Pitch Competition & Summit
September 23, 2026 | 8:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Tickets: $150 | U-M Golf Course Clubhouse
Presented by Ann Arbor SPARK.
The 2026 summit will bring together venture capitalists, angel investors, and founders to explore investment trends and growth strategies and see pitches from 15 startups. Watch innovation in action as high-growth startups pitch for a chance at $50,000 investments in mobility, IT, and life sciences. Finalists compete for a bonus People’s Choice award — bringing the total prize pool to $200,000. Whether you’re an investor, founder, or tech enthusiast, this is your front-row seat to Michigan’s next big thing.
Invest360 2026 Agenda
Networking & Coffee
8:00 a.m – 9:00 a.m
Welcome
9:00 a.m
- Mike Flanagan, Vice President of Capital Programs, Ann Arbor SPARK
Life Science Company Pitches
9:10 a.m
Keynote: Ecosystem Trends
10:25 a.m
- Shiloh Tilleman-Dick, Research Director, National Venture Capital Association
Break
11:00 a.m – 11:15 a.m
Mobility Company Pitches
11:15 a.m
Lunch
12:35 p.m
Reverse Pitch with a VC
1:15 p.m
- Dan Kidle, Managing Partner, Arboretum Ventures
Reverse Pitch with a VC
1:25 p.m
The HistoSonics Story: Founder-to-Commercialization CEO Transition
1:35 p.m – 2:15 p.m.
- Mike Blue, Chairman & CEO, HistoSonics
- Christine Gibbons, Founding CEO, HistoSonics, Serial Entrepreneur
Information Technology Company Pitches
2:15 p.m
Break
3:40 p.m – 3:55 p.m.
Startup Resources in the Region Panel Discussion
3:55 p.m
- Dawn Batts, Head of Private Market Investments, Union Heritage
- Michael Hopkins, Chief Executive Officer, M3D
- Kelly Sexton, Associate Vice President, University of Michigan Innovation Partnerships
- Loren Townes, Director of Entrepreneurial Services, Ann Arbor SPARK
Michigan has no shortage of startup resources. The harder part is knowing how they fit together, when to use them, and how they help move a company forward.
Universities, economic development organizations, investors, founder communities, and other partners all play a role at different points in the journey. For founders, the challenge is often figuring out where to start and what support makes sense as the company moves from early validation into commercialization, funding, and growth.
This panel brings together ecosystem leaders and a founder who has navigated many of these resources firsthand to talk through how that journey works in practice. The conversation will explore how ideas move out of universities, where organizations like Ann Arbor SPARK and other SmartZones step in, how early-stage funding can help companies de-risk, and how founders have used these resources to build momentum and become investment-ready.
For founders, the goal is to make the landscape easier to navigate. For investors, it’s a closer look at the infrastructure behind Michigan companies before they ever reach the pitch stage. And for those working across the ecosystem, it’s a chance to look more honestly at how the pieces connect, where the resources and handoffs work, and where there are still gaps to close.
Winners Announced
4:45 p.m
Peoples Choice Award Voting
4:50 p.m
Networking Happy Hour
5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Invest360 Speakers
Plus more being announced soon!
Shiloh Tillemann-Dick
Research Director
National Venture Capital Association
Shiloh serves as the research director at NVCA. He studies the venture ecosystem with a focus on understanding its broader economic impacts and how they can be optimized. His career can be summarized with a variety of buzzwords like big data, predictive analytics, artificial intelligence, etc. Fundamentally though, he focuses on understanding problems and solving them. Sometimes this involves developing automated pipelines to examine millions of SEC filings to help drive congressional decision making. Other times it involves ripping through the streets of a seedy San Francisco Suburb to find the trailer florist that made the bouquets for the NVCA gala….long story.
As far as fun facts go, Shiloh’s grandma is from Detroit and his great-grandparents had a farm in Benton Harbor, also he caught an alligator with his bare hands, once.
Keynote: Shiloh Tillemann-Dick
National Venture Capital Association
Loren Townes Jr.
Director, Entrepreneurial Services – SPARK Central
Ann Arbor SPARK
Loren has nearly a decade of experience in higher education, specializing in entrepreneurship, innovation, workforce development, business strategy, design thinking, and corporate & community engagement. He has developed and distributed valuable programs and resources to business and community leaders, entrepreneurs, faculty, students, and staff, driving growth, creativity, and economic mobility.
Currently, Loren is the director of entrepreneurial services at Ann Arbor SPARK, focusing on accelerating tech startups and early-stage companies. He previously led the Impact Studio Incubator at the Michigan-Ross School, coaching student entrepreneurs in social impact ventures. Loren also teaches at the Ross School of Business, educating students on business practices and leadership.
Loren operates a public speaking company focused on resilience through keynotes and workshops. He holds a BSBA and an MBA from Wayne State University – Mike Ilitch School of Business. Loren actively contributes to the local business community, serving on the Board of the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Regional Chamber and chairing the membership and marketing committee.
Inspired by Helen Keller’s words, “A bend in the road is not the end of the road…unless you fail to make the turn,” Loren enjoys cigars and boxing in his leisure time.
Moderator: Loren Townes Jr.
Ann Arbor SPARK
Jim Baker
Senior Associate Vice President for Research, Innovation
Michigan Technological University
Jim Baker is Senior Associate Vice President for Research, Innovation at Michigan Technological University. His responsibilities include technology commercialization, startup business development, intellectual property management, research contract and grant administration as well as leadership of campus-wide strategic initiatives related to innovation and entrepreneurship talent development, and high performance research computing, . In addition to his university responsibilities, he is the General Partner of 1885 Capital (1885.capital), the co-Managing Director of the Michigan Outdoor Innovation Fund (michiganoutdoorfund.com), and co-owner of Iverson Outdoors Inc. a manufacturer of traditional snowshoes and snowshoe-themed products based in the upper peninsula of Michigan. Jim is a registered U.S. Patent Agent, Certified Licensing Professional, and holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from Michigan Technological University.
Judge: Jim Baker
Michigan Technological University
Diane Bouis
Entrepreneur in Residence
Ben Franklin Technology Partners
Diane Bouis, PhD, MBA a serves as an Entrepreneur in Residence with Ben Franklin Technology Partners, CEO of Microvascular Health Solutions, Fundraising Board Member of BioMEMS Diagnostics, Tech Team Member with the SBDC and Founder of BullsView Ventures.
She is an alternate member of an oncology institutional review board (IRB) at University of Michigan, and a mentor in several biomedical/ medtech accelerator programs.
Dr Bouis obtained her PhD at the University of Groningen, The Netherlands and transitioned into business with an MBA from University of Michigan. She and has extensive experience managing startup portfolios through prior roles as Innovation Manager at the University of Michigan’s Innovation Partnerships Startup Incubator and as an innovation consultant with The Inovo Group and and as US Director for MedTech Innovator, the largest medtech accelerator in the world.
She is a frequent speaker on medtech/ biotech/ health-tech innovation, investment and go to market strategy, incubators and accelerators, mentorship, leadership and growing strong teams.
Besides her global roles, this native of France is a staunch supporter of her chosen Midwest startup home ecosystem and advisor to and investor in Michigan biomedical startups. She is in the early phase of building a medtech founder residency fund.
Judge: Diane Bouis
Ben Franklin Technology Partners
Ben Cohen
VP Global Marketing and Strategy
FORVIA HELLA // Hella Ventures
Ben Cohen is a dynamic executive who thrives at the intersection of strategy, innovation, and execution. As Vice President at FORVIA HELLA, he leads Global Marketing, Strategy, and the company’s venture arm Hella Ventures across the Americas. Known for his ability to untangle complexity and drive actionable outcomes, Ben has spearheaded initiatives ranging from AI-driven operations and global team restructures to regional mergers and strategic tech investments.
With a career spanning media, SaaS, corporate venture capital, and global manufacturing, Ben brings a rare blend of creativity, analytical rigor, and operational leadership. He has launched startups, built award-winning marketing campaigns, scaled enterprise systems, and transformed sales organizations. Throughout his work, he fosters cultures that move fast and think differently.
Ben holds an Executive MBA from the Quantic School of Business and Technology and a BA in Film from Emerson College. Whether guiding C-suite strategy or mentoring emerging leaders, Ben is passionate about building better, faster, smarter organizations and helping others do the same.
Judge: Ben Cohen
FORVIA HELLA // Hella Ventures
Dan Kidle
Managing Partner
Arboretum Ventures
Dan identifies promising investment opportunities across Arboretum’s sectors of interest, with particular emphasis on life science tools. He also works closely with portfolio companies to support strategic decision-making, fundraising efforts, and financial analysis. Dan currently serves as a board director for BrightSpec, Enumera Molecular, Flosonics Medical, PAK BioSolutions and Strata Oncology.
Dan has played key roles in successful Arboretum investments, including serving on the board of IntelliCyt (acquired in 2016) and leading Arboretum’s investment, and serving as board chair for both Swift Biosciences (acquired in 2021) and Dropworks (acquired in 2021). Additionally, Dan has supported investments including NeuMoDx, Strata Oncology, and SI-BONE. Dan was a recipient of the National Venture Capital Association’s Rising Star Award in 2020.
Prior to joining Arboretum, Dan held corporate finance roles at Eli Lilly & Company, supporting the company’s U.S. sales and marketing operations. Dan currently serves on the Investment Advisory Board for the Michigan Biomedical Venture Fund at the University of Michigan.
Dan earned a BBA and MBA from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.
Judge: Dan Kidle
Arboretum Ventures
Adelaide Prendushi
Community Engagement Manager
Oracle
Adelaide Prendushi is a technology, infrastructure, public affairs, and community engagement leader at Oracle. With more than 20 years of experience, she has built a multidisciplinary career spanning engineering, energy, project and program management, government relations, economic development, and strategic community partnerships.
Throughout her career, Adelaide has led complex initiatives that require collaboration among businesses, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and local communities. She is known for bringing together diverse stakeholders, navigating multifaceted challenges, and developing partnerships that support innovation, responsible growth, and long-term regional impact. Her experience at the intersection of technology, infrastructure, policy, and economic development gives her a broad perspective on how organizations can translate ambitious ideas into practical and sustainable outcomes.
Adelaide is a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Program for Leadership Development, holds the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, and is a University of Michigan alumna. She has also contributed her leadership and expertise through service on several civic, economic development, and nonprofit boards, including the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, Clean Fuels Michigan, the Eight-Mile Boulevard Association and others.
Adelaide remains deeply committed to strengthening communities, supporting emerging leaders, and advancing initiatives that connect technological innovation with economic opportunity and meaningful public impact.
Judge: Adelaide Prendushi
Oracle
Maritza Saavedra
Advisor, Ventures
Corewell Health Ventures
Maritza Saavedra is an Advisor with Corewell Health Ventures, where she helps evaluate investments and strategic partnerships across healthcare. With experience spanning venture capital, healthcare innovation, payer strategy, and health system operations, she brings a unique perspective on the commercial, clinical, and operational factors that drive successful healthcare ventures. Prior to joining Corewell Health Ventures, Maritza worked at Priority Health, the integrated health plan of the Corewell Health system, gaining deep insight into the payer landscape, healthcare operations, and industry transformation. She holds degrees from Ferris State University and Michigan State University and is passionate about supporting entrepreneurs who are advancing the future of healthcare through innovation.
Judge: Maritza Saavedra
Corewell Health Ventures
Kristin Welch
Startup Consultant & Investor
Red Cedar Ventures
Kristin Welch is a veteran of the startup ecosystem in Michigan and beyond, and is currently working with Red Cedar Ventures as an Operating Partner. Prior to this she held EIR and Advisory roles at two different B2B, SaaS model startups.
Kristin previously worked at Ford Motor Company leading teams in the innovation divisions- Ford X and Ford Next Ventures. She focused on driving technology-based business initiatives, thinking strategically about corporate innovation, and managing venture capital and other external investments for nearly 6 years. Before Ford, Kristin helped lead the ride sharing startup SPLT (“Split”) through growth, globalization, and acquisition by Robert Bosch GmbH in 2018.
Kristin has been an Advisor and Strategist for numerous startup founders, including the robotics startup Bedestrian and the health tech startup MinaRosa.
Kristin had a prior career at Deloitte in global finance, and lived and traveled frequently overseas.
Judge: Kristin Welch
Red Cedar Ventures
Dawn Batts
Head of Private Market Investments
Union Heritage
Dawn Batts leads private market investing at Union Heritage, where she is responsible for early-stage investment strategy, capital allocation, and portfolio construction. Her role centers on how capital is deployed and governed, with an emphasis on disciplined decision-making, long-term value creation, and alignment between investors and founders.
Dawn’s investment approach is shaped by a foundation in finance, operations, and entrepreneurship. She brings a practitioner’s perspective to venture investing, grounded in financial rigor, operating realities, and an understanding of how early-stage companies are built, financed, and scaled. This lens informs how she evaluates opportunities, structures investments, and partners with founders and co-investors.
Dawn is actively engaged in strengthening entrepreneurial ecosystems and expanding participation in early-stage capital. Her ecosystem work focuses on building and scaling angel investor communities regionally and nationally, increasing access to early-stage investment opportunities, and helping design capital pathways that address structural gaps in local markets. In her current and previous roles, she has contributed to developing collaborative investment models that align public, philanthropic, and private capital to support early-stage founders.
Dawn serves as Vice Chair of the Angel Capital Association and is a gubernatorial appointee to the Michigan Early-Stage Venture Investment Corporation Board. She is also a co-founder of Milestone Growth Capital Institute, an organization dedicated to strengthening early-stage capital pathways.
Dawn holds a B.A. in Accounting from Michigan State University, an MBA from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, and a PhD in Business and Cultural Anthropology from Wayne State University.
Dawn Batts
Union Heritage
Mike Blue
Chairman & CEO
HistoSonics
Mike Blue joined HistoSonics as President, CEO and Board Director in January 2017 and has over 25 years of leadership experience within the medical device sector. Since joining HistoSonics, the company has raised over $600M in equity financings, successfully completed pivotal trials in multiple clinical indications, and is now commercializing the company’s breakthrough Edison Histotripsy Platform around the world. In August 2025, Mike also assumed the role of Chairman of the Board upon the closing of a company-led majority ownership acquisition, valuing the company at over $2.25B.
Prior to joining HistoSonics, Mike led the commercial organizations at NeuWave Medical, acquired by Johnson & Johnson in 2016, and superDimension, Inc., acquired by Covidien (MDT) in 2012. He started his career as an analyst at Anderson Consulting (Accenture).
Mike Blue
HistoSonics
Christine Gibbons
Serial Entrepreneur
Christine Gibbons is a serial entrepreneur with 30+ years of operating and fundraising experience and whose passion is partnering with inventors of transformative technology to drive innovation to the marketplace. Together with other founders, Chris has launched fourteen ventures and raised over $86 million in start-up capital.
Chris enjoys mentoring entrepreneurs, supporting foundation development and value enhancement for their early-stage ventures. She draws from her experience in previous roles, including: Co-Founder/Interim CEO of HistoSonics, Inc. (medical device company using sonic beam therapy to non-invasively destroy tissue), Executive-in-Residence for Venture Investors, CFO for Sensicore (lab-on-a-chip company acquired by a division of GE), VP of Finance for Ardesta (“small-tech” venture investor), and Partner and CFO of Seaflower Ventures (venture investor focused on early-stage biomedical opportunities).
Chris currently serves on the Board of Pine Rest, a West Michigan based mental health service provider, is a member of the Grand Angels investment community, and previously held several board and advisory positions with start-up companies and university venture programs. Chris holds an MBA from Wayne State University and a BA (Accounting) from Michigan State University.
Christine Gibbons
Serial Entrepreneur
Michael Hopkins
CEO
M3D
Michael has experience working for a wide variety of different companies ranging from Fortune 50 companies to pre-revenue startups in the following sectors: e-commerce, retail, manufacturing, senior living, construction, CPG, services, emergency communications, high-tech, transportation, non-profit, energy, and clean tech.
He excels in building relationships with all partners throughout the value chain: coworkers, customers, suppliers, partners, and financers. Having led teams of hundreds of employees, Michael knows what it takes to build a team, grow sales, acquire new customers, and improve customer service. He prides himself on his communication abilities: written, verbal, and non-verbal and has a proven track record of growing sales in the retail, B2B and B2C environments. Having led the creation of multiple successful startup companies, Michael truly understands what it takes to thrive in the fast paced and uncertain startup environment.
Michael is born and raised in metro Detroit and currently resides in Ann Arbor Michigan. His passion for traveling has taken him to visit over 100 countries. He graduated in 2005 from the University of Michigan with a BA in economics and again in 2012 receiving high distinction for his MBA at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.
Michael Hopkins
M3D
Noah Keen
Investment Associate
GM Ventures
Noah evaluates and supports venture-backed startups for GM Ventures, with an emphasis on AI, advanced manufacturing, defense, and industrial technologies. He leads commercial, technical, and financial diligence for early-stage and growth investments. He also supports the implementation of AI tools to improve the investment process and has served as a board observer for GeoPura through its recent acquisition.
Prior to joining GM Ventures, Noah held roles at General Motors in Treasury, Fleet FP&A, and EV Propulsion Systems. His experience included global liquidity analysis, vehicle program forecasting, startup valuation, and evaluating opportunities related to EV technology and energy systems.
Noah earned a BBA from the University of Michigan’s Stephen M. Ross School of Business.
Noah Keen
GM Ventures
Kelly Sexton
Associate Vice President for Research – Innovation Partnerships and Economic Impact
University of Michigan Innovation Partnerships
As Associate Vice President for Research – Innovation Partnerships and Economic Impact, Kelly works closely with the Vice President for Research and Innovation as well as other leaders across the university to provide visionary and strategic leadership of U-M’s innovation, corporate research and technology commercialization activities, including overseeing Innovation Partnerships. In this role, she supports and encourages university-wide programs for intellectual property development, innovation and engagement with business and venture communities in the region, across the nation and around the globe.
Prior to her arrival at U-M in 2018, Kelly was the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Technology Commercialization and New Ventures at North Carolina State University, where she served as principal investigator for an NSF I-Corps site and co-founded an alumni angel investor network to provide a new source of funding for university startups and spinouts.
Kelly holds a B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Georgia and a Ph.D. in Molecular Pathology from the University of California, San Diego where she was supported by a fellowship from the California Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Kelly completed her postdoctoral studies at Stanford University where she was awarded a fellowship from the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Kelly serves as co-chair of the U-M Roundtable on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, on the Board of the Michigan Venture Capital Association, and as Chair of the Ann Arbor SPARK Board of Directors.
Kelly Sexton, Ph.D.
U-M Innovation Partnerships
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