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Upcoming Events

We’re currently planning our next event. We can’t wait to share it with you!

Past Events

May 18, 2023, 5 PM

Highs and Lows on Startup Road

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Several founders who received NEF coaching in past years will rejoin us to share inside stories of their journeys down the path of entrepreneurship. They will share their initial visions for their companies and how those have grown or evolved over the years of interacting with their customers and investors.

Moderator

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Man in Beige Blazer Holding Tablet Computer
April 20, 2023, 5 PM to 7:30 PM

PITCH PIT AND SHOWCASE

Ann Arbor, Michigan

New Enterprise Forum will be presenting Skip Simms, former Ann Arbor SPARK vice president and Michigan Angel Fund managing member, with a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his substantial contributions to the startup ecosystem in the state of Michigan. This award will be presented by Rick Snyder, Co-Founder and CEO of SensCy and the former Governor of Michigan. Skip and Rick w

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March 16, 2023, 5 PM

Choosing the Right Startup Accelerator Partner

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Our panel will explore the different kinds of startup accelerator and incubator partners, and how founders and entrepreneurs can identify the right one for their business.

Moderator

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February 16, 2023, 5 PM

Awards Celebration

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Join our members and celebrate the accomplishments of the outstanding startup entrepreneurs being recognized by New Enterprise Forum.

From among the entrepreneurs who were coached by NEF and delivered a Showcase Presentation at a Forum in 2022, we will recognize the best performers in three categories: 

  • Best Business Model
  • Best Technology
  • Best Presentation

Join us to find out who the winners are!

Our Rising Star Awards recognize startup founders who are in the early growth stage but have already demonstrated significant traction and are making a name for themselves in t

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January 19, 2023, 5 PM to 7:30 PM

Pitch Pit and Showcase

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Selected entrepreneurs will each give a four-minute pitch of their business plan to a panel of investor judges in a “Shark Tank” format.  PowerPoint slides are not permitted. Think of it as the proverbial “elevator speech.”

After each pitch, the judges will give detailed feedback and score the business. At the end of the evening, the person with the highest score will receive a $250 cash prize.as well as the opportunity to receive a free Business Readiness Assessment from NEF.

Contestants

  • Amika Adams I from Latrenae’ Collection
  • Austin Pollock from Reel Free
  • Tyler S
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November 17, 2022, 5 PM

Matching Funders and Founders

Ann Arbor, Michigan

A panel of experts will discuss how founders can find the right investors to help their company grow considering all aspects of the founder-funder relationship.

Moderator

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October 20, 2022, 5 PM to 7:30 PM

Pitch Pit and Showcase

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Selected entrepreneurs will each give a four-minute pitch of their business plan to a panel of investor judges in a “Shark Tank” format.  PowerPoint slides are not permitted. Think of it as the proverbial “elevator speech.”

After each pitch, the judges will give detailed feedback and score the business. At the end of the evening, the person with the highest score will receive a $250 cash prize.as well as the opportunity to receive a free Business Readiness Assessment from NEF.

Contestants

  • Dan Champoux of GEKOT, providing Comprehensive Alerting Technology for Scooters.
  • Austin Chrzanowski of Mind Sprout Box,  providing subscription bo
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September 15, 2022

Panel: Controlling the Chaos

 Many entrepreneurial CEOs/ Founders start with a great idea, full of passion and possibility, but as the company grows in people and revenue the chaos begins and what once was passion can become a burden. Our panel of experts will discuss strategies for helping early stage companies manage the chaos, focus on what’s important, and avoid burnout.

Moderator

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July 14, 2022, 5 PM

July Pitch Pit and Showcase

Lynne Matallana is Founder/President of Community Health Focus, Inc. ™ & CEO of its interactive digital health program for guided self-care, PAIN TOOLS®. As the only personalized, guided bi-directional communication, digital health and human touch chronic pain platform for women, ages 40-75, PAIN TOOLS®, provides the assistance, resources & tools needed to ensure better health outcomes.

[read more]
June 16, 2022, 5 PM - 7 PM

June Panel and Showcase

Ann Arbor

Mark Russell is Co-Founder & CEO of CatalystXL, a Michigan company offering 
Cardware, an all-in-one platform that brings together communications, content, and data into a single, intuitive, custom-branded experience. Cardware addresses a fundamental problem that organizations are increasingly facing – the inefficiency of using multiple channels, platforms, tools, and applications, to communicate, interact, and share with colleagues, customers, partners, and suppliers. Cardware creates engaging and easy-to-use experiences,

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May 19, 2022, 5 PM - 7 PM

An Entrepreneur’s Journey

Ann Arbor

Our first in-person Forum in two years features an engaging speaker and great networking opportunities.

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April 21, 2022, 5 PM

Pitch Pit and Showcase

Derrick Redding, CEO. Betterfrost’s solution defrosts and defogs Electric Vehicles’ windshields with 20 times less power than current technology and extends the range of an EV by 38 km in winter.  The system provides high-voltage, pulsed power to the conductive layer inside of windshields. and is based on decades of research at the Dartmouth Ice lab. Betterfrost’s patented system provides only the minimal amount of heat necessary to reach the correct penetration depth to melt the boundary layer of ice for easy removal.

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March 17, 2022, 5 PM

Showcase and Panel: “Soft Skills for Entrepreneurs - How important are they?”

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February 17, 2022, 5 PM - 6:30 PM ET

Annual Awards Celebration

Join our members and celebrate the accomplishments of the startup entrepreneurs being recognized by New Enterprise Forum.

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January 20, 2022, 5 PM

January Showcase and Pitch Pit

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November 18, 2021, 5 PM - 6:30 PM

Panel: “Do You Even Need to Impress Investors in Today’s Fundraising World?”

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man speaks to seated audience
October 21, 2021, 5 PM

October Pitch Pit

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four hands clasped at wrists
Thursday, 16 September 2021, 4:00 pm

How to Impress Investors with your Startup’s Team

Showcase Presentation and Panel Discussion

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22 July 2021

Showcase and Pitch Pit

An entrepreneur who has perfected a ten-minute investor pitch with the help of NEF coaches will present their company and take questions from the audience.

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17 June 2021

Online Panel Discussion - “How to Impress Investors with Your  Startup’s Traction.”

An entrepreneur who has perfected a ten-minute investor pitch with the help of NEF coaches will present their company and take questions from the audience.

Will Winn Games Inc. is a new East Lansing-based game studio established in Q4 of 2020 and launched out of the Michigan State University Game Development Program, Spartan Innovations, and Red Cedar Ventures. WWG was founded by faculty and former faculty of Michigan State University’s number 1 ranked game development program1 and is staffed by MSU GameDev alumni and veterans of the game industry. The initial game that Will Winn Games is launching is a game called Plunder Panic, a swashbuckli

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20 May 2021

Showcase and Pitch Pit

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15 April 2021

Online Panel Discussion: How to Impress Investors with your Business Plan Financials

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18 March 2021

Showcase & Pitch Pit

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February 18, 2021

NEF Annual Awards Event

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January 21, 2021

NEF Showcase Presentation and Pitch Pit

New Enterprise Forum invites anyone interested in entrepreneurship to join us for an ONLINE Forum Meeting.  Join us  to ask questions, keep pace with local entrepreneurs, and connect with people who support the local start-up community.

BACKBOARD

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November 19–20, 2020

NEF Showcase Presentation and Panel Discussion - Online Event

New Enterprise Forum invites anyone interested in entrepreneurship to join us for an ONLINE Forum Meeting.

We showcase an outstanding team of entrepreneurs who are looking to raise capital for their venture. They have gone through an extensive coaching from our experienced coaches and these founders are eager to present their venture to the entrepreneurial community at this event.

This event gives the start-up the opportunity to practice presenting to investors and others interested in the Detroit Area entrepreneurial community.  Each presentation will reflect NEF training on what is important to communicate and what not to do. They would greatly appreciate your feedback, insights and encouragement. You will also learn a few tips and techniques in sha

[read more]
October 15, 2020

NEF Showcase Presentation and Pitch Pit

New Enterprise Forum invites anyone interested in entrepreneurship to join us for an ONLINE Forum Meeting. 

During this unprecedented time, we want to continue to support our entrepreneurs and give them a chance to connect with the entrepreneurial community, even if it means going VIRTUAL in presenting their ideas and business plans.

We showcase an outstanding team of entrepreneurs who are looking to raise capital for their venture. They have gone through an extensive coaching from our experienced coaches and these founders are eager to present their venture to the entrepreneurial community at this event.

This event gives the start-up the opportunity to practice presenting to investors and others interested in the Detroit Area entrepreneurial c

[read more]
September 17, 2020

NEF Showcase Presentation and Panel Discussion - Online Event

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July 16, 2020

NEF Pitch Pit and Fireside Chat - Online Event

New Enterprise Forum invites anyone interested in entrepreneurship to join us for an ONLINE Forum Meeting. 

During this unprecedented time, we want to continue to support our entrepreneurs and give them a chance to connect with the entrepreneurial community, even if it means going VIRTUAL in presenting their ideas and business plans.

We showcase an outstanding team of entrepreneurs who are looking to raise capital for their venture. They have gone through an extensive coaching from our experienced coaches and these founders are eager to present their venture to the entrepreneurial community at this event.

Join us at this ONLINE meeting to ask questions, keep pace with local entrepreneurs, and connect with people who support the local start-up c

[read more]
June 18, 2020

NEF Showcase Presentation and Panel Discussion - Online Event

New Enterprise Forum invites anyone interested in entrepreneurship to join us for an ONLINE Forum Meeting.

During this unprecedented time, we want to continue to support our entrepreneurs and give them a chance to connect with the entrepreneurial community, even if it means being VIRTUAL in presenting their ideas and business plans.

We showcase an outstanding team of entrepreneurs who are looking to raise capital for their venture. They have gone through an extensive coaching from our experienced coaches and these founders are eager to present their venture to the entrepreneurial community at this event.

This event gives the start-up the opportunity to practice presenting to investors and others interested in the Detroit Area entrepreneurial communi

[read more]
May 21, 2020

NEF Showcase Presentation and Pitch Pit - Online Event

New Enterprise Forum invites anyone interested in entrepreneurship to join us for an ONLINE Forum Meeting. 

During this unprecedented time, we want to continue to support our entrepreneurs and give them a chance to connect with the entrepreneurial community, even if it means going VIRTUAL in presenting their ideas and business plans.

We showcase an outstanding team of entrepreneurs who are looking to raise capital for their venture. They have gone through an extensive coaching from our experienced coaches and these founders are eager to present their venture to the entrepreneurial community at this event.

This event gives the start-up the opportunity to practice presenting to investors and others interested in the Detroit Area entrepreneurial c

[read more]
April 16, 2020

NEF Showcase Presentation and Panel Discussion - Online Event

New Enterprise Forum invites anyone interested in entrepreneurship to join us for an ONLINE Forum Meeting.

[read more]
February 20, 2020

NEF Celebrates Entrepreneurship - Annual Awards

Ann Arbor, Michigan

This month Ripple Science will present their story and give us an update since they initially presented in November 2016 as NEF Showcase Presenter. They recently completed a fund raising round of $2.5 Million.

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January 16, 2020

NEF Showcase Presentation and Pitch Pit

Ann Arbor, Michigan

We showcase an outstanding team of entrepreneurs who are looking to raise capital for their venture. They have gone through an extensive coaching from our experienced coaches and these founders are eager to present their venture to the entrepreneurial community at this event.

This event gives the start-up the opportunity to practice presenting to investors and others interested in the Detroit Area entrepreneurial community.  Each presentation will reflect NEF training on what is important to communicate and what not to do. They would greatly appreciate your feedback, insights and encouragement. You will also learn a few tips and techniques in sharpening your own pitch for your venture.

Join us at this meeting to ask questio

[read more]
December 19, 2019

Holiday Break - No Forum Meeting in December

Ann Arbor, Michigan

To allow everyone to unwind and relax, we will be taking a break from our normal Forum schedule for December. However, that does not mean we are taking a break from NEF coaching or participating in other entrepreneurial events around the area.

The next NEF Forum event will be on January 16, 2020.  Mark your calendar. 

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November 21, 2019

Gaining Early Traction - Go To Market and First Revenue

Ann Arbor, Michigan

This month we are presenting two winners from the 2019 Global Automotive Mobility Innovation Competition held at Cobo Center during SAE WCX’19 in April 2019. Several NEF coaches volunteered their time to coach GAMIC semifinalists and finalists during the competition year from Nov 2018 to April 2019.

These founders are eager to present their venture to the entrepreneurial community at this event. They would greatly appreciate your feedback, insights and encouragement. You will also learn a few tips and techniques in sharpening your own pitch for your venture. This event gives the start-up the opportunity to practice presenting to investors and others interested in the Detroit Area entrepreneurial community.

Join us a

[read more]
October 17, 2019

NEF Showcase Presentation and Pitch Pit

Ann Arbor, Michigan

We showcase an outstanding team of entrepreneurs who are looking to raise capital for their venture. They have gone through an extensive coaching from our experienced coaches and these founders are eager to present their venture to the entrepreneurial community at this event.

This event gives the start-up the opportunity to practice presenting to investors and others interested in the Detroit Area entrepreneurial community.  Each presentation will reflect NEF training on what is important to communicate and what not to do. They would greatly appreciate your feedback, insights and encouragement. You will also learn a few tips and techniques in sharpening your own pitch for your venture.

Join us at this meeting to ask ques

[read more]
September 19, 2019

NEF Showcase Presentation and Panel Discussion

Ann Arbor, Michigan

We showcase an outstanding team of entrepreneurs who are looking to raise capital for their venture. They have gone through extensive coaching from our experienced coaches and these founders are eager to present their venture to the entrepreneurial community at this event. They would greatly appreciate your feedback, insights and encouragement. You will also learn a few tips and techniques in sharpening your own pitch for your venture.

This event gives the start-up the opportunity to practice presenting to investors and others interested in the Detroit Area entrepreneurial community. Each presentation will reflect NEF training on what is important to communicate and what not to do.

Join us at this meeting to ask question

[read more]
August 15, 2019

Summer Break - No Forum in August

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Our next Forum event will be on 19 September 2019 as we will be taking a break from our normal Forum schedule for August. However, that does not mean we are taking a break from NEF coaching or participating in other entrepreneurial events around the area.

We are extending to you, our NEF Supporters, a huge thank you and hope to see you again at the September Forum meeting. Details will be posted after returning from our brief respite.

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July 25, 2019

NEF Showcase Presentation and Pitch Pit

Ann Arbor, Michigan

We showcase an outstanding team of entrepreneurs who are looking to raise capital for their venture. They have gone through an extensive coaching from our experienced coaches and these founders are eager to present their venture to the entrepreneurial community at this event.

This event gives the start-up the opportunity to practice presenting to investors and others interested in the Detroit Area entrepreneurial community.  Each presentation will reflect NEF training on what is important to communicate and what not to do. They would greatly appreciate your feedback, insights and encouragement. You will also learn a few tips and techniques in sharpening your own pitch for your venture.

Join us at this meeting to ask questio

[read more]
June 20, 2019

NEF Showcase Presentation and Panel Discussion

Ann Arbor, Michigan

We showcase an outstanding team of entrepreneurs who are looking to raise capital for their venture. They have gone through an extensive coaching from our experienced coaches and these founders are eager to present their venture to the entrepreneurial community at this event. They would greatly appreciate your feedback, insights and encouragement. You will also learn a few tips and techniques in sharpening your own pitch for your venture.

This event gives the start-up the opportunity to practice presenting to investors and others interested in the Detroit Area entrepreneurial community. Each presentation will reflect NEF training on what is important to communicate and what not to do. They would greatly appreciate your feedback, ins

[read more]
May 16, 2019

NEF Showcase Presentation and Pitch Pit

Ann Arbor, Michigan

We showcase an outstanding team of entrepreneurs who are looking to raise capital for their venture. They have gone through an extensive coaching from our experienced coaches and these founders are eager to present their venture to the entrepreneurial community at this event.

This event gives the start-up the opportunity to practice presenting to investors and others interested in the Detroit Area entrepreneurial community.  Each presentation will reflect NEF training on what is important to communicate and what not to do. They would greatly appreciate your feedback, insights and encouragement. You will also learn a few tips and techniques in sharpening your own pitch for your venture.

Join us at this meeting to ask ques

[read more]
April 18, 2019

NEF Past Presenter Update and Panel Discussion

Ann Arbor, Michigan

We showcase an outstanding team of entrepreneurs who are looking to raise capital for their venture. They have gone through an extensive coaching from our experienced coaches and these founders are eager to present their venture to the entrepreneurial community at this event.

This event gives the start-up the opportunity to practice presenting to investors and others interested in the Detroit Area entrepreneurial community.  Each presentation will reflect NEF training on what is important to communicate and what not to do. They would greatly appreciate your feedback, insights and encouragement. You will also learn a few tips and techniques i sharpening your own pitch for your venture.

Join us at this meeting to ask quest

[read more]
March 21, 2019, 5:00 pm

NEF Showcase Presentation and Pitch Pit

Ann Arbor, Michigan

We showcase an outstanding team of entrepreneurs who are looking to raise capital for their venture. They have gone through an extensive coaching from our experienced coaches and these founders are eager to present their venture to the entrepreneurial community at this event.

This event gives the start-up the opportunity to practice presenting to investors and others interested in the Detroit Area entrepreneurial community.  Each presentation will reflect NEF training on what is important to communicate and what not to do. They would greatly appreciate your feedback, insights and encouragement. You will also learn a few tips and techniques in sharpening your own pitch for your venture.

Join us at this meeting to ask ques

[read more]
February 21, 2019

NEF Celebrates Entrepreneurship - Annual Awards

New Enterprise Forum invites anyone interested in entrepreneurship to join us at our monthly Forum to connect with entrepreneurs, investors, service providers and businesses.

The February 2019 meeting is our 33rd birthday party, where we celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit. Join in on the fun as we celebrate entrepreneurialism by awarding the 2018 NEF Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Guess which 2018 NEF Showcase Presenters will take home pitch awards for Best Presentation, Best Technology and Best Business Model. Be a part of coaching, perfecting and connecting at NEF where entrepreneurs rule!

Join us at this meeting to ask questions, keep pace with local entrepreneurs, and connect with people who support the local start-up community.

[read more]
January 24, 2019

NEF Showcase Presentation and Pitch Pit

We showcase an outstanding team of entrepreneurs who are looking to raise capital for their venture. They have gone through an extensive coaching from our experienced coaches and these founders are eager to present their venture to the entrepreneurial community at this event.

This event gives the start-up the opportunity to practice presenting to investors and others interested in the Detroit Area entrepreneurial community.  Each presentation will reflect NEF training on what is important to communicate and what not to do. They would greatly appreciate your feedback, insights, and encouragement. You will also learn a few tips and techniques in sharpening your own pitch for your venture.

Join us at this meeting to ask

[read more]