A New Season and New Opportunities
Building meaningful engagement for all founders
Reflecting on my first 100 days with Michigan Founders Fund (MFF), I’m grateful for all that I’ve learned from you and excited about our next steps together! Joining this dynamic and passionate community has been incredibly rewarding, and I’m inspired by the dedication to a more inclusive and prosperous future for Michigan.
Although we’ve paused some of our regular activities during this transition period, several initiatives are underway for the fall that I’m thrilled to share with you. At the forefront is launching the Michigan Founders Fund Pre-Accelerator, a program designed to uplift underrepresented founders across the state to their next stage of growth.
Hiring for a MFF Pre-Accelerator Program Manager
In partnership with global venture firm and startup accelerator gener8tor, Michigan Founders Fund is proud to announce the launch of the MFF Pre-Accelerator. This initiative, set first to take root in Southeast Michigan, represents a significant step forward in our mission to build an inclusive and thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The MFF Pre-Accelerator powered by gener8tor is tailored to support high-growth potential startups led by underrepresented founders from various industries. Over several weeks, participating companies will receive non-dilutive funding and personalized coaching, as well as access to a robust network of mentors, customers, and investors. We aim to prepare these early-stage startups for future equity-based accelerator programs and investment opportunities, ensuring they continue down a path to success. Our extended MFF community of members and advisors will be integrated into supporting and lifting participating entrepreneurs.
We’ll provide more details on the program, company applications, and timeline during Michigan Tech Week 2024. For now, we‘re actively recruiting a Program Manager to lead the initial cohorts in Southeast Michigan. If you know someone who has a passion to work with and support founders in our region, please encourage them to apply.
Launching our pre-accelerator would not be possible without the support of many individuals and ecosystem partners working collectively behind the scenes. Specifically, I’d like to thank Stella Safari, who laid the groundwork for this model in Detroit, and Meagan Ward, who joined our team on a part-time basis to help shape our vision. We’re also grateful for those who helped build these resources and partnerships, including Trista Van Tine, Kelly LaPierre, Jim Tenzillo, Dawn Batts, Margarita Hernandez, and several other members and advisors!
On the Horizon
Our main event is just around the corner – Michigan Tech Week 2024 will be held October 1-4 at Michigan Central in Detroit! With many sessions, networking opportunities, and pitch competitions to dive into, we’ll bring together entrepreneurs and partners from around our state to celebrate and learn from one another. Pre-registration will be announced soon, and we still have a few sponsorship slots available if you’d like to be involved directly. Mark your calendars now!
Also over the next 100 days, we’ll be growing our team at Michigan Founders Fund in order to best fulfill our mission. Beyond our new program manager for the MFF pre-accelerator, stay tuned for more announcements on new roles. Your referrals and support will be invaluable as we seek candidates who share our vision and are ready to significantly impact Michigan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Launching our MFF Pre-Accelerator and the upcoming Michigan Tech Week are just the beginning of an exciting new season for Michigan Founders Fund. We’re committed to creating more opportunities for founders from all backgrounds, fostering innovation, and driving economic growth across the state.
I’m eager to continue this journey with you and look forward to seeing you in October at Michigan Tech Week!
-Rishi Moudgil,
Executive Director, Michigan Founders Fund
