Innovate Marquette

What Innovate Marquette does

Innovate Marquette SmartZone is a nonprofit technology business accelerator founded in 2015 and designated as one of 21 Michigan SmartZone tech hubs by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). Headquartered in the Kaufman Block building in Marquette, Michigan, the organization provides free business incubation, mentorship, capital facilitation, and prototyping services to entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Its core offerings include the Innovation Journey (structured incubation/acceleration program), Invent@NMU (student experiential learning partnership with Northern Michigan University), the Protolab (3D printing and laser cutting facility), Make It Marquette (talent attraction initiative), and STEM Forward (internship matching).

The underlying technology stack centers on the Protolab, which provides FDM 3D printing, full-color 3D printing, laser cutting, and CAD software for entrepreneurs to convert 2D designs into physical concept models. The organization integrates with NMU's Mechanical Engineering Technology program for senior capstone projects and offers multi-material prototyping with illuminated features and magnetic attachments. Programmatic offerings include the Outdoor Innovation Pitch competition, Women in Entrepreneurship events, Tech Talks, The Peak Conference, and the Mini Pitch. Client companies span health technology, outdoor recreation, water safety, government technology, and biotechnology.

Innovate Marquette operates as a service provider to the MEDC rather than a typical revenue-generating business. Funding flows from MEDC service contracts, federal and state grants (notably a $611,911 U.S. EDA Capital Challenge Build to Scale grant in 2021 and USDA support for the Protolab), Business Accelerator Fund awards, and follow-on funding facilitation. Core services to entrepreneurs are provided at no cost, with some specialized services grant-funded or subsidized. In FY25, the organization supported 21 new clients, helped launch 11 new businesses, facilitated $3.2 million in follow-on funding, and contributed to 53 new jobs in the region.

Name

Innovate Marquette

Legal name

Innovate Marquette SmartZone

Website

https://innovatemarquette.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Innovate Marquette is a nonprofit SmartZone technology business accelerator in Michigan's Upper Peninsula that provides free incubation, mentorship, 3D-printing prototyping, and capital facilitation to entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Incubation and Accelerator Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Venture Creation Centers (EDAHAHAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM), Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators (EDAMAHAC)

Keywords

• Business incubation services
• Startup accelerator programs
• Entrepreneurship support services
• Technology business development
• Small business mentorship

Headquarters

HQ city

Marquette

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) Service Contract: Innovate Marquette operates as a service provider to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), receiving funding and support to transform the Marquette community into a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem.
2. Federal and State Grants: Received U.S. Economic Development Administration Capital Challenge Build to Scale Grant of $611,911 in federal grant and matching dollars to support local entrepreneurship and innovation.
3. Follow-on Funding Facilitation: Helped startups secure $3.2 million in follow-on funding in FY25, facilitating investments from angel investors, grant funding, loans, and community resources for client companies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Innovate Marquette SmartZone is a nonprofit technology business accelerator that provides business incubation, mentorship, networking, capital funding facilitation, and advanced prototyping resources to entrepreneurs, startups, and existing small businesses in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. It operates the Protolab, a 3D printing and laser cutting prototyping facility, alongside programs such as Innovation Journey, Invent@NMU, Make It Marquette, and STEM Forward, and hosts pitch competitions and community events. Core services are offered free of charge to qualifying clients and funded through state and federal grants and an MEDC service contract.

Product overview

Innovate Marquette SmartZone operates as a technology business accelerator and entrepreneurial ecosystem hub, offering a portfolio of interconnected programs and services. The core offerings include the Innovation Journey (business incubation/acceleration), Invent@NMU (student innovation program at Northern Michigan University), and Protolab (3D printing prototyping facility). Supporting programs include Make It Marquette (talent attraction), STEM Forward (internship matching), and various events including Outdoor Innovation Pitch, Women in Entrepreneurship, Tech Talks, and Mini Pitch competitions. Together, these services provide comprehensive support from idea validation through startup growth for technology-focused entrepreneurs in the Marquette area.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Invent@NMU: Experiential learning program in partnership with Northern Michigan University providing students professional work experience developing products for clients.
• Protolab
• Make It Marquette

Products and services

• Innovation Journey A structured business incubation and acceleration program that guides entrepreneurs through the startup process, providing mentorship, resources, and support for technology-based innovators and startups.
• Invent@NMU An experiential learning and innovation program at Northern Michigan University that connects students with real-world client projects, providing professional work experience while supporting local entrepreneurs.
• Protolab A specialized prototyping lab equipped with state-of-the-art 3D printing technologies (FDM and full-color 3D printers) and laser cutting that transforms 2D designs into working concept models for entrepreneurs.
• Make It Marquette A talent attraction initiative designed to attract, retain, and support remote workers, entrepreneurs, and businesses to the Marquette area to foster economic development.
• STEM Forward A STEM-focused internship program that matches STEM graduates with innovative companies in the Upper Peninsula, facilitated through Ann Arbor Spark's MI STEM Forward program.

Quantifiable outcome

• 53 new jobs created through facilitated business outcomes in FY25
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 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

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015MEDC designates Innovate Marquette as one of 21 SmartZone tech hubs in Michigan and serves as the primary funding and oversight partner. Innovate Marquette operates as a service provider to MEDC, transforming the Marquette community into a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem with resources, technology, capital, and opportunities.
• City of MarquettecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey municipal partner providing support for Innovate Marquette operations. The city has designated Marquette as a SmartZone area and partnered on initiatives including the Make It Marquette talent attraction program and various community projects.
• Northern Michigan University (NMU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor academic partner hosting the Invent@NMU program, providing student talent, research facilities, and educational programs. NMU students work with Innovate Marquette clients through experiential learning projects and senior capstone programs.
• MTEC SmartZone (Houghton)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnother Michigan SmartZone in Houghton, Michigan. SwimSmart Technology (client company) started with MTEC before relocating to Marquette. The SmartZone network enables cross-regional collaboration and client referrals.
• Michigan Small Business Development Center (SBDC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides Business Accelerator Fund (BAF) funding to qualifying business accelerators in the Michigan SmartZone network. BAF funding helps startups like SwimSmart and Med Pros Share access capital for development.
• Michigan Technological UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUpper Peninsula university partner. SwimSmart Technology founder Jacob Soter was a student at MTU and participated in the SmartStart incubator program at MTEC SmartZone.
• Centrepolis AcceleratormajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner accelerator providing product development services. Co-sponsor of Outdoor Innovation Pitch Competition with Michigan Outdoor Innovation Fund and Innovate Marquette. Awarded HSI Relax Release the Make It In Michigan Award worth up to $5,000.
• Lake Superior Watershed PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with the Protolab for the Trailbarrow senior capstone project, developing a hitch system for electric wheelbarrows to support trail construction efficiency.
• Massachusetts Municipal AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSyncurrent (Innovate Marquette client) announced a partnership with MMA to serve Massachusetts municipalities with government technology solutions for capital access.
• Ann Arbor Spark MI STEM ForwardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMI STEM Forward program matches STEM-focused graduates with innovative companies. Innovate Marquette is a proud affiliate providing internship opportunities in the Upper Peninsula.
• InvestUPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional economic development organization supporting Upper Peninsula businesses. Marty Fittante (InvestUP) is noted as a key supporter of SwimSmart Technology.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Ann Arbor SPARK: Regional economic development organization serving the greater Ann Arbor area, operating the MI STEM Forward program with which Innovate Marquette is affiliated. Significantly larger and broader in scope, but provides overlapping incubation, talent attraction, and ecosystem-building services in Michigan.
• Techstars: Global accelerator network operating mentorship-driven programs for early-stage startups. Comparable in accelerator function (mentorship, networking, capital facilitation) but operates commercially with equity participation, contrasting with Innovate Marquette's grant-funded nonprofit model.
• gener8tor: National venture capital firm and accelerator operator running multiple programs across the U.S. including Michigan-based cohorts. Comparable in accelerator function but operates at much larger scale with private investor backing rather than nonprofit/grant model.

Others

• Northern Michigan University - College of Business / NMU Innovation Hub: Academic partner institution hosting the Invent@NMU program. Not a competing accelerator but an enabling institution whose faculty, students, and facilities (including NMU Engineering Technology capstone) underpin Innovate Marquette's programming.
• Michigan Small Business Development Center (SBDC): Statewide small business advisory network administering the Business Accelerator Fund that supports Innovate Marquette clients (SwimSmart, Med Pros Share). Provides complementary (not directly competing) small business support services across Michigan.

Regional players

• InvestUP: Regional economic development organization covering Michigan's Upper Peninsula, identified as a key supporter of Innovate Marquette client SwimSmart. Operates in the same geography with related economic development focus but is broader in scope than startup acceleration specifically.
• Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) SmartZone: Another Michigan SmartZone serving the Lansing region with similar technology business acceleration services. Operates as part of the same statewide SmartZone network under MEDC but serves a different geographic market (Mid-Michigan vs. UP).
• Grand Rapids SmartZone (GVSU): One of the other 21 Michigan SmartZone tech hubs, anchored at Grand Valley State University. Operates the same MEDC-designated SmartZone accelerator model as Innovate Marquette but serves West Michigan rather than the Upper Peninsula, making it a geographic peer in the same statewide network.

Direct peers

• MTEC SmartZone: Michigan SmartZone tech hub in Houghton, MI serving Michigan's western Upper Peninsula. Most directly comparable peer—both are designated SmartZone accelerators under MEDC serving rural UP regions, and client SwimSmart Technology actually relocated from MTEC to Innovate Marquette, evidencing direct overlap in target market and service offerings.
• Centrepolis Accelerator: Michigan-based product development accelerator for small businesses. Named directly as a partner/co-sponsor of the Outdoor Innovation Pitch Competition and awarded the Make It In Michigan Award to a shared client (HSI Relax Release). Operates a similar accelerator model with grant-funded client services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/imqt_smartzone
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCgUldtwiVzuq9PGLhQS_BBA
• Facebookfacebook.com/innovatemarquette
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/innovatemarquette
• Instagraminstagram.com/innovatemarquette

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Innovate Marquette