Four Startups Named Regional Winners in PitchMI, Each Advancing Toward Additional $1M Statewide Prize

EAST LANSING, Mich. (Oct. 7, 2025) — Four Michigan-based startups have been named regional winners in PitchMI, the statewide competition awarding more than $2 million in direct investment to homegrown innovators. Co-hosted by the MSU Research Foundation and Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), PitchMI 2025 showcased some of the state’s most promising entrepreneurs across healthcare, CleanTech, mobility, and software sectors.

Each winner received a $250,000 investment, with several also securing additional strategic investments and partner awards announced live on stage. All four are eligible to advance to the statewide championship in April 2026, where one team will receive an additional $1 million prize – among the largest startup competition awards in the nation.

2025 Regional Winners

BedConnect (bedconnect.health) – Operates an online system that shows hospitals which nursing-home beds are open so patients can be discharged more efficiently. Awarded: $325,000 total investment, including a $75,000 investment from Corewell Health Ventures, plus $100,000 in Google Cloud credits at the Healthcare & Life Sciences event in Grand Rapids.

Electric Outdoors (electricoutdoors.com) – Builds a portable canopy system that supplies off-grid power, clean water, internet, and EV charging for remote camping sites. Awarded: $250,000 investment, plus $100,000 in Google Cloud credits at the CleanTech & Outdoor Innovation event in Traverse City.

General Orbit (generalorbit.com) – Creates navigation hardware and software that make satellites easier to build and control. Awarded: $375,000 total investment, including $125,000 investment from Assembly Ventures, plus $100,000 in Google Cloud credits at the Mobility, Defense & Advanced Manufacturing event in Detroit.

Adrenaline Interactive (adrenalineinteractive.ai) – Lets advertisers place in-game ads inside titles such as Fortnite and Roblox. Awarded: $375,000 total investment, including $125,000 from eLab Ventures, plus $100,000 in Google Cloud credits at the Artificial Intelligence & Software event in Ann Arbor.

By the Numbers

PitchMI drew 375 applications from startups across 108 Michigan cities, more than double the original goal. Twenty finalists were selected to compete across four regional pitch events, which together attracted over 300 founders, investors, and partners attending statewide.

What began as a $1 million investment commitment expanded to $1.7 million in total awards and prizes, including $325,000 in co-investments from Assembly Ventures, Corewell Health Ventures, and eLab Ventures, along with $400,000 in Google Cloud credits to support technical growth.

Beyond the on-stage competition, nine venture and angel groups have engaged with PitchMI finalists to explore follow-on funding opportunities—underscoring the statewide collaboration and momentum driving Michigan’s startup ecosystem.

Next Stop: Statewide Championship

The four regional champions will compete head-to-head at the PitchMI statewide championship during 517 Entrepreneurship & Innovation Week in April 2026, where one startup will be awarded an additional $1 million in direct investment.
Learn more about PitchMI and request to attend a regional event at PitchMI.org.

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