The invitational pitch competition will be held on May 12, 2022 at The City Opera House in downtown Traverse City as part of Northern Michigan Startup Week.
TCNewTech’s University Idea Showcase is a pitch competition for student-led startups from universities throughout Michigan. The event is part of Northern Michigan Startup Week hosted by 20Fathoms, Northern Michigan Angels, TCNewTech, and Newton’s Road May 9 -15, 2022.
Happening May 12, the University Idea Showcase is modeled after TCNewTech’s popular monthly pitch events and will showcase a cross-section of ideas from across the state. Participants will have just five minutes to pitch their ideas and compete for recognition, custom-made trophies, and cash prizes. Participants include teams from the following universities:
- Central Michigan University
- Grand Valley State University
- Michigan State University
- Michigan Tech University
- Northern Michigan University
- Western Michigan University
The event is open to the public and there is no cost to attend. Members of the community are encouraged to attend and show their support for their favorite university and the participating students.
The University Idea Showcase is open to both idea-stage student entrepreneurs as well as early-stage student-led startups. A panel of judges will determine the best and most innovative idea and the audience will vote via text message for their overall favorite team. Funding for the cash prizes and trophies is provided by TC Tourism, Pronoia Capital, Dualboot Partners, Michigan Tech University College of Business, and MSU Federal Credit Union.
“Since 2015, TCNewTech has hosted a monthly pitch event to connect entrepreneurs with the resources they need to launch,” said Jennifer Szunko, TCNewTech’s Executive Director. “We are delighted to showcase Michigan’s student startups and introduce them to the area’s thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem.”
The objective of the event is to foster entrepreneurship and develop an ecosystem of support for Michigan’s college students. Additionally, the event will provide students a forum to showcase their ideas, hone their pitch skills, and provide them with exposure to investors.
Key event details:
- When: Thursday, May 12, 2022
- Time: Doors open at 5:30 pm. Program begins at 6 pm.
- Location: City Opera House (106 E. Front St., Traverse City)
- Who should attend: The event is open to the public.
- Cost: Free
- Registration recommended. The event will also be live-streamed for those interested in watching the program virtually.
About Northern Michigan Startup Week
The University Idea Showcase is part of Northern Michigan Startup Week, a celebration of entrepreneurship, innovation, and the growing startup community in Northern Michigan May 9-15th. Northern Michigan Startup Week is open to everyone – students and adults. It’s for everyone with curiosity or an idea they want to explore, those who want to make new connections, and those who want to get in on the action of building something new. A collaborative initiative, Northern Michigan Startup Week is organized by 20Fathoms, TCNewTech, Northern Michigan Angels, and Newton’s Road. Lead sponsors are Hagerty, Boomerang Catapult, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, and Northwestern Michigan College.
About TCNewTech
TCNewTech is an independent nonprofit which hosts a monthly pitch event with a mission to create a community of tech enthusiasts, businesses, entrepreneurs, and Michigan policymakers. Together they strive to build a culture of innovation, economic growth, and opportunity for local talent in the Grand Traverse Region. https://tcnewtech.org/
