OmegaCool Wins $425,000 at Marquette PitchMI Semifinal

LANSING, Mich. (Sept. 24, 2026) — OmegaCool, an industrial chemical technology company, won $425,000 after taking the top spot at the PitchMI Advanced Manufacturing, Materials & Outdoors Semifinal at the Northern Center in Marquette on Sept. 24.

Led in partnership by the Michigan State University Research Foundation and Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), PitchMI is one of the nation’s largest founder-focused startup competitions, designed to identify, support, and invest in some of Michigan’s most promising startups.

A $500,000 regional co-investment from Anchor Up Ventures, Kalamazoo Forward Ventures, JM Longyear and ID Ventures increased each semifinal prize from $250,000 to $375,000. In Marquette, 20Fathoms, a Traverse City startup incubator and entrepreneurship hub, added another $50,000 to OmegaCool’s award, bringing its total winnings to $425,000.

“What’s going to happen now at an accelerated rate is that we can immediately start to increase our sales channels and add more representatives who are moving our product into the market,” said Jim Burton, president of OmegaCool. “The publicity that comes out of this is going to open up a lot of doors, and we’re going to be able to work on scaling the manufacturing.”

Bringing innovation to the factory floor
OmegaCool develops advanced metalworking fluids and fluid-management services designed to help manufacturers improve machining performance, extend equipment life, and reduce waste.

Its Nanokut line uses nano-engineered lubrication technology to reduce friction, foaming, and odors during precision machining. The company also helps manufacturers manage their fluids through plant assessments, filtration, recycling, and laboratory testing.

Jim Burton, president of OmegaCool, shares a laugh with competition judge Jake Northey and Leo Isleib of co-investor JM Longyear while celebrating his PitchMI grand prize.

“Without the leadership of the MSU Research Foundation and MEDC, this couldn’t have happened,” Burton said. “What this platform has started to do is bring founders and established investors together. It’s helped create an environment where people don’t compete with each other, they collaborate. If one of us wins, and we can make it so that everyone wins, we’ve got something really special.”

The Marquette event was the third of four PitchMI industry semifinals happening across Michigan. Each semifinal winner advances to the statewide PitchMI Championship in spring 2027, where another $1 million will be awarded.

Learn more about PitchMI and RSVP for the upcoming semifinal events at msufoundation.org/pitchmi.
● Healthcare & Life Sciences: Detroit on Oct. 1.