Top 20 Startups Chosen to Compete for $1.25M PitchMI Prize

EAST LANSING, Mich. (Sept. 22, 2025) — Twenty Michigan-based startups have been selected to advance in PitchMI, the statewide competition awarding a total of $4 million in direct investment to homegrown innovators, co-hosted by the MSU Research Foundation and Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).

In just two weeks, PitchMI drew 375 applications from startups based in 108 Michigan cities, with strong representation across all four regional sectors—healthcare and life sciences, CleanTech and outdoor innovation, mobility and advanced manufacturing, and AI and software.

Teams will pitch at the regional event that best matches their industry focus. The winner at each location will receive a $250,000 investment and advance to the statewide championship in April 2026, where they will compete for an additional $1 million investment. The state champion will receive a total $1.25 million prize—among the largest startup competition awards in the nation.

The Top 20 Startups

Five startups will pitch at each of the four regional events [Watch: Meet the PitchMI Top 20 Finalists]:

Grand Rapids – Healthcare & Life Sciences
Monday, Sept. 29 | 3:00–5:00 p.m. | Grand Rapids Civic Theatre

• AIMA, Inc. (my-aima.com) – Sells over-the-counter products that use THC-free plant compounds to relieve menstrual and pelvic pain quickly, including a suppository and a daily capsule.
• BedConnect (bedconnect.health) – Runs an online system that shows hospitals which nursing-home beds are open so patients can be discharged more efficiently.
• Decimal Code (decimalcode.com) – Develops software that uses artificial intelligence to create accurate billing codes for surgery and other hospital procedures.
• Elite Care Technologies, Inc. (elitecaretec.com) – Provides software that turns national healthcare data into care-management plans and automates the paperwork for clinics.
• Patensee, Inc. (patensee.com) – Offers a scanner that checks blood-flow access for dialysis patients without touching the skin, helping clinics spot problems early.

Traverse City – CleanTech & Outdoor Innovation
Tuesday, Sept. 30 | 3:00–5:00 p.m. | Timber Ridge

• Electric Outdoors, Inc. (electricoutdoors.com) – Builds a portable canopy system that supplies off-grid power, clean water, internet, and EV charging for remote camping sites.
• Fab5 – Designs robotic equipment to speed up the production of large wooden panels used in modern timber construction.
• JustAir Solutions, Inc. (justair.co) – Supplies air-quality sensors and a website where communities can track pollution levels and trends.
• Lectric Boil (lectricboil.com) – Builds a portable, battery-powered induction stove and generator with dual burners and a removable battery, offering safe off-grid cooking and device charging for camping, tailgating, or power outages.
• Motmot (motmot.ai) – Uses a small underwater robot to inspect city water pipes while they remain in service.

Detroit – Mobility, Defense & Advanced Manufacturing
Wednesday, Oct. 1 | 5:00–7:00 p.m. | Ford Field

• AG3 Labs (ag3labs.com) – Makes U.S.-built drones that can fly together in swarms for military training and defense testing.
• CleanBotix (clean-botix.com) – Builds a robot that washes food-processing plants automatically to reduce labor needs and improve sanitation.
• General Orbit (generalorbit.com) – Creates navigation hardware and software that make satellites easier to build and control.
• Ketchel Axle Systems (ketchelas.com) – Produces a lightweight electric axle that improves the range and efficiency of large trucks.
• Livaq (livaq.co) – Manufactures an electric all-terrain vehicle designed for off-road and government use.

Ann Arbor – AI & Software
Friday, Oct. 3 | 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. | Google Ann Arbor

• Adrenaline Interactive (adrenalineinteractive.ai) – Lets advertisers place in-game ads inside titles such as Fortnite and Roblox.
• Clicki Referrals (joinclicki.com) – Provides a service that automates customer-referral rewards for small businesses.
• Lutely (lutely.com) – Offers tools that help musicians edit, organize, and sell their music without paying marketplace commissions.
• Maka Media (makakids.com) – Curates age-appropriate YouTube videos for children using an AI system informed by child-development research.
• Nunchi (heynunchi.com) – Supplies software that helps clubs, schools, and professional groups manage memberships and keep people engaged.

Attend a Live Pitch Event

PitchMI regional events are free and open to the public with advance attendance requests. Audience members will experience live pitches, network with Michigan’s innovation leaders, and see which startups will advance to the state championship.
Learn more about PitchMI and request to attend a regional event at PitchMI.org.

RELATED:

• MSU Research Foundation to Lead $4M Statewide Expansion of PitchMI Startup Competition
• Watch: Meet the PitchMI Top 20 Finalists