Michigan’s Startup Pipeline Gets Stronger: Inside the 2025 MFF Emerging Talent Internship Program

Published On: July 1, 2025Categories: Community Impact, Events

Now in its fifth year, the Emerging Talent Internship Program (ETIP) has hit a new milestone. It is welcoming 20 students from 10 colleges and universities to intern with 13 high-growth Michigan startups. It’s the largest and most diverse cohort yet, and a clear signal of the momentum behind Michigan Founder Fund’s mission to build a more inclusive, equitable, and collaborative startup ecosystem across the state.

A Program That Builds More Than Careers

At its core, ETIP is more than a traditional internship program. It’s a bridge connecting underrepresented students with real-world experience, high-impact startup founders, and a tight-knit community of innovators who are rewriting what it means to build in Michigan.

The program was created to support students traditionally underrepresented in the tech and entrepreneurial world, and to open doors into industries where access is often limited by networks or privilege. Through hands-on projects, exposure to founder-led companies, leadership development, and ongoing cohort support, ETIP interns don’t just gain skills, they gain confidence, clarity, and community.

For startups, it’s a chance to mentor and mold future talent while receiving high-value support across product, engineering, operations, marketing, customer success, and more. In 2025, companies had the option of hiring part-time, full-time, or project-based interns fully subsidized by MFF, ensuring startups could participate regardless of their stage of funding.

13 Startups That Opened Their Doors and Pushed the Boundaries of Innovation

What makes this program unique is its deep integration with the MFF startup network — a group of mission-aligned, founder-led companies committed to growing responsibly and inclusively in Michigan.

Here’s a closer look at the 13 startups that hosted interns this summer and the bold work they’re doing:

Motmot: A creator-focused platform helping digital creatives monetize their work through collectibles, exclusive experiences, and deeper fan engagement.
Intermode: An AI-powered platform revolutionizing sustainable fashion logistics, helping brands lower waste and increase operational efficiency.
Farmish: A hyperlocal marketplace that connects home growers and gardeners with neighbors seeking fresh, locally sourced produce which creates new pathways for food sustainability.
hush: A privacy tech company simplifying online data protection with tools that automate digital footprint management for individuals and families.
gBeat: A wellness-tech company combining music, movement, and coaching into a gamified fitness experience personalized by rhythm and vibe.
VoiceBlocks: A no-code platform empowering communities and educators to build and share voice apps to preserve oral traditions and democratizing access to voice technology.
Vetr Health: A digital-first pet health platform enabling proactive wellness management for pets, reducing emergency visits through early detection and virtual care tools.
SynaFox AI: A cybersecurity platform built around behavioral biometrics and continuous authentication, offering seamless yet secure identity verification for businesses.
LifeKnight: A wearable device and platform designed for individuals navigating mental health challenges, connecting users with emergency services and monitoring real-time well-being.
Client Relations of Detroit: A social impact agency focused on storytelling, branding, and relationship-building for nonprofits, grassroots organizations, and purpose-driven brands.
DomeIQ: An AI-powered safety platform enhancing real-time threat detection and security infrastructure in schools and public institutions.
LIVAQ: A trailblazing electric off-road vehicle company reimagining adventure mobility through clean, high-performance, all-electric machines.

Each of these companies is a story in itself — bold ideas, inclusive leadership, and the belief that Michigan is fertile ground for scalable innovation.

A Statewide and Cross-Campus Collaboration

The 2025 Emerging Talent cohort was made up of students from 10 academic institutions, reflecting both geographic and academic diversity. From engineering and app development to marketing, operations, and product design, students are stepped into roles that challenge them to think like entrepreneurs and act like problem-solvers.

Participating Universities:

University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
University of Michigan – Dearborn
Michigan State University
Michigan Technological University
Grand Valley State University
Davenport University
University of Detroit Mercy
Eastern University
MSU Apple Developer Academy
Illinois Institute of Technology

This geographic and academic reach strengthens the program’s mission to develop talent pipelines statewide, tapping into corners of Michigan often overlooked by traditional tech pathways. Whether from the Upper Peninsula or the heart of Detroit, each student brought valuable insights to their host company and left with a stronger sense of purpose and possibility.

Tripling the Impact: What’s New in 2025

With growing demand and incredible early results, MFF made a bold move this year: tripling the program’s funding.

That funding expansion enabled the following:

Paid internships for all students at no cost to the participating startups, with close to $100,000 in funding granted
1:1 mentorship support and weekly cohort sessions focused on communication, leadership, and startup operations
Training and consultation for hiring companies to center equity and inclusive talent development
Broader outreach and recruitment efforts statewide to reach underrepresented communities

This growth underscores MFF’s belief: when we invest in people, especially those who have historically been left out, we invest in the long-term strength of Michigan’s entrepreneurial future.

Join Us

Whether you’re a student looking to make your mark, a founder ready to mentor and grow your team, or a community partner seeking to invest in Michigan’s innovation economy, we want you in this movement.

Learn more and get involved: https://michiganfoundersfund.org/2025-emerging-talent-program/

Follow the journey: https://www.linkedin.com/company/michiganfoundersfund/

Together, we’re inclusively building Michigan’s next generation of founders, builders, and leaders.