mandala Mathurin, Praveena Ramaswami, Arabia Simeon, and Ana Timoficiuc have been named semi-finalists for the Start Garden 100!
• Dug Song was named a Michiganian of the Year by The Detroit News!
• Crystal Brown, CEO & Co-Founder of Novarna (formerly CircNova), announced the company’s new name and next chapter!
• BedConnect, Co-founded by Lindsay Joseph, has been named a 2026 Midwest Company of the Year in the Care Coordination Technology category!

MFF Pre-Accelerator Launches in Kalamazoo

The Michigan Founders Fund Pre-Accelerator powered by gener8tor is coming to Kalamazoo, bringing a proven investor readiness program to startup founders across eight counties in Southwest Michigan.

Designed for underrepresented and undercapitalized entrepreneurs, this seven-week hybrid program equips founders with expert coaching, personalized mentorship, valuable connections, and a $15,000 non-dilutive grant to help take their businesses to the next level.

If you're building a startup and ready to accelerate your growth, this is your opportunity to strengthen your business, prepare for investment, and join a thriving community of Michigan founders.

Join Our Kalamazoo Information Session

Interested in learning more about the MFF Pre-Accelerator? Join us on Tuesday, August 11, from 6:00–7:30 PM in Kalamazoo for an information session with Brittni Abiolu, Program Manager. You'll learn about program eligibility, the application and selection process, and what it's like to participate in the seven-week experience.

Whether you're considering applying or simply want to explore if the program is the right fit for your startup, we'd love to meet you and answer your questions. We hope to see you there!

Ann Arbor Founder Meetup on Aug. 19

Some of the best founder conversations happen around the table, not in the boardroom. Join us for the MFF x A2 Founder Happy Hour to connect with fellow founders, share real experiences, and build meaningful relationships with entrepreneurs in the Ann Arbor startup community.

Wednesday, August 19

4:30–6:30 PM

Ann Arbor

Co-Hosts: Jasmit Kaur, Dug Song, Ade Fagade, Rishi Moudgil, Sarah Beatty

Whether you're a familiar face in the MFF community or joining us for the first time, we'd love to see you there. Registration is required, and this event is exclusively for founders actively building startups.

Michigan's First Female-Founded Unicorn

This session featured Dr. Zhen Xu, Co-Founder of HistoSonics and Michigan's first female-founded unicorn, in conversation with lead investor Jim Adox, moderated by Kelly Sexton. From pioneering university research to building a billion-dollar company, the discussion explored the perseverance, partnerships, and innovation that transformed a scientific breakthrough into a global success story.

Check out this session recap for highlights, key takeaways, lessons on commercializing breakthrough technology, and insights into building a world-changing company from Michigan.

Shine On Summit 2026: Dare to Do

We’re excited to co-sponsor the 2026 Shine On Summit, hosted by Shine & Rise at BasBlue in Detroit. This annual gathering is a day of connection, ideas, and meaningful conversations around building a more inclusive future for the tech industry.

This year’s theme, “Dare to Do,” turns reflection into action, whether you’re building something new, navigating your next move, or finding the people and community to help you get there.

Wednesday, August 12, 2026

3:00–8:00 PM ET

BasBlue, Detroit

Aug. 11: Information Session - MFF Pre-Accelerator Kalamazoo | Kalamazoo

Aug. 12: Shine On Summit | Detroit

Aug. 12: Michigan Mobility Meetup | Ann Arbor

Aug. 19: MFF Founder Meetup | Ann Arbor

Aug. 23: MFF Pre-Accelerator Kalamazoo | App deadline

Aug. 24: MichBio Bio Mixer | Marquette

Sep. 7: Startup Zoo Pitch Night | app deadline

Sep. 13: SXSW 2027 Pitch | Early bird app deadline

Sep. 14-19: Tech Week Grand Rapids | Grand Rapids

Sep. 15 - Oct. 1: PitchMI Regional Competitions | Various

Sep. 17: MIX Summit | Michigan Moves Demo Day | Pontiac

Sep. 22 - Oct. 2: a2Tech360 | Ann Arbor

Sept. 23: MVCA VentureTrack | Ann Arbor

Oct. 1: UnDemo Day | Detroit

Oct. 1: Southwest Michigan First - MIX Design Day | Southwest Michigan

Ongoing: Fall Conquer Accelerator programs | app deadline

Michigan Founders Fund (MFF) is a vibrant hub for peer engagement that enables high-growth founders to turn business success into positive community impact.

Interested in learning more? Please contact us at community@michiganfoundersfund.org.