Michigan Rise

Michigan Rise is a venture capital firm based in East Lansing, Michigan, established in 2020 as a subsidiary of the Michigan State University Foundation. The firm is committed to supporting innovative technology startups in Michigan, particularly in sectors such as advanced automotive and mobility, advanced manufacturing, agricultural processing, alternative energy, homeland security, information technology, life sciences, and medical devices. Michigan Rise operates the Pre-Seed Fund III, which provides capital support, coaching, and assistance with grant funding to help entrepreneurs advance their projects toward commercialization. This initiative is backed by funding from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the Michigan State University Foundation, which has a long-standing mission to foster economic development through the commercialization of new intellectual property. Through its efforts, Michigan Rise aims to bolster the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Michigan and contribute to the state's economic growth.

Vikram Mohan

Venture Analyst

Matt Okoneski

Director, Venture Investments

Tommy Skinner

Director, Venture Investments

John Tran

Venture Analyst

Calvin VanderWal

Venture Associate

Jeff Wesley

Executive Director

9 past transactions

Wedge

Venture Round in 2022
Competitive Wedge, LLC, founded in 2015 and based in Holland, Michigan, specializes in developing hiring software tools aimed at modern recruitment needs. The company's primary product is a web-based one-way video interview platform that allows job applicants to submit recorded video assessments. This innovative tool is designed to streamline the hiring process by filtering candidates, ultimately enhancing the quality of hires while saving time for HR departments and reducing overall hiring costs. Competitive Wedge serves both employers seeking efficient hiring solutions and job applicants looking to showcase their qualifications effectively.

Genomenon

Series B in 2022
Genomenon, Inc. is a software development company based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, that specializes in tools for genetic diagnosis and research. Founded in 2014, it provides a suite of diagnostic and discovery software that enables physicians, pharmaceutical companies, and researchers to quickly and accurately identify disease-causing variants from genomic-sequencing datasets. The flagship product, GENOMENON, automates the analysis of next-generation sequencing data, facilitating faster decision-making in cancer diagnosis and treatment, as well as in the study of inheritable diseases. By improving the efficiency of genomic interpretation, Genomenon aims to enhance patient outcomes and advance genetic research.

Plinqit

Series A in 2022
Plinqit is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, that enables banks to offer goal-based micro-savings accounts. Founded in 2015, the company provides tools for onboarding and administering these accounts, along with analytics to track user activity. Plinqit's platform is designed to attract and retain customers by offering interactive applications that cater to different age groups, promoting modern money management techniques and gamified savings experiences. This approach not only helps banks engage their customers but also encourages families to save together. Plinqit operates as a subsidiary of HT Mobile Apps, LLC.

GreenMark Biomedical

Convertible Note in 2022
GreenMark Biomedical Inc. is a minimally invasive healthcare company founded in 2016 and based in East Lansing, Michigan, with a laboratory in Ann Arbor. The company specializes in developing biopolymer nanoparticles derived from natural starch, which serves as an ideal carrier for various dental and medical applications due to its biodegradability by natural enzymes in the body. GreenMark's dental technologies focus on diagnosing and treating tooth decay through innovative tests and a mouth rinse product that illuminates cavities and early-stage lesions when exposed to standard dental curing lamps. In addition to its dental innovations, the company is also exploring applications for targeted anti-cancer drug delivery, aiming to improve treatment precision and patient comfort.

Akadeum

Series B in 2021
Akadeum Life Sciences, Inc. is a life sciences company headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, that specializes in manufacturing microbubble cell separation products. Founded in 2014, the company focuses on isolating mammalian and bacterial cells from complex mixtures, offering a range of products including T cell and B cell isolation kits for human and mouse cells. Additionally, Akadeum provides depletion microbubbles for red blood cell removal and streptavidin microbubbles for targeting and capturing various biological entities. Its innovative approach utilizes buoyancy-activated cell sorting, which employs microscopic microbubbles to effectively isolate target cells by floating them to the surface of liquid samples. These advancements enable medical practitioners to perform downstream testing and analysis with enhanced efficiency. The company sells its products online and has established a strategic partnership with Agilent Technologies.

Genomenon

Series A in 2021
Genomenon, Inc. is a software development company based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, that specializes in tools for genetic diagnosis and research. Founded in 2014, it provides a suite of diagnostic and discovery software that enables physicians, pharmaceutical companies, and researchers to quickly and accurately identify disease-causing variants from genomic-sequencing datasets. The flagship product, GENOMENON, automates the analysis of next-generation sequencing data, facilitating faster decision-making in cancer diagnosis and treatment, as well as in the study of inheritable diseases. By improving the efficiency of genomic interpretation, Genomenon aims to enhance patient outcomes and advance genetic research.

Asalyxa Bio

Seed Round in 2021
Asalyxa Bio is a drug development and platform technology company focused on novel therapeutics to treat major unmet medical needs caused by the dysregulation of immune signaling. With applications across a wide array of disease areas and conditions, Asalyxa Bio's platform technology enables delivery of existing and novel drugs directly into over-reactive immune cells.

Rivet Work

Debt Financing in 2020
Rivet Work Inc. is a Detroit-based company established in 2019 that provides digital tools specifically designed for contractors, unions, and trade schools in the skilled trades sector. Its primary product, Rivet, is a workforce management application that facilitates the organization of personnel, allowing users to access and assign their workforce to various jobs from any location. The application features a Job Site Feed that tracks changes on job sites in real time and automatically notifies workers of new job assignments or project modifications. By modernizing labor management processes through digital dispatch, training, and community organizing, Rivet Work aims to enhance the efficiency of labor organizations and support construction contractors in achieving their operational goals.

Alerje

Seed Round in 2020
Alerje, Inc. is a Detroit-based company that develops an innovative epinephrine auto-injector designed to fit into a smartphone case, enhancing accessibility for individuals with food allergies. The device is complemented by a mobile application that alerts a user’s CareCircle, which includes emergency services, family, friends, caregivers, and medical professionals, providing crucial location and health information during emergencies. Founded in 2015, Alerje focuses on improving the quality of life for those affected by food allergies by integrating emergency medicine with digital health solutions. The platform aims to foster better dietary decisions among families, allergists, insurers, and pharmaceutical companies through improved patient adherence and real-time communication.
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