Office of Innovation & Entrepreneurship

NMC Innovation & Entrepreneurship Hub

The Office of Innovation & Entrepreneurship (OIE) 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, OIE provides students, faculty, and staff with the opportunity to apply for funding awards by proposing innovative ideas aligning to the NMC Strategic Plan.
Real-world learning
OIE engages NMC students in real-world learning opportunities, including pitch coaching, a market day for student-run businesses, and problem-solving challenges with local businesses.
Community Connections
OIE connects students who are interested in starting their own business to mentorship, startup support, and networking opportunities in Traverse City and the surrounding area.

Fall 2026 Pitch Competition Application

Eligibility

NMC students are eligible to apply

Application INFORMATION

The application will launch on Monday, September 14 and close on Thursday, October 15.

INFORMATION SESSION

The Experiential Learning Institute (ELI) will host a Lunch & Learn for students from 12-1 pm on Monday, September 28 in TJNIC 103 to learn about the OIE pitch competition and ask questions. Students will also have an opportunity to provide feedback on what innovation and entrepreneurship opportunities they are interested in and hear about the resources that are available at NMC and in the community. Please join us for pizza!

OPTIONAL FIELD TRIP - TCNEWTECH

Would you like to see a pitch competition? Please join us from 5:30-6:45 pm on Tuesday, September 29 at the City Opera House in downtown Traverse City! TCNewTech, hosted by 20Fathoms, is a community pitch competition and a wonderful opportunity to see how others present and what questions are asked. Please email innovation@nmc.edu if you would like to attend. We hope to see you there!

Funding Amount

Awarded projects will typically receive $500–$3000 from the NMC Foundation.

NMC Pitch Competition

Proposals undergo an initial review in late October, and top scoring proposals move forward to a pitch competition held from 3-5 pm on November 12, 2026 in rooms 106 & 107 of the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center.

Process

View the process for proposing an innovative campus idea aligned to the strategic plan here.

Current Funded Projects

NMC Uncrewed Competition Team

Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) Program Coordinator, Tony Sauerbrey, has established a multidisciplinary student team to compete in the 2027 Uncrewed Triple Challenge at Camp Grayling, Michigan. This state-led competition challenges teams to design, build, integrate, and operate uncrewed systems across land, air, and sea. These systems will demonstrate autonomous capability, mission planning, coordination, and component integration.
NMC Competitive Flight Team

NMC Aviation student Alex Modrzynski developed a competitive flight team to participate in the Region III SAFECON competition. Prior to this, the NMC Aviation program did not include competitive student flight teams. The SAFECON regional competition provides a unique opportunity for NMC aviation students to demonstrate excellence in ground knowledge, preflight planning, and precision flight maneuvers.
Prescribing the Arts

Liz Celeste, the Dennos Museum Curator of Education and Exhibitions, launched an Arts Prescription Program. The program is open to all NMC students and will provide academic advisors, success coaches, and counselors with cards they can offer to students who may benefit from a restorative break and creative inspiration. Students have the opportunity to receive mindfulness tools and engage with the Dennos’ exhibitions, programs and events.

Reaching Adult Learners with CollegeAPP

Kelly Yauk, NMC Marketing Director, and Krista McCarty, Extended Education & Training Marketing Coordinator, will use CollegeAPP, a data aggregation and modeling company, to enhance NMC’s understanding of prospective adult students in order to reach them with effective, engaging messaging. NMC will be able to reach more adult students, helping them grow their skills and providing them with opportunities for upward mobility.
Voyage on Inland Seas Schooner Alliance

Matt Hirsch, Great Lakes Water Studies Institute Coordinator, is leading a 3-day, 2-night student sailing experience for Marine Technology students on the Schooner Alliance. By providing a multi-day voyage, students will have an opportunity to serve as both scientific and sailing crew. The goal is for students to not only possess technical skills, but to also develop seamanship skills, as part of an high-impact, immersive maritime experience.
VR Systems for Biomedical Engineering Technology

Joe Deater, faculty member in Engineering Technology, purchased VR headsets and subscriptions related to biomedical training. Biomed Tech students work on and maintain medical equipment. Large devices, such as CT, MRI, and X-ray units, are difficult to have available to students. Students will now gain virtual, hands-on experience and have access to VR videos demonstrating working on, repairing, and manipulating these devices.

2026 Innovation & Entrepreneurship Events

Unless stated, all events listed below are free.

September

Grove Community Incubator
Queer Business Owner Round Table
A peer-support community
September 2, 8:30–9:30 a.m.
Event Information

20Fathoms: Startup Office Hours
Topic: Business Strategy & Advice
September 10, 2:30–4 p.m.
Schedule an appointment

20Fathoms: TCNewTech Pitch Competition
September 29, 4:30–6:45 p.m. (pitches start at 5:30 p.m.)
Event Information
October

20Fathoms: Startup Office Hours
Topic: Business Strategy & Advice
October 8, 2:30-4 p.m.
Schedule an appointment

20Fathoms: SOAR Into Strategy: A Strengths-Based Approach to Strategic Planning
October 9, 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
Event Information & Registration
20Fathoms: Women in Tech Meetup
October 21, 5–7 p.m.
Event Information

20Fathoms: Northern Michigan BlueTech Accelerator Demo Day
October 22, 1–3 p.m.
Event Information

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 Office of Possibilities (OOPs) community networking sessions. Tuesdays from 9–11 a.m.
Grove Affinity Groups - Bringing together innovators with shared experiences and identities

Michigan Small Business Development Center (SBDC)

Northern Michigan Angels

Pitch meetings: Northern Michigan Angels supports promising, early-stage companies in Michigan and the Northern Michigan Region. Interested companies can apply to pitch.

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.