Newlab is teaming up with Michigan Central and Google to help shape and develop a new set of artificial intelligence (AI) tools designed to address the biggest challenges and influences startups face. The tools will help startups grow their businesses in Michigan.

Michigan has all of the necessary elements to nurture a successful startup: a dense ecosystem of industry giants, testing and manufacturing capabilities, VCs and lending avenues, and a highly-skilled talent pool. 

Making it easier to access these offerings will increase startup success, which often hinges on their ability to secure the right funding, regulatory pathways for piloting, and hiring the right team. This new tool is a first-of-its-kind resource meant to shorten the startup discovery and decisioning process by curating personalized, consolidated and actionable data. 

How It Works

Founders can upload their company’s pitch deck into the tool where it pulls relevant information using the power of AI. The tool will automatically populate relevant data fields which can also be manually updated and submitted by founders. Then the tool uses AI to match the startup profile with personalized opportunities, including:

• Potential partnerships
• Grants and potential investors
• Available local talent
• Regional test sites with the ability to book them for company use
• Additionally, founders can use Gemini to ask for more information or insights that set them up for success.

Watch the platform concept in action here >>

Built for Michigan Founders, by Michigan Founders

The tool was built for Michigan founders, by Michigan founders utilizing the network at Newlab and Michigan Central. Representing a wide range of industries and varying states of business, the startups and founders at Newlab at Michigan Central provide a diverse perspective into what the startup experience looks like and insight into a replicable model for success. Their first-hand testimony and involvement in the development of the tool showed the top value drivers for Michigan founders: access to an ecosystem of potential partners, available infrastructure, access to capital, and a skilled workforce.

While the tool is currently still a work in progress, Google, Michigan Central, and Newlab are looking for startups in Michigan who are interested in being a part of a future beta program. As a beta tester, not only will these founders and entrepreneurs have access to critical resources to scale their business, but they will be participating in the development of the future of entrepreneurship while helping other Michigan startups succeed.

If you are a founder and are interested in testing out our tool once it is ready, please sign up here.