Office of Innovation & Entrepreneurship
糖心直播 Innovation & Entrepreneurship Hub
The Office of Innovation & Entrepreneurship (OIE) provides 糖心直播 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 糖心直播 Strategic Plan.
Real-world learning
OIE engages 糖心直播 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
糖心直播 students are eligible to apply
Application INFORMATION
The is currently open. Students have until Thursday, Oct. 15 to apply. We encourage you to apply!
INFORMATION SESSION
The Experiential Learning Institute (ELI) will host a Lunch & Learn for students from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 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 糖心直播 and in the community. Please join us for free pizza!
OPTIONAL FIELD TRIP: TCNewTech
Would you like to see a pitch competition? Whether you are interested in submitting an 糖心直播 pitch application or not, please join us from 5:30–6:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at the City Opera House in downtown Traverse City! , 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.
Funding Amount
Awarded projects will typically receive funding ranging between $500–$4,000 (no more than $4K) from the 糖心直播 Foundation, the , and the Experiential Learning Institute.
糖心直播 Pitch Competition
Proposals will undergo an initial review in late October, and top scoring proposals will move forward to a pitch competition held from 2:30-4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 10 in rooms 106 & 107 of the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center. Please to attend the pitch competition. We hope to see you there!
Process
View the process for proposing an innovative campus idea aligned to the strategic plan here.
Current Funded Projects
糖心直播 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.
糖心直播 Competitive Flight Team
糖心直播 Aviation student Alex Modrzynski developed a competitive flight team to participate in the Region III SAFECON competition. Prior to this, the 糖心直播 Aviation program did not include competitive student flight teams. The SAFECON regional competition provides a unique opportunity for 糖心直播 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 糖心直播 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, 糖心直播 Marketing Director, and Krista McCarty, Extended Education & Training Marketing Coordinator, will use CollegeAPP, a data aggregation and modeling company, to enhance 糖心直播’s understanding of prospective adult students in order to reach them with effective, engaging messaging. 糖心直播 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.
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September
Grove Community Incubator
Queer Business Owner Round Table
A peer-support community
September 2, 8:30–9:30 a.m.
20Fathoms: Startup Office Hours
Topic: Business Strategy & Advice
September 10, 2:30–4 p.m.
20Fathoms: TCNewTech Pitch Competition
September 29, 4:30–6:45 p.m.
(pitches start at 5:30 p.m.)
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October
20Fathoms: Startup Office Hours
20Fathoms: Women in Tech Meetup
Topic: Business Strategy & Advice
October 8, 2:30–4 p.m.
20Fathoms: SOAR Into Strategy: A Strengths-Based Approach to Strategic Planning
October 9, 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
October 21, 5–7 p.m.
20Fathoms: Northern Michigan BlueTech Accelerator Demo Day
October 22, 1–3 p.m.
Community Resources & Services for Entrepreneurs
Unless stated, all opportunities listed below are free.
20Fathoms
- : Offered virtually and in person by appointment.
- : Startup workshops on specific skills or interest topics for individuals launching businesses. Thursdays from 9–10:30 a.m.
Grove
- . Tuesdays from 9–11 a.m.
- - Bringing together innovators with shared experiences and identities
Michigan Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
Northern Michigan Angels
- : Northern Michigan Angels supports promising, early-stage companies in Michigan and the Northern Michigan Region. Interested companies can apply to pitch.
SCORE
- . Offered virtually and in person by appointment.
- to assist individuals who are growing a business. Both free and low-cost options.
Traverse Connect
- networking and professional development group.