MFF Pre-Accelerator powered by gener8tor
To support and strengthen early-stage startups across Michigan, Michigan Founders Fund collaborates with gener8tor on a pre-accelerator program designed to help founders build, validate, and grow their businesses. This program focuses on companies led by underrepresented founders from any industry, providing access to mentorship, resources, and a supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem to improve long-term success and scalability.
About Michigan Founders Fund Pre-Accelerator
The Michigan Founders Fund Pre-Accelerator (MFFPA), powered by gener8tor, is a free, seven-week, no-equity program in Detroit that offers operating grants, personalized coaching, and access to mentors, customers, and investors. It’s designed to prepare startups for future equity-based accelerators and investment opportunities.
MFFPA will support underrepresented founders supported by venture capital, beginning with those from Southeast Michigan.
Participating companies receive:
- Direct funding grants from MFF of $15,000 for each founder
- Individualized coaching and mentorship from both teams of nationally renowned accelerator gener8tor and locally grounded Michigan Founders Fund on company growth and investor readiness
- Weekly “Lunch & Learns” and “Mentor Swarms”
- Dozens of direct investor engagements
- Showcase pitch in front of over 100
- $1M+ in deals and perks from vendors like IBM Cloud, Rackspace, Amazon, Paypal, Zendesk, Hubspot and Microsoft
- Ongoing post-program support, community involvement, and offerings from both gener8tor and Michigan Founders Fund
Application & Timeline
MFFPA is a free, seven-week accelerator for early-stage companies with local roots. Each program is capped at five teams, and requires no fees and no equity, but you will receive direct non-dilutive grants.
Timeline
Applications are now closed for 2025
Next Program Runs: March 2026
Investment Terms
No investment made during this program, however, direct operating grants will be provided for eligible company expenses.
Program Manager
Brittni Abiolu | [email protected]
MFFPA’s goal is for graduates to later participate in an investment accelerator or raise a seed round.
For further questions, learn more here or contact Program Manager Brittni at [email protected].
Eligibility Criteria for Michigan Founders Fund
Pre-Accelerator
You’re Based in Southeast Michigan
Michigan Founders Fund Pre-Accelerator is an in-person pre-accelerator program for underrepresented founders of early-stage companies with local roots in Southeast Michigan.
Program Commitment
Program Commitment
You can commit to at least 85% of our programming, with the ideal being 100%. MFFPA requires at least 5-7 hours weekly of programming, not including the time founders dedicate to working on their businesses independently.
You’re an Underrepresented Founder (Industry Agnostic)
You’re an Underrepresented Founder (Industry Agnostic)
The MFFPA programming is open to all established startups from various industry verticals that are led by underrepresented founders in high-growth startups. We will use the federal and state-backed SEDI business qualification for our initial cohorts.
Coachability and Responsiveness
Coachability and Responsiveness
You’re coachable, open to feedback, and value multiple perspectives to make informed decisions for your business. You’re also responsive and thrive in a fast-paced environment.
MFFPA Cohorts
Winter Cohort 2025
Dr. Darrell Marshall
Total Analysis
Matthew Burnett
’round Here
Jessica Black
Berry Bot Soap Maker
Sheri Washington
Mbility
Arabia Simeon
POGO
Spring Cohort 2025
Dr. John Anagli
NeuroTheranostics
Farai Gundan
Bhadala
Ademola Fagade
SynaFox AI
Chris Genteel
Race to a Trillion
Tanvi Gadamsetti
BRCE
Fall Cohort 2025
Phyllip Hall
AppFactory
Jordan Morgan
Spin Travel
Stella Safari
Zapenda
Shantonio Birch
ThermoVerse
Partnership
Together, Michigan Founders Fund and gener8tor aim to bring economic diversity and job growth first to Southeast Michigan–and eventually statewide–ensuring that underrepresented founders receive the resources and support they need to succeed.
About Michigan Founders Fund
Michigan Founders Fund is the leading statewide network for high-growth founders and investors. Focused on building a thriving and inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem through a founder-first culture, members represent a wide range of demographics and regions across the state. More than 150 members have collectively raised over $350 million of investment capital through 15 different industry verticals, while also committed to lifting local communities.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Michigan Founders Fund is composed of founder and investor members who commit philanthropic funds to support Michigan’s social sector.
About gener8tor
gener8tor is a global venture firm and accelerator network that supports startups, workers, employers, artists, and musicians across race, place, and gender. gener8tor partners with companies, governments, universities, and nonprofits to operate accelerator programs and conferences in more than 45 communities across 25 states and territories and three countries.
gener8tor runs the gBETA program as a non-equity accelerator that facilitates the growth of early-stage companies through a network-driven program. Since launching in 2015, gBETA accelerator alumni have raised more than $776M in capital and created more than 4,700 jobs across the U.S. and internationally.
