First Investments Announced Through Henry Ford Health + MSU Innovation Fund

The Henry Ford Health + MSU Innovation Fund has made its first investments to support LightHearted AI and M3D. Backed by Henry Ford Health, MSU, and the MSU Research Foundation, the fund pairs early-stage capital with clinical expertise and commercialization support to help promising healthcare technologies move toward broader adoption.

Michigan’s innovation pipeline starts with bold ideas and MTRAC is helping bring them to market. Through the MEDC’s MTRAC Life Sciences Innovation Hub, 15 research teams across Michigan received $1.9M to advance breakthrough biomedical technologies with the potential to improve lives, launch startups, and strengthen our state’s innovation economy. Read more about how this signature program is accelerating the next generation of Michigan-made innovation

With the help of Project DIAMOnD and Oakland County, Tania’s Pizza used a grant-funded industrial-grade 3D printer to create a custom crust crimper that makes its signature stuffed pizza faster and more consistently.

MEDC’s statewide Request for Information drew 90 responses from 60 organizations, highlighting five urgent needs for small businesses:

1. Ecosystem Coordination: 75% of respondents want better connectivity among support providers, not new programs—suggesting shared intake, warm handoffs, and ongoing support.
   
   
2. Wraparound Technical Assistance: 73% emphasized the importance of hands-on guidance alongside capital and equipment, before, during, and after funding.
   
   
3. Capital-Access Gap: 44% identified a “missing middle” in financing—needs that exceed microloans but don’t fit traditional bank lending.
   
   
4. Industry 4.0 & Technology Adoption: 41% cited challenges moving from pilot projects to full-scale tech adoption, especially in manufacturing.
   
   
5. Succession & Ownership Transition: While less common overall (32%), this was urgent for second-stage companies. Over 83,000 Michigan firms face ownership transitions, but only a fraction successfully transfer.

We want to make Make It in Michigan as useful as possible for Michigan’s small business and entrepreneurship community and we’d like your input. Tell us which programs, grants, events, stories and resources you’d like to see more of. Your feedback will help shape future editions of the newsletter. The survey is anonymous and has just seven questions.

• September 14–19: Tech Week Grand Rapids
  Welcome to an unparalleled unconference of tech and innovation showcased right here in Grand Rapids, MI. With new tech exploration, panels, and a world of networking opportunities — you choose your own experience.
  
  
• Sept. 15–Oct. 1: PitchMI Regionals: Semifinal Pitch Competition
  Sept. 15: Defense & Aerospace, Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
  Sept. 22: AI & Software, Kalamazoo Civic Theatre
  Sept. 24: Advanced Manufacturing, Materials, & Outdoors, Northern Center Marquette
  Oct. 1: Healthcare & Life Sciences, The Department at Hudson’s, Detroit
  
  
• September 17: MIX Summit/Michigan Moves Demo Day
  Mobility Week in Michigan kicks off on September 17, 2026 at M1 Concourse in Pontiac, hosted by the Michigan Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME) and Centrepolis Accelerator.
  
  
• September 23: VentureTrack 2026
  VentureTrack 2026 is a one-day immersive educational experience hosted by Michigan Venture Capital Association and designed for aspiring venture capital professionals, students, analysts, interns, emerging investors, and first-time fund managers.
  
  
• September 24: Celebrate Invention
  Celebrate Invention returns September 24 at the Michigan Union, bringing together U-M inventors, startups, alumni and ecosystem partners for demos, conversation and connection around the impact of Michigan innovation. The event is free and open to the public, with registration required.
  
  
• September 24–October 3: Ann Arbor SPARK’s a2Tech360
  This event is a series of events celebrating Ann Arbor’s spirit of innovation through experiences, conversations, and connections that strengthen and expand the region’s vibrant technology ecosystem. The events are tailored to a variety of audiences, including entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, businesses, academic institutions, non-profits, job seekers, and the general public.
  
  
• September 30: ReMaking Michigan 2026: The Next Era of Manufacturing
  After five years of exploring advanced manufacturing technologies, the ReMaking Michigan event series returns in 2026 with a focus on what comes next. Now, the conversation shifts from exploration and adoption to optimization and impact. Join industry leaders, technology experts, and manufacturers to reflect on key lessons learned and explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the future of manufacturing.
  
  
• October 1: UnDemo Day
  UnDemo Day® is an in-person event in Detroit that includes:
  • Curated in-person 1:1 meetings between participating startups and venture capitalists, matched based on alignment of sector and stage, and the requests of VCs
  • Open networking with hundreds of venture investors
  • Startup Lunch & Learn with subject matter experts
    
    
• October 15: MVCA 19th Annual Awards Celebration
  Celebrate the accomplishments driving innovation at the state’s largest investor networking event.
  
  
• November 8–13: Mexico Trade Mission
  MEDC International Trade is currently recruiting for a multi-industry trade mission to Mexico with partners Automation Alley.