Office of Possibilities for Education

NMC Innovation & Entrepreneurship Hub

The Office of Possibilities (OOPs) for Education provides NMC students, faculty, and staff with encouragement, support, and resources to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset and successfully pursue innovative ideas that positively impact our campus and community.

Funding support
Every year, OOPs provides students, faculty, and staff with the opportunity to apply for funding awards by proposing and pitching innovative ideas aligning to the NMC Strategic Plan.
Real-world learning
OOPs engages NMC students in real-world learning opportunities, including pitch coaching and speed interviewing workshops, as well as problem-solving challenges with local businesses.
Community Connections
OOPs connects students who are interested in starting their own business to mentorship, startup support, and networking opportunities in Traverse City and the surrounding area.

2026 Request for Proposals (RFP)

Eligibility

NMC faculty, staff, and students are eligible to apply

RFP Information & Application

Review the RFP and complete the application.

Funding Amount

Awarded projects will typically receive $500–$10K from the NMC Foundation.

Application Due Date

March 20, 2026

Pitch Competition

Proposals will undergo an initial review in late March, and top scoring proposals will move forward to a pitch competition held on April 23, 2026.

Featured Past Funded Projects

Neurodiversity Support Center

NMC English Instructor, late Nancy Gray, established the Neurodiversity Support Center, a campus space for neurodivergent students to decompress and study, as well as a support system to ensure student success, including study tables, seminars, peer mentoring, and academic coaching.
Assessing Microplastic Pollution

Nick Roster, an NMC Science and Math Instructor, analyzed microplastics in the Boardman/Ottaway watershed, and NMC students quantified microplastic pollution in Grand Traverse Bay and the air around Grand Traverse County. A fluorescence microscope was purchased to positively identify microplastics in complex samples.
NMConnect Application

Ali Thornton, NMC Coordinator of Technology Support Services, designed an app specifically for NMC students that helps students create manageable routines—things that will help them not just survive, but thrive. The app provides encouraging feedback and upcoming reminders to students.

Video Podcast for Audio Tech Students

NMC Student Audio Tech Lab Assistant, Veronica Boals, produced a video podcast episode using equipment from Founders Hall and created a mobile podcast station for Audio Tech students so they could easily create podcasts from different campus locations.
Advanced Scientific Research Program

Nancy Olenchek, Kingsley High School science teacher and NMC adjunct faculty member, created an Advanced Scientific Research Program. High school students conduct research and receive NMC college credits for their work. Students are able to continue their research as NMC college students.
Memory Bright

Assistant Director of Instructional Technology, Mark DeLonge, and retired NMC faculty members, Tom Gordon and John Velis, co-founded Memory Bright, an online platform that implements Reminiscence Therapy through fun and engaging activities for individuals who are experiencing memory loss or dementia.

2026 Innovation & Entrepreneurship Events

Unless stated, all events listed below are free.

March

Northern Michigan Defense Conference
Location: Hagerty Center
March 5–6
Full registration: $175/person
Federal Government Rate: $25/person
Registration open

20Fathoms: Startup Office Hours
Topic: Legal
March 9, 4–7 p.m.
Schedule an appointment

20Fathoms: Women in Tech Meetup
Location: Earthen Ales
March 18, 5–7 p.m.
Learn more

20Fathoms: Startup Office Hours
Topic: Branding and Website
March 19, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
Schedule an appointment

20Fathoms: Startup Office Hours
Topic: Business optimization, finance, market research, strategic planning
March 19, 1–4 p.m.
Schedule an appointment
April

Michigan Veteran Entrepreneur Lab
Entrepreneurship bootcamp for military-connected individuals in Michigan
Location: GVSU Traverse City Regional Center
April 7–June 15
Registration required

20Fathoms: Startup Office Hours
Topic: Legal
April 13, 4-7 p.m.
Schedule an appointment

Northern Michigan Manufacturing Summit
Location: Hagerty Center
April 13
Full registration: $65/person
Registration open

20Fathoms: Startup Office Hours
Topic: Branding and Website
April 16, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
Schedule an appointment

Northern Michigan Startup Week (NMSW)
April 20–24
Event Information

NMSW NMC Program Overview & Facilities Tour
Focus: Water Studies, Marine Technology, and Unmanned Aircraft Systems
April 22, 10 a.m.–Noon (including lunch)
Location: Rooms 222/224, Parsons-Stulen Building, Aero-Park Campus
Registration open

NMSW NMC Drone Panel Discussion
April 22, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. (including lunch)
Location: Rooms 222/224, Parsons-Stulen Building, Aero-Park Campus
Registration open

NMSW NMC OOPs Pitch Competition
April 23, 1–3 p.m.
Location: Rooms 106/107, Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, 1701 Front St.
Registration open

NMSW NMC & GVSU Student Science Symposium
April 23, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Location: Rooms 106/107, Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, 1701 Front St.
Registration open

Community Resources & Services for Entrepreneurs

Unless stated, all opportunities listed below are free.

20Fathoms

Startup coaching: Offered virtually and in person by appointment.
Weekly Breakfast Lab: Startup workshops on specific skills or interest topics for individuals launching businesses. Thursdays from 9–10:30 a.m.

Grove

Weekly community entrepreneurship networking sessions (Community OOPs). Tuesdays from 9–11 a.m.

Michigan Small Business Development Center (SBDC)

Small business consulting services
Small business webinar recordings and courses
On-demand library
Market research services
Virtual and in-person workshops and classes to assist individuals who are growing a small business

SCORE

Small business mentorship. Offered virtually and in person by appointment.
Virtual and in-person workshops, webinars, and courses to assist individuals who are growing a business. Both free and low-cost options.