Kalamazoo MFF Pre-Accelerator Cohort Launches: Meet the Startups
Five Kalamazoo startups have been selected to join the fall 2026 cohort of the Michigan Founders Fund (MFF) Pre-Accelerator powered by gener8tor. Tutela, Brownfield AI, ALCD Systems, FieldStone, and Flowers Automotive Recyclers will participate in the seven week program that kicked off Sept. 24.
“I congratulate the startup founders selected to participate in this inaugural Kalamazoo MFF Pre-Accelerator program,” said Bobby J. Hopewell, President and CEO of Kabundant and Chairperson/General Partner at Kalamazoo Forward Ventures. “These companies represent the creators, innovators, and entrepreneurs prevalent in Southwest Michigan. We’re proud to partner on this initiative to help local underrepresented founders transform new ideas into thriving ventures.”
This is the first MFF Pre-Accelerator cohort to be held in Kalamazoo after four successful cohorts in Southeast Michigan. It is designed for underrepresented founders seeking early pathways to capital, networks, and support. Throughout the concierge program, participants will attend hands-on strategy meetings, individualized coaching, pitch opportunities, and ongoing, personalized support. Additionally, this is the only program of its type and stage that provides participants with direct funding, as each founder receives $15,000 in non-dilutive capital.
The Pre-Accelerator will culminate in a demo day showcase on Nov. 19. More details will be announced at a later date.
“Southwest Michigan is ascendent and has disruptive founders building for the next level,” said Rishi Moudgil, Executive Director of Michigan Founders Fund. “There’s still a gap that traditionally undercapitalized founders face to prepare for early stage investment and growth, and so we’re thrilled to welcome five Kalamazoo-area startups to our pre-accelerator.”
This pilot program is made possible through a collaboration with Michigan Founders Fund, gener8tor, Kabundant, Stryker Johnston Foundation, Kalamazoo Forward Ventures, Startup Zoo, Western Michigan University, and Kalamazoo Community Foundation.
“We’re excited to bring the Michigan Founders Fund Pre-Accelerator to Southwest Michigan,” said Nate Domenighini, Associate VP of Startup Accelerators at gener8tor. “The Kalamazoo ecosystem is full of talented founders, passionate community leaders, and organizations that genuinely want to see entrepreneurs win. What makes this program especially exciting is the opportunity to bring those groups together, create new connections, and give local founders the support, momentum, and community they need to turn great ideas into growing companies.”
Meet the Kalamazoo Fall 2026 Cohort:
Tutela (by H2H Technology) helps organizations control what AI agents can access, do, and record so they can adopt AI without losing security or accountability. Tutela serves mid-market financial services and healthcare organizations that need a simple way to manage AI activity and protect sensitive information. Tutela has a working product, an AWS Marketplace listing, and an active pilot with the Greater Chicago Food Bank while pursuing additional design partners and pilots.
Founder & CEO: Cortez Lake
Based In: Kalamazoo, Michigan
Brownfield AI helps companies turn months of brownfield and surplus-property due diligence into minutes by bringing property, environmental, zoning, infrastructure, and regulatory information into one place. Brownfield AI serves corporate property owners, developers, land banks, and other real estate decision-makers who use the platform to understand property risks, prepare sites for sale or redevelopment, and preserve institutional knowledge. Brownfield AI has already completed a $20,000 paid pilot with ExxonMobil and generated 15 free-trial users from an initial outreach to roughly 80 warm contacts.
Co-Founders: Kyle Gulau, Scott Gerstl, and Kevin Wolf
Based In: Kalamazoo, Michigan
ALCD Systems helps licensed residential care providers manage compliance, staff requirements, resident records, and inspection readiness in one system instead of across paper files and disconnected tools. ALCD Systems serves adult foster care and other licensed residential care operators, who use the platform to track facility requirements and manage day-to-day operations across one or multiple locations. ALCD Systems is already being used in the founder’s two licensed care facilities and is preparing to expand into outside pilot locations.
Founder & CEO: Jamie Bigby
Based In: Kalamazoo, Michigan
FieldStone (by ClaimRoute) helps small construction and trades businesses cut office work by bringing customer communication, scheduling, and follow-up into one system so owners can spend more time on jobs and growth. FieldStone serves owner-led contractors, especially general contractors, who use the platform to manage day-to-day customer and job coordination from their phones. FieldStone has grown to seven businesses using or testing the product, with general contractors showing the strongest engagement and at least one paying customer.
Co-Founders: Lelo Khaba, Michael Riddering
Based In: Kalamazoo, Michigan
Flowers Automotive Recyclers (FAR) recovers more value from end-of-life vehicles by disassembling them and routing reusable parts and materials to the right recycling and remanufacturing channels instead of sending most of the vehicles through a shredder. FAR uses a tech-enabled system incorporating VIN tracking, digital inventory management, and buyer routing to connect recovered vehicle components and materials with business-to-business recyclers, rebuilders, and processors. The company reports nearly $4.5 million in lifetime revenue, approximately $46,500 in monthly revenue, and current throughput of approximately 40–60 vehicles per month.
Founder & CEO: Ronald Flowers
Based In: Kalamazoo, Michigan
