BedConnect, General Orbit, Electric Outdoors and Adrenaline Interactive are making their mark. They won the first PitchMI regional competitions and will advance to the statewide finals in 2026. These entrepreneurs are competing for investments, totaling at $2M, that will fuel their growth and help shape Michigan’s innovation future.

Lansing’s Gud Marketing and Mount Pleasant’s GreenTree Co-op Market were named to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Top 100 Small Businesses List. Their recognition highlights the strength and creativity of Michigan’s small business community.

The Michigan Supplier Conversion Grant Program provides funding to help manufacturers modernize operations, adopt new technologies and diversify their customer base. The program strengthens supply chain resiliency by supporting companies as they pivot to growth industries such as electric vehicles and advanced manufacturing. Businesses interested in applying must submit a Notice of Intent form by 11:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Nov. 10.

Michigan’s new MICEO Transition to Employee Ownership Pilot Program helps small business owners approaching retirement or succession planning to explore employee ownership. The pilot provides tools, technical assistance and resources to support a smooth transition — ensuring businesses remain locally owned, jobs are retained and communities stay strong.

The Cooperative Elevator Company, an agricultural cooperative situated in Michigan’s fertile “thumb”, has been named Michigan’s 2025 Agriculture Exporter of the Year by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD). The award recognizes companies that grow, process and export Michigan products worldwide, with judging led by experts from MSU, Comerica, the U.S. Commercial Service and the MEDC.

CircNova, a Detroit-founded biotech startup with labs in Ann Arbor, is using a proprietary AI engine to design and produce circular RNA molecules for novel therapies. As one of just 17 startups selected for the Google for Startups AI Academy, and a recipient of the MEDC-supported Inclusive Entrepreneurship Support Grant, CircNova is helping Michigan lead in biotech and AI innovation.

The Federal Reserve’s 2025 Small Business Credit Survey is now open, and the MEDC is a proud partner. The survey invites owners and key financial decision-makers of for-profit small businesses to share how they use debt and the financial conditions they face. Responses provide vital data that inform the Fed, government agencies and policymakers, ultimately supporting small businesses in Michigan and across the country.

• Nov. 10: Supplier Conversion Grant Program Notice of Intent Due
• Nov. 17-20: Trade Mission to MEDICA
• Dec. 3-4: Midwest House Summit
• Dec. 5-11: Trade Mission to Saudi Arabia and UAE
• March 15-21, 2026: Australia Trade Mission
• March 23-27, 2026: Aerospace and Defense Trade Mission to Poland and Czechia
• July 20-24, 2026: Farnborough International Airshow