What happens when capital meets opportunity? Hear directly from the funds selected as recipients of the new Michigan Innovation Fund (MIF) as they reveal how they plan to deploy this catalytic investment into early-stage companies. This candid conversation will pull back the curtain on how investors evaluate pitches, structure partnerships, and shape the next generation of Michigan-born innovation. Expect straight talk, sharp insights, and maybe a few surprises about what it takes to win early-stage funding in today’s competitive life sciences and tech landscape.

SPEAKERS:

• Prem Bodagala, SVP and Director, ID Ventures
• Mike Flanagan, Vice President, Ann Arbor SPARK & Managing Director, Michigan Angel Fund
• Steve Haakenson, Executive Director, Biosciences Research & Commercialization Center
• Matt Okoneski, Director, Venture Investments, Red Cedar Ventures
• Mike Psarouthakis, Executive Director, Impact Investments & Strategic Alliances, Innovation Partnerships, University of Michigan