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Upcoming Events

June 19, 2025

June Forum

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Speakers TBA

[read more]
July 24, 2025

July Forum

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Speakers TBA

[read more]
September 25, 2025

September Forum

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Speakers TBA

[read more]
October 16, 2025

October Forum

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Speakers TBA

[read more]
November 20, 2025

November Forum

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Speakers TBA

[read more]

Past Events

#2024
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Alumni
Awards
Online Event
panel
Panel
Pitch Pit
Showcase
May 15, 2025

The Michigan Startup Scene: Past, Present, and Future

With Showcase Presentation: Bagzee

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Showcase Presentation [read more]
April 17, 2025

Pitch Pit and Showcase Presentation

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Pitch Pit Competition

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 all of the pitches are completed, the judges will give detailed feedback. At the end of the evening, the person with the highest score will receive the opportunity to receive a Business Readiness Assessment coaching session with New Enterprise Forum coaches. Interested in pitching your own idea? Apply here!

Participants [read more]
March 20, 2025, 5 PM

Showcase Presentation and Fireside Chat: Pre-Seed Fundraising

Ann Arbor, Michigan

NEF Startup Community Champion Award

This award recognizes two individuals who have made a huge positive impact by devoting their time and energy to building a robust startup community in our region and who have directly and indirectly fostered the growth of numerous entrepreneurs. The NEF Startup Community Champion award for 2024 goes to Alexa and Johnnie Turnage, Co-Founders of Black Tech Saturdays. 

[read more]
February 20, 2025, 5 PM

Awards Celebration

Ann Arbor, Michigan

NEF ANNUAL AWARDS PRESENTATION

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

NEF Entrepreneur of the Year Award

The NEF Entrepreneur of the Year Award is given to an individual who is not only changing the world in a good way through their entrepreneurial accomplishments, but is also inspiring others with their vision, leadership and achievements. The 2024 winner is David Zacks, Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of ONL Therapeutics.

[read more]
January 16, 2025, 5 PM

Pitch Pit and Showcase Presentation: somaLYNC

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Showcase Presentation [read more]
November 21, 2024, 5 PM

Expert Panel: Should I stay, or should I go now? The Founder’s Dilemma

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Special Presentation: 2024 Michigan Business Challenge Innovation Track winner MeetYourClass [read more]
October 17, 2024, 5 PM

NEF Pitch Pit and Alumni Updates

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Alumni Updates

Hear news and progress about past Showcase Presenters Electric Outdoors (Oct. 2023) and Innsightful (Oct. 2022).

Pitch Pit Competition

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 all of the pitches are completed, the judges will give detailed feedback. At the end of the evening, the person with the highest score will receive the opportunity to receive a Business Readiness Assessment coaching session with New Enterprise Forum coaches. Intereste

[read more]
September 19, 2024, 5 PM

Expert Panel: Hiring Right - When and How to Hire Your Team and Advisors

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Showcase Presentation [read more]
July 25, 2024, 5 PM

Pitch Pit Extravaganza!

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Pitch Pit Extravaganza!

Selected entrepreneurs will each give a four-minute pitch of their business plan, an “elevator speech”, to a panel of investor judges in a “Shark Tank” format.  

After all of the pitches are completed, the judges will give detailed feedback. At the end of the evening, two individuals will receive the opportunity to receive a NEF Startup Investment Readiness Assessment coaching session with NEF coaches. Interested in pitching your own idea? Apply here!

Participants [read more]
June 20, 2024, 5 PM

Expert Panel: The Devil is in the Details - Getting Angel Deals Done

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Showcase Presentations [read more]
May 16, 2024, 5 PM

Current Trends in Financings

An interactive presentation that aims to provide founders, investors and ecosystem partners with the foundational knowledge of key terms and concepts found in financings.

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Showcase Presentation [read more]
April 18, 2024, 5 PM

PITCH PIT AND SHOWCASE

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Showcase Presentation [read more]
March 21, 2024, 5 PM

Expert Panel: Scaling Marketing with your Startup

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Showcase Presentation [read more]
February 15, 2024, 5 PM

Awards Celebration and Showcase Presentation

Ann Arbor, Michigan

NEF ANNUAL AWARDS PRESENTATION

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

NEF Startup Community Champion

This award recognizes an individual who has made a huge positive impact by devoting their time and energy to building a robust startup community in our region and who has directly and indirectly fostered the growth of numerous entrepreneurs. This year, the NEF Startup Community Champion award goes to Dug Song.

[read more]
January 18, 2024, 5 PM

PITCH PIT AND SHOWCASE

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Pitch Pit Competition

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 all of the pitches are completed, the judges will give detailed feedback. At the end of the evening, the person with the highest score will receive the opportunity to receive a Business Readiness Assessment coaching session with NEF coaches. Interested in pitching your own idea? Apply here!

Participants [read more]
November 16, 2023, 5 PM

Opening the Aperture For and With Foreign Entrepreneurs

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Showcase Presentation [read more]
man speaks to seated audience
October 19, 2023, 5 PM

PITCH PIT AND SHOWCASE

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Pitch Pit Competition

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 all of the pitches are completed, the judges will give detailed feedback. At the end of the evening, the person with the highest score will receive the opportunity to receive a Business Readiness Assessment coaching session with NEF coaches. Interested in pitching your own idea? Apply here!

Participants [read more]
Man Standing Infront of White Board
September 21, 2023, 5 PM

Demystifying Go-to-Market Strategy

Ann Arbor, Michigan

New Enterprise Forum is proud to have the September forum meeting be part of a2Tech360, Ann Arbor’s week-long celebration of innovation and entrepreneurship! Click here for more information, and to learn about all that is happening there during the week. 

Showcase Presentation [read more]
July 18, 2023, 5 PM

PITCH PIT EXTRAVAGANZA!

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Pitch Pit Extravaganza!

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 all of the pitches are completed, the judges will give detailed feedback. At the end of the evening, the person with the highest score will receive the opportunity to receive a Business Readiness Assessment coaching session with NEF coaches. Interested in pitching your own idea? Apply here!

Participants [read more]
June 15, 2023, 5 PM

DIFFERENT PATHS TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Showcase Presentation [read more]
May 18, 2023, 5 PM

Highs and Lows on Startup Road

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Entrepreneur Panel: Highs and Lows on Startup Road

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

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

PITCH PIT AND SHOWCASE

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Lifetime Achievement Award: Skip Simms

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 will share stories about their early days of working together at

[read more]
March 16, 2023, 5 PM

Choosing the Right Startup Accelerator Partner

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Panel Discussion: How to Pick the Right Startup Accelerator Partner

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

[read more]
February 16, 2023, 5 PM

Awards Celebration

Ann Arbor, Michigan

AWARDS PRESENTATION

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

Best Showcase Presentations

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!

Rising Stars

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 the Michigan entrepreneurial community. Winners this year are Katie Hall and Prashant Salla.

[read more]
January 19, 2023, 5 PM to 7:30 PM

Pitch Pit and Showcase

Ann Arbor, Michigan

HOLD THE DATE Pitch Pit

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 Scott from Scott Labs
  • Caleb Smith from JOINLU

[read more]
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Contact

New Enterprise Forum
330 E Liberty St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Email info@newenterpriseforum.org

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