MFF Pre-Accelerator powered by gener8tor
To increase the success rate of startup Michigan businesses from underrepresented communities, Michigan Founders Fund is collaborating with global venture firm and startup accelerator gener8tor on a new program in Michigan. The inaugural Michigan Founders Fund Pre-Accelerator powered by gener8tor will accept applications beginning in late 2024 to begin its first cohort in 2025. This accelerator focuses on early-stage companies led by underrepresented founders from any industry.
About Michigan Founders Fund Pre-Accelerator
Michigan Founders Fund Pre-Accelerator powered by gener8tor (MFFPA) is a free, seven-week, no-equity accelerator program based in Detroit, MI, that provides startup founders with operating grants as well as personalized coaching and programming alongside access to a robust network of mentors, customers, and investors. The program is designed to set a path for startups to participate in future equity-based accelerator programs and investment opportunities.
In the first year, Michigan Founders Fund and gener8tor will recruit startups in Southeast Michigan that are led by underrepresented founders. This in-person accelerator is industry agnostic and will consider applications across all industries. It will follow the curriculum of gener8tor’s global pre-accelerator gBETA and includes direct funding grants up to $15,000 for each founder and a built-in mentor network from Michigan Founders Fund.
Participating companies receive:
- Direct funding grants up to $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”
- Investor and accelerator pitches
- $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
MFFPA’s goal is that graduates will go on to participate in an investment accelerator or raise a seed round.
For further questions, learn more here or contact Program Manager Brittni at [email protected].
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 Open: December 2025
Applications Deadline: January 12th, 2025
Program Kickoff: January 30th, 2025
Program Ends: March 26th, 2025
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]
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.
Partnership
Together, gener8tor and the Michigan Founders Fund 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 1% equity or carry to a philanthropic fund supporting Michigan’s social sector through local grant-making.
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.
