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HOUGHTON, MI (Nov. 30, 2016) – ProNav Marine, an MTEC SmartZone client, was among 10 winning finalists selected at the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition in Detroit, Nov. 4. Co-Founders Travis White, Nels Benda, and Neil Anderson reeled in the 3rd Runner Up Award, earning $25,000 to put towards their company.
Their product, the ProNav Angler, is a GPS autopilot for electric trolling motors. Designed to let anglers focus on fishing, the device connects to the shaft of a bow mount trolling motor to allow total boat control from a smartphone or tablet.
MTEC SmartZone encourages early-stage companies to take advantage of Accelerate Michigan as one of many funding opportunities for growth. ProNav Marine has benefited significantly from support resources and entrepreneurial coaching that MTEC SmartZone has provided, including preparation and application for the competition.
ProNav graduated from MTEC SmartZone’s SmartStart program, a startup business development program, and moved into MTEC’s incubator office space in the Jutila Center.
Over 200 companies applied to be in the competition. 36 semifinalists were invited to the competition and pitched to over 600 entrepreneurs, investors, and stakeholders. ProNav was selected as a Top 10 finalist and ultimately won the 3rd Runner Up Award.
Accelerate Michigan is a global business competition designed to highlight Michigan as a vibrant venue for innovation and business opportunity, showcasing the best and brightest new ventures to potential investors to help foster their growth in Michigan. The competition is sponsored by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).
The competition is open to any early-stage business anywhere in the world that has a strong technology or concept with significant growth potential. Up for grabs is a $500,000 Grand Prize and total of $1 million in awards of cash and in-kind prizes.
Accelerate Michigan has been featuring top tech companies and investment opportunities for the past seven years. With assistance from MTEC SmartZone, REL, Inc. earned $50,000 and LiteBrake Tech, LLC won $25,000 in 2013. Additionally, QTEK, LLC won $25,000 and Neuvokas Corp. took home the $10,000 People’s Choice award at last year’s competition.
MTEC SmartZone CEO Marilyn Clark said, “Our region is a high-tech region. We have companies here who are the best in the world in their space. It is wonderful that our startups have access to these types of funding opportunities.”
For more information about Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition, visit http://acceleratemichigan.org/.
Since April 2002, MTEC SmartZone has been guiding entrepreneurs and helping create high tech jobs in Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula. They’re one of 17 Michigan SmartZones that provide office space, training, access to funding, coaching and other resources to help businesses owners develop ideas, patents and innovative opportunities. Visit http://mtecsz.com to learn more.
