Fueling the Future: How Michigan Founders Fund and gener8tor Are Igniting Southeast Michigan’s Startup Ecosystem
In a state long known for its industrial roots and resilient communities, a quiet but powerful transformation is taking place—one that’s reshaping the future of entrepreneurship in Michigan. Through a unique collaboration between Michigan Founders Fund and gener8tor, a new wave of high-potential founders is being equipped with the capital readiness, traction strategies, and investor access they need to scale companies that can compete globally—starting right here in Southeast Michigan.
This isn’t just another pre-accelerator. It’s a strategic launchpad for underestimated founders building tech and tech-enabled companies across critical industries. It’s a deliberate response to a long-standing gap: the lack of early-stage, pre-seed support in one of America’s most innovative yet capital-starved regions.
The Problem Michigan’s Pre-Accelerator Is Solving
Despite being home to world-class research universities and a deep talent pool, Michigan consistently ranks low in early-stage venture funding compared to coastal hubs. Pre-seed and seed capital is scarce, particularly for Black, brown, immigrant, and women founders. Many promising startups never see the light of day—not for lack of talent, but for lack of capital and access.
That’s where the Michigan Founders Fund + gener8tor pre-accelerator comes in. Designed as a 7-week, hands-on program for early-stage startups, this initiative provides individualized coaching, investor-readiness training, and strategic connections to angel investors, venture capitalists, and funding opportunities across the state and beyond.
In just two cohorts—Winter and Summer 2025—the program has already begun to shift the tide. Below is a closer look at the companies selected and why they matter—not just to Michigan, but to the future of innovation.
Winter 2025 Cohort
Total Analysis – Dr. Darrell Marshall
Industry: Healthcare / Life Sciences
Dr. Marshall is building AI-driven diagnostics and clinical decision support tools for underserved medical communities. His vision? To democratize access to high-quality diagnostic care, especially in Black and brown communities where delayed or misdiagnosis is far too common. He brings decades of clinical expertise and a product already generating early interest from hospital systems.Berry Bot Soap Maker – Jessica Black
Industry: Consumer Products / Robotics
Jessica’s invention blends tradition with technology. She created a robotic system for soap-making that preserves artisanal quality while scaling production. Her patent-pending machine is a game-changer for handmade product entrepreneurs and contract manufacturers alike.‘round Here – Matthew Burnett
Industry: Business Services / Platform Tech
Matthew Burnett is building ‘round Here, an enterprise platform where service providers—like marketers, developers, and legal experts—get discovered, booked, and trusted by the right clients. More than a marketplace, it also centralizes key entrepreneurial resources like funding, co-working spaces, and events. With $350K in workshop revenue, 5 channel partners, and a 500+ company waitlist, ‘round Here is simplifying how founders connect to the tools and talent they need to grow.Mbility – Sheri Washington
Industry: Transportation / Healthcare
Mbility™ is a mobility platform that connects on-demand delivery drivers with customers that need to transport large, over-sized items for immediate delivery. With over $266k in revenue, Mbility is on track to redefine mobility and deliveries.Politics on the Go (POGO) – Arabia Simeon
Industry: Civic Tech / Youth Engagement
POGO is redefining civic engagement for Gen Z and Millennials by making voter participation intuitive, interactive, and actionable. POGO’s gamified, mobile-first platform simplifies the voter experience by matching users with candidates, providing personalized voter guides, and extending engagement beyond elections. With $60K in revenue and growing interest from cities and nonprofits, POGO is redefining how the next generation shows up in civic life.
Summer 2025 Cohort
NeuroTheranostics (NTI) – Dr. John Anagli
Industry: HealthTech / Biotech
Dr. Anagli is developing a nasal spray therapy and blood test to treat and monitor traumatic brain injuries (TBI)—a condition that affects veterans, athletes, and car accident victims. Existing treatments only manage symptoms. NTI-101 is designed to repair the brain. With decades of research behind it, this innovation could change how we treat brain trauma forever.Bhadala – Farai Gundan
Industry: Smart Cities / Public Transit
Farai is building a data platform that helps cities, transportation authorities, and private transit companies optimize rider experiences through predictive analytics and user engagement. With over $500K in revenue already, Bhadala is positioning itself as the future of intelligent mobility—designed by a woman of African descent, for the world.BRCĒ – Tanvi Gadamsetti
Industry: Material Tech / Sports & Safety Gear
Tanvi is revolutionizing the shoelace—and athletic gear as we know it. BRCĒ’s patented composite laces never come untied and are stronger than steel, fire-resistant, and performance-enhancing. With $93K in 2024 sales, including $32K in just 45 days and partnerships with NCAA and NFL teams, BRCĒ is already outperforming expectations.SynaFox AI – Ademola Fagade
Industry: AI / Industrial Automation
Ademola is building a platform that uses AI to streamline and optimize industrial workflows. His solution is designed for factories, plants, and logistics centers operating under legacy systems—saving time, money, and energy. With two companies under his belt, including a microgrid startup, his vision bridges sustainability and software.Race to a Trillion (RTAT) – Chris Genteel
Industry: Supplier Diversity / Procurement Tech
Chris, a former Google executive, is building a data platform to help major corporations meet their supplier diversity goals by connecting them to verified, investment-ready Black and brown businesses. RTAT isn’t just software—it’s a movement to unlock a trillion dollars in procurement spend for underrepresented entrepreneurs.
The Real Impact: Why This Matters
This pre-accelerator is not just about preparing founders for pitch day. It’s about building an infrastructure of trust, opportunity, and results in a region that has often been underestimated by the broader investment community.
By focusing on founders with lived experience, industry expertise, and deep cultural intelligence, the program is surfacing the kind of innovation that doesn’t just disrupt—it heals, restores, and reimagines.
In just two cohorts:
Over $2.15M in revenue has been generated by the participating startups.
More than 400 investors, mentors, and ecosystem leaders have engaged through pitch sessions, one-on-one coaching, and founder showcases.
Dozens of investor meetings have been secured.
Multiple companies are on track to raise capital in the next 6–12 months.
Why Michigan—and Why Now?
Southeast Michigan is brimming with potential. But potential alone isn’t enough. Founders here need more than mentorship—they need capital, connection, and belief. The Michigan Founders Fund + gener8tor pre-accelerator was designed to provide all three.
For angel investors, venture capitalists, and family offices, this is the moment to lean in. This is the opportunity to get in early, help shape the next generation of category-defining companies, and back the kind of founders whose brilliance is often hidden in plain sight.
These are not charity cases. They are investable, scalable businesses solving billion-dollar problems.
The only thing missing? More of you.
Are you an investor ready to be part of Michigan’s next chapter?
Join us. Sit in on a pitch. Talk to a founder. Sponsor the next cohort. This isn’t just early-stage investing—it’s legacy-building.
To learn more or get involved, visit michiganfoundersfund.org or contact our Program Manager at brittni@michiganfoundersfund.org.