Michigan Founders Fund

What Michigan Founders Fund does

Michigan Founders Fund (MFF) is a Michigan-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit venture development organization founded in 2020 by Trista Van Tine and Dug Song. It operates a membership network of more than 150 high-growth founders and venture capitalists across 15 industry verticals, including consumer, healthcare, energy, SaaS, fintech, AI/computer vision, and social impact. Members gain peer support, programming access, and exposure to venture capital deal flow, and commit to a "Michigan Pledge" of donating 1% of equity or carry to a Michigan-focused grant-making fund.

MFF's product portfolio is non-technological in nature and consists of programs and events rather than software or hardware offerings. Signature programs include the annual Michigan Tech Week (launched 2022, drawing 1,200+ attendees and 245 participating startups by 2026), the MFF Pre-Accelerator (in partnership with gener8tor, launched 2025), the Emerging Talent Internship Program (launched 2021 for SEMI students), Founders First Fridays, the annual Founders Retreat, the Venture Together Competition ($100,000 grand prize), Lightning Rounds corporate-startup matchmaking, the Inclusive Leadership Community of Practice Series (with Perfeqta, launched 2025), and the Community Trailblazer Awards. MFF is the coordinating entity behind the Innovation Alliance, a statewide coalition of 100+ organizations announced in 2026.

MFF is funded through donations and grants and does not charge fees for membership or programming. Its operating model relies on a small core staff of four executives (Executive Director Rishi Moudgil since April 2024, Head of Connection Pete Martin, Emerging Talent Program Lead Emily Samar, and Operations Director Delaney Keating) plus interns. The organization is governed by a board co-chaired by co-founder Dug Song and operates statewide across Michigan, with primary event hosting at Michigan Central in Detroit and member engagement spanning Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, Traverse City, Flint, and other markets.

Name

Michigan Founders Fund

Legal name

Michigan Founders Fund

Website

https://michiganfoundersfund.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Michigan Founders Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates a statewide network of 150+ high-growth Michigan founders and venture capitalists, delivering events, accelerators, and talent programs funded through donations and a member equity-pledge.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Ecosystem Development

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

SDG / Thematic Sustainable Investment Funds (FSANAJAN), Development Finance & Blended Finance Facilities (BPADAOAD)

Keywords

• Startup ecosystem development
• Founder community network
• Venture development nonprofit
• Entrepreneurship support programs
• Startup networking events

Headquarters

HQ city

Ann Arbor

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: MFF operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization funded primarily through donations. Members make the Michigan Pledge to donate 1% of equity or carry to a Michigan-focused grant-making fund.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Michigan Founders Fund (MFF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit venture development organization that builds and supports a statewide network of high-growth founders and venture capitalists in Michigan. It provides programming including a pre-accelerator, an emerging talent internship program, monthly networking events, an annual flagship conference (Michigan Tech Week), and pitch competitions. Members pledge 1% of equity or carry to a philanthropic fund supporting Michigan communities.

Product overview

Michigan Founders Fund is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) venture development organization that supports Michigan-based high-growth founders through community, capital access, and equity-centered programming. The organization offers a portfolio of interconnected programs including: MFF Pre-Accelerator (in partnership with gener8tor) for early-stage underrepresented founders; the Emerging Talent Internship Program connecting SEMI students with startup opportunities; Founders First Fridays and Founders Retreat for peer networking; Michigan Tech Week as the flagship annual statewide conference; and the Venture Together Competition awarding $100,000 to collaborative founder teams. MFF members pledge 1% of equity or carry to a philanthropic fund supporting Michigan communities. The organization also partners with Perfeqta for inclusive leadership training.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Michigan Tech Week: Michigan's premier annual convening for tech and high-growth entrepreneurship, bringing together founders, investors, corporate innovators, and community leaders across the state.
• Emerging Talent Program
• MFF Pre-Accelerator
• Founders First Fridays
• Founders Retreat

Products and services

• Michigan Tech Week Michigan's premier annual convening for tech and high-growth entrepreneurship, hosting founders, investors, corporate innovators, students, and community leaders for three days of programming, connection, and collaboration.
• MFF Pre-Accelerator Early-stage pre-accelerator program in partnership with gener8tor, designed specifically for underrepresented founders to build and scale their startups with intensive accelerator-style programming, mentorship, and resources.
• Emerging Talent Internship Program Gateway program for socially and economically marginalized postsecondary students providing exposure to entrepreneurship and paid professional opportunities to empower them for careers in the Michigan startup community.
• Founders First Fridays Regular monthly networking event for founders to connect, share experiences, and build relationships within the MFF community.
• Founders Retreat Annual retreat for founders to find fellowship and community among Michigan's innovators, featuring team-building activities and educational sessions.
• Venture Together Competition Pitch competition where startup founders team up to pitch solutions for building exceptional companies alongside a commitment to people, places, and the planet. The winning team receives a $100,000 grand prize.
• Lightning Rounds Curated one-on-one meetings between startups and corporate innovation teams, facilitating connections for pilots, partnerships, and investment opportunities through 15-minute sessions between founders and corporate innovation leaders.
• Women's Innovation Lounge Networking event bringing together women founders, investors, and innovators for guided conversations and insights from startup veterans and female founders.
• Community Trailblazer Awards Annual recognition program for Michigan-based organizations advancing racial justice, providing grants and support to Black community leaders and organizations.
• Inclusive Leadership Community of Practice Series Training and advisory program in partnership with Perfeqta delivering virtual workshops, personalized advisory services, and actionable tools to help early-stage founders build people-first businesses through inclusive hiring, retention, and culture practices.

Quantifiable outcome

• Members have collectively raised over $350 million of investment capital
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PerfeqtacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025MFF partnered with Perfeqta, a leadership consulting firm, to launch the MFF x Perfeqta Inclusive Leadership Community of Practice Series. This initiative provides virtual workshops, personalized advisory services, and actionable tools to help early-stage founders build people-first businesses through inclusive hiring, retention, and culture practices.
• gener8torcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025MFF partnered with gener8tor to deliver the MFF Pre-Accelerator Program, providing early-stage underrepresented founders with intensive accelerator-style programming, mentorship, and resources for startup advancement.
• Thrive and Shine LLCminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner organization collaborating with MFF on the Emerging Talent Program to provide DEIB training tools and support hiring organizations in diversity and inclusion best practices.
• Michigan CentralcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMichigan Central, the revitalized innovation hub in Detroit's Corktown, serves as the host venue for Michigan Tech Week events. The partnership positions MFF's flagship event at a central location for Michigan's startup ecosystem.
• Henry Ford HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate innovation leader participating in Michigan Tech Week. VP and Chief Innovation Officer Lisa Prasad represents the organization in startup partnership discussions.
• Innovation AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst-of-its-kind statewide coalition launched at MTW 2026, connecting investors, research universities, corporations, founders, and startups. The Alliance aims to position Michigan as a Top 10 U.S. innovation economy with over 100 organizations committed.
• Ann Arbor SPARKminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-sponsored MFF pitch competition prize during NFL Draft week events in Detroit, supporting startup visibility and awards.
• Kapor CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-sponsored MFF pitch competition prize during NFL Draft week, contributing to diversity and inclusion in Michigan startup ecosystem.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• gener8tor: National venture development organization and accelerator operator; comparable because it is a core MFF partner (delivers the MFF Pre-Accelerator) and operates the same hybrid nonprofit/for-profit model of founder support, programming, and investor access.
• 1871: Chicago-based nonprofit technology hub and startup community center; comparable as a regional nonprofit that provides programming, events, and a curated founder network as its core offering, with a similar member-driven community model.
• MassChallenge: Global nonprofit accelerator that runs equity-free programs for early-stage founders; comparable because it shares MFF's nonprofit venture development model, focus on inclusive founder access, and programming-driven (rather than fund-driven) value proposition.
• Capital Factory: Texas-based startup community hub and accelerator; comparable as a regional nonprofit-style community organization that convenes founders, investors, and corporates through flagship events, programming, and a curated membership model.
• Village Capital: Global nonprofit impact investment and venture support organization; comparable as a nonprofit that runs founder-development programs with a focus on impact-oriented, underrepresented, and place-based entrepreneurship, similar to MFF's SEMI and 1% Pledge framing.
• Venture For America: National nonprofit fellowship placing early-career talent into startup ecosystems; comparable as a mission-driven nonprofit that builds the founder/talent pipeline in U.S. cities and overlaps with MFF's talent-development programming.

Regional players

• Ann Arbor SPARK: Michigan's regional economic development organization focused on attracting and growing companies in the Ann Arbor region; comparable as a Michigan-based ecosystem builder serving overlapping founder and corporate audiences, and a co-sponsor of MFF events.
• Innovation Works: Pittsburgh-based seed-stage investor and ecosystem builder operating as a nonprofit; comparable as a regional nonprofit combining programming, talent development, and capital access for founders in a single U.S. metro ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Techstars: Global accelerator network and venture development organization; comparable as a much larger incumbent in the same accelerator/venture development space that MFF operates in, though with a for-profit franchise model versus MFF's nonprofit structure.
• Kapor Capital: Impact venture firm and ecosystem funder (Kapor Center co-sponsors MFF pitch prizes); comparable as a larger impact-oriented capital and ecosystem organization focused on closing opportunity gaps, similar to MFF's racial-justice and SEMI-focused mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/michigan-founders-fund

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

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 Michigan Founders Fund