Microtech Ventures

What Microtech Ventures does

Microtech Ventures is a specialized venture capital, angel investing, and M&A advisory firm headquartered in Birmingham, Michigan. Founded in 2017 by Mike Pinelis, who also founded MEMS Journal in 2003 (now the world's largest MEMS publication with 34,800+ subscribers), the firm focuses exclusively on the sensors, MEMS, and microtechnology sectors. Its core service lines are: (1) Pre-Seed through Series A venture capital investing in sensors and MEMS companies across automotive, medical, robotics, drones, and IoT verticals; (2) M&A advisory for growth-stage transactions in the $5 million to $150 million range, including sell-side divestitures, buy-side acquisitions, and capital raising; and (3) strategy and market research consulting for Fortune 500 companies, Tier 1 automotive suppliers, and semiconductor manufacturers.

The firm operates a vertically integrated platform combining media (MEMS Journal), conferences (Medical Wearables, Automotive LIDAR, MicroFab Summit, Cardio Sensors, and 15+ other specialized events reaching 60,000-80,000 individuals per cycle), an advisory board drawn from OnScale, Kionix, Onto Innovation, and Sense Media Group, and a venture portfolio of 20+ companies spanning edge AI silicon, digital health, IoT, and perception. Revenue is generated through advisory success fees on closed M&A transactions, equity appreciation on venture investments, conference registration and sponsorship fees ($495-$10,000 per attendee/sponsor), and bespoke consulting engagements. Customer concentration skews toward large enterprise buyers and sellers in the Fortune 500, automotive Tier 1, and semiconductor manufacturing segments. The firm's defensible position is built on two decades of accumulated industry relationships, proprietary deal flow from MEMS Journal and its conference platform, and a narrow but durable specialization in a domain where generalist advisors lack technical credibility.

Name

Microtech Ventures

Legal name

Microtech Ventures, Inc.

Website

https://microtechventures.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Microtech Ventures is a venture capital, angel investing, and M&A advisory firm focused exclusively on sensors, MEMS, and microtechnology companies, serving Fortune 500 acquirers, automotive Tier 1 suppliers, and growth-stage targets in the $5M-$150M transaction range, supported by its MEMS Journal media platform and 20+ annual industry conferences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Investment Banking and M&A Advisory

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394), Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Sector-Focused Venture Capital (Vertical Specialists) (FSANAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industry-Specialist / Sector-Focused M&A Advisory (FSAEAGAJ), Micro-VC & Angel Funds (FSANAAAI)

Keywords

• Venture capital services
• M&A advisory
• Sensors MEMS investing
• Microtechnology consulting
• Industry conferences

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Venture Capital Investing: Participates in Pre-Seed, Seed, and Series A investment rounds for sensors and MEMS companies. Revenue generated through equity appreciation and exit returns on portfolio companies.
2. M&A Advisory Services: Strategic and financial advisory for M&A transactions ranging from $5 million to $150 million for growth-stage companies. Advisory services include strategy evaluation, market research, business valuation, buyer/seller identification, CIM preparation, due diligence management, and transaction closing. Successfully closed deals including a sell-side M&A engagement at 1.8x target valuation and a signed term sheet at 4.5x target valuation.
3. Conference and Workshop Hosting: Organizes and hosts industry-leading conferences and workshops covering MEMS, sensors, and microtechnologies. Revenue generated through attendee registration fees and corporate sponsorships. Events include Medical Wearables, Automotive LIDAR, MicroFab Summit, Cardio Sensors, Micro Optics, and specialized workshops on GaN/SiC, automotive radar, drones, robotics, EV charging, and more.
4. Consulting Services: Strategy and market research consulting practice focused on MEMS, sensors, and microsystems. Engagements include market research reports, sourcing strategies, competitive analysis, and technology development advisory for Fortune 500 companies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Microtech Ventures provides strategic venture capital and angel investing in sensors, MEMS, and microtechnology companies from Pre-Seed through Series A, and delivers M&A advisory services for transactions in the $5 million to $150 million range. It also runs MEMS Journal, the world's largest MEMS publication with 34,800+ subscribers, and hosts over 20 industry conferences and workshops covering automotive sensors, medical wearables, LIDAR, radar, robotics, and micro-fabrication, alongside a market research and consulting practice serving Fortune 500 clients.

Product overview

Microtech Ventures is a strategic venture capital, angel investing, and M&A advisory firm (not a software product company) offering a platform of investment and advisory services. The core offerings include Venture Capital Services for Pre-Seed through Series A investments in sensors and MEMS companies, and M&A Advisory Services for transactions ranging from $5M to $150M. The firm also operates industry publications and conferences including MEMS Journal (the world's largest MEMS publication with 34,800+ subscribers) and hosts over 20 specialized industry conferences and workshops covering automotive sensors, medical wearables, LIDAR, radar, robotics, micro-optics, and compound semiconductors. These conferences serve as networking platforms and reflect the firm's deep industry expertise and network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MEMS Journal: The largest MEMS publication worldwide, founded in 2003, with 34,800+ subscribers covering notable MEMS news and developments for subscribers exploring business development, commercialization, and partnership opportunities.

Quantifiable outcome

• $28+ million in MEMS facility and equipment sales brokered to date
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Techstars Mobility AcceleratorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEO Mike Pinelis serves as an advisor and mentor to technology startups participating in the Techstars Mobility accelerator in Detroit. This relationship provides access to early-stage mobility and sensor technology companies for deal sourcing and investment evaluation.
• M2N Technologies / Dr. Douglas SparksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Douglas Sparks, President of M2N Technologies, presents workshops on semiconductor and MEMS supply chains for Microtech Ventures events. M2N Technologies is a consulting firm specializing in MEMS, sensors, and semiconductors.
• Applied Brain Research (Portfolio Company)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortfolio company developing the Legendre Memory Unit (LMU), a state-space neural network for time series AI. Microtech Ventures provides venture capital investment and strategic support. ABR spun out of Professor Chris Eliasmith's Computational Neuroscience Research Lab at the University of Waterloo.
• Blink AI Technologies (Portfolio Company)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortfolio company developing AI imaging technology using machine learning to enhance sensor performance in low-light conditions for automotive and other camera-embedded systems. Technology originated from Harvard and MIT research.
• Consumer Physics (Portfolio Company)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortfolio company that developed SCiO, an advanced optical spectrometer. Co-investors include Khosla Ventures, Spruce Capital, Analog Devices, and Sound Ventures.
• CropX (Portfolio Company)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortfolio company offering cloud-based integrated hardware and software for soil sensors with IoT connectivity. Co-investors include Finistere Ventures, GreenSoil Investments, Flextronics, RBVC (Bosch), Ireland AgTech Fund, Sumitomo Corporation, Reinke, and FarmAgro.
• Dover Microsystems (Portfolio Company)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortfolio company focused on IoT device security. CoreGuard silicon IP integrates with RISC architectures to protect against cyberattacks. Technology originated from DARPA CRASH program and was developed at Draper before spinning out in 2017.
• Hailo (Portfolio Company)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortfolio company developing a breakthrough AI chip custom-built for neural networks at the edge. Co-investors include Next Gear Ventures, Delek Motors, and Maniv Mobility. Hailo has raised $196M total (Series B: $60M, Series C: $136M).
• Harmonize (Portfolio Company)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortfolio company facilitating comprehensive care through a unified enterprise platform with sensors-enabled patient monitoring and chronic care management tools.
• Injectsense (Portfolio Company)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortfolio company enabling tracking of progressive disease indicators through an injectable ultra-miniature sensor coupled with a secure digital health platform for continuous, clinically actionable information.
• Kelzal (Portfolio Company)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortfolio company developing perception systems for autonomous vehicles using new vision sensors and AI. Co-investors include Motus Ventures.
• Lelantos (Portfolio Company)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortfolio company developing a new generation of IoT-compatible gas sensors for threat detection, industrial safety, environmental monitoring, and medical diagnostics. Awarded NSF SBIR Phase II grant.
• MemryX (Portfolio Company)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortfolio company developing in-memory computing systems for AI processing at the edge, based on research from Professor Wei Lu at the University of Michigan.
• MEMS Journal (Portfolio/Related Entity)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent publication founded by CEO Mike Pinelis in 2003, now the largest MEMS publication worldwide with 34,800+ subscribers. Serves as the core media platform and community hub for the firm's ecosystem.
• Mentium (Portfolio Company)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortfolio company developing analog in-memory computation using non-volatile memory devices for AI. Co-investors include Silicon Catalyst Angels.
• Nutrisense (Portfolio Company)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortfolio company utilizing blood glucose monitors combined with a tracking app and real-life coaching. Co-investors include Pin Capital Partners and Techstars.
• Oculi (Portfolio Company)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortfolio company producing the OCULI SPU (sensing and processing Unit), a single-chip, software-defined vision sensor delivering real-time AI vision at the edge. 18+ years of R&D led by Dr. Charbel Rizk from Johns Hopkins University.
• OnScale (Portfolio Company)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortfolio company providing cloud-based engineering simulation software for MEMS, IoT, 5G, biomedicine, and autonomous vehicles. Co-investors include Intel Capital and Gradient Ventures (Google's AI venture fund). OnScale was acquired by Ansys in April 2022.
• Oura Health (Portfolio Company)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortfolio company (Finnish health technology company, founded 2013) making the world's first sensors-enabled smart ring and wellness app. Reached $2.55B valuation. Users in over 60 countries. Several top universities and sleep clinics utilize Oura data.
• Plus One Robotics (Portfolio Company)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortfolio company making vision software for logistics robots with 3D and AI-powered perception. Co-investors include BMW, McRock, Pritzker, and Lerer.
• Propel(x) (Portfolio Company)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortfolio company — an online investment platform for deep science and technology startups. Co-investors include Franklin Templeton, FreeS Venture Capital, Sky Saga Capital, ZhenFund, and MIT Alumni Angels. Raised $5.5M investment round.
• Sight Diagnostics (Portfolio Company)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortfolio company leveraging machine vision for blood analysis at point of care from a finger prick. Introduced OLO, the first 5-differential point-of-care CBC analyzer. FDA cleared. Raised $71M Series D. Co-investors include Go Capital, Haisco, and Innovation Endeavors.
• Siren (Portfolio Company)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortfolio company developing smart textiles with embedded electronics for injury detection (first product: diabetic sock). Co-investors include Khosla Ventures, DCM, and Anathem Ventures.
• Sniffer Robotics (Portfolio Company)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortfolio company providing environmental technology services for waste, natural gas, and biogas industries. Completed projects in 28 states on 150+ sites, identifying 16,500+ methane leak sources. Co-investors include Michigan Angel Fund, Michigan Rise, Caygan Capital, and Desai Ventures.
• Kionix (Advisory Board)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. John Chong, VP of Product and Business Development at Kionix, serves on the Advisory Board of Microtech Ventures. Kionix is a MEMS inertial sensor company and part of the ROHM Semiconductor group.
• Onto Innovation (Advisory Board)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Mike Rosa, CMO & SVP of Strategy at Onto Innovation, serves on the Advisory Board. Microtech Ventures advised Inspectrology in its acquisition by Onto Innovation (transaction at 1.4x Inspectrology's 2020 revenue of ~$20M).
• OnScale (Advisory Board)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIan Campbell, CEO of OnScale, serves on the Advisory Board of Microtech Ventures. OnScale is a portfolio company that was acquired by Ansys in April 2022.
• Sense Media Group / AutoSens (Advisory Board)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRob Stead, Founder and Managing Director of Sense Media Group, serves on the Advisory Board. Sense Media Group curates the AutoSens global community of automotive sensor experts and organizes engineering events.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Woodside Capital Partners: Technology-focused boutique investment bank providing M&A and capital-raising advisory to growth-stage tech companies. Highly comparable to Microtech Ventures in being a sector-specialist boutique with a similar deal-size range and founder-led model, though covering a broader tech vertical.
• Cascadia Capital: Sector-focused middle-market investment bank with dedicated practice areas in technology and industrial growth. Competes with Microtech Ventures for growth-stage sell-side mandates and shares the boutique, founder-driven culture targeting $10M–$250M transactions.
• Lux Capital: Deep-tech venture capital firm investing in sensors, semiconductors, AI, and frontier technologies. Direct peer for the VC investing arm of Microtech Ventures, with comparable early-to-growth-stage investment focus in the sensors and microtechnology vertical.
• Drake Star Partners: Global tech-focused M&A advisory firm with strong sector coverage in deep tech, semiconductors, sensors, and emerging technologies. Direct competitor for the same sensors/MEMS sell-side mandates in the $5M–$150M range and similar transaction-fee revenue model.
• Pangaea Ventures: Venture capital firm specializing in advanced materials, sensors, and clean technology investments. Strongly comparable to Microtech Ventures' VC portfolio focus on MEMS, sensors, and microtechnology, with similar early-stage check sizes and sector-specialist positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Houlihan Lokey: Large global investment bank with a strong technology M&A franchise and dedicated industrial technology coverage. Competes for larger versions of the same sensors/semiconductor mandates, but serves a broader client base across many sectors and deal sizes.
• KeyBanc Capital Markets: Diversified investment bank with a strong technology and healthcare M&A practice, including coverage of sensor and semiconductor clients. Overlaps with Microtech Ventures' lower-middle-market tech mandates but offers a much broader product suite including equity capital markets and debt.
• Lincoln International: Global middle-market investment bank with deep sector coverage in technology, industrials, and healthcare. Overlaps with Microtech Ventures on sensor/MEMS sell-side mandates but operates at significantly larger scale with broader industry coverage and stronger process infrastructure.

Emerging players

• BootstrapLabs: Applied AI-focused venture capital firm with overlapping interest in sensor-driven AI applications across mobility, healthcare, and industrials. Comparable as a sector-focused VC in AI/sensor convergence, though with narrower geographic reach and smaller fund size than Microtech Ventures' portfolio.
• GP Bullhound: Technology-focused advisory and investment firm providing M&A and growth capital to tech companies across Europe and the US. Comparable to Microtech Ventures as a sector-specialist advisory boutique serving growth-stage tech clients, with similar transaction-fee revenue model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/microtech-ventures

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Microtech Ventures