Highlighting our Female Entrepreneurs
HOUGHTON, MI – November 19th, 2024 –
“I learned to always take on things I’d never done before. Growth and comfort do not coexist.” – Virginia Romerty (IBM former President & CEO)
At MTEC SmartZone, we accelerate high-tech business growth to build a prosperous regional ecosystem. Over the years, we have worked with numerous entrepreneurs to guide them through their journey to commercialization. Today, we take the opportunity to highlight some of the talented and creative female entrepreneurs in our ecosystem!
Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organization (WEDO) was founded in 2014 by Wendy Diamond, a trailblazer for female entrepreneurs, to recognize the contributions of women in business. This day is more than just an opportunity to talk about these entrepreneurs’ successes, it’s a day to inspire the next generation and help foster gender-inclusive entrepreneurship.
We are fortunate to have an emerging group of women entrepreneurs in the Western U.P.,” MTEC SmartZone CEO David Rowe added. “Over the years, we have seen the growth of empowered women founding companies and engaging in the bourgeoning start-up ecosystem in our area. More and more women are seeking guidance from the SmartZone for expertise, advice, investment funding, and mentorship. and assistance with grant applications. It’s rewarding to see them take the leap and follow their business venture dreams.
In the last two decades, women-owned businesses have grown 114%. Currently, 42% of U.S. businesses are owned by women. In the state of Michigan, that number is just over the national average at 43.5%. In honor of Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, we spent the last week spotlighting a few of our entrepreneurs. Today we would like to share more of their stories.
Ellen Campbell – CEO of NECi Superior Enzymes
NECi Superior Enzymes is a women-owned business located in UP that specializes in designing and producing recombinant proteins for inclusion in quantification test kits. The company was founded in 1993 using Dr. W.H. (Bill) Campbell’s academic research on plant metabolism as the foundation. After their initial work was published in Nature and attracted a flurry of inquiries, Dr. Campbell and Ellen R. Campbell plunged headlong into the business world.
Her biggest challenge faced so far has been the switch to analytical chemistry, this decision introduced them to a wide array of markets. It was a learning experience to narrow in specific target markets. Through a lot of work networking with the right people, NECi Superior Enzymes got into the regulated market world. They now have Standard Method status with the US Geological Survey, ASTM International, and the US EPA!
Located in Lake Linden, MI Ellen expressed how location can impact your journey to commercializing. “Starting a business in a small university town can be a great path,” added Ellen. “Qualified candidate employees and affordable real estate – for your company and for employee housing – are more available. Quality of life is highly valued these days.”
The Keweenaw Peninsula is saturated with resources for aspiring female entrepreneurs, you just must be willing to leap. “You just have to do it,” added Ellen. “Act like you are one of the guys – and be prepared to be ignored. However, if you’re in the right investment-worthy field, you’ll be fine. Luck is always involved.”
There are newer groups dedicated to assisting and financing woman-owned businesses including 1843 Capital, Acrew Capital, Amplifyher Ventures, and more!
Jordan Craven, Co-Founder & CEO of Sizeologic
“I always knew I wanted to start my own company- the only question was what that company would be.” – Jordan Craven
Jordan co-founded Sizeologic in 2021 after growing up with the dream of starting her own business. A Michigan Tech graduate, Jordan originally pitched her idea in 2019 and won her first pitch competition in 2020, receiving her first investment to found Sizeologic. Sizeologic is still in its early stages of development with hopes to launch by the end of 2024. Once online, Sizeologic will transform the way we shop online for clothes. Most of us know the frustration when we get a new pair of jeans online and they don’t fit right. Jordan’s technology creates a virtual 3D fitting room that allows you to see how an article of clothing fits before you buy the product online!
As a female entrepreneur, Jordan shared some advice for someone wanting to follow a similar path. “YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO THIS ALON,” added Jordan. “Lean on people, surround yourself with people smarter than you. In my experience there are very few people who are unwilling to help if you ask for it- so ask for it!! Many individuals in the Keweenaw supported me and I am so grateful to MTEC SmartZone. They have supported me as a founder, connected me to local resources that have exponentially increased my success, and helped me tweak my business as I continue to move forward! I am so thankful to be a part of this ecosystem and for the continued assistance from the SmartZone.”
Megan Frost – Founder & CTO of Sterile State
Sterile State has developed revolutionary sterilization technology to release Nitric Oxide at a pre-determined amount and duration. To bring a new, safer, sterilization standard without compromising efficacy. Megan founded Sterile State in 2013 after a personal health crisis opened her eyes to the need and opportunity to make medical devices safer and more effective.
Their journey has been dynamic and responsive to technical developments and major market events. It’s an interesting, challenging, but very satisfying industry to be in. Megan must react and adjust quickly to events such as supply chain problems from natural disasters, regulatory pressure from EPA or FDA, and pandemics. The Covid-19 pandemic was one of the biggest challenges in their journey.
“You need to recognize that the journey is long and hard and presents many unexpected twists and turns,” added Megan. “You need to take care of the things in your control and manage the other things. Having a great team to support you is essential.”
Being an entrepreneur is one of the most satisfying careers you could choose, but it is also a huge commitment. You must be passionate about what you are doing and be willing to seek guidance through the process.
Grace Hsia-Haberl – Co-Founder and CEO of Warmilu
Warmilu is a non-electric warming medical device and supportive products manufacturing company. The US-patented platform warming technology platform is used primarily in infant warming incubator blankets. Their main customers are humanitarian aid nonprofits like Doctors Without Borders and Rotary Club as well as government hospitals. Today, Warmilu warms about 11,000 infants annually born to 106 hospitals based in 23 countries!
CEO, Grace Hsia Haberl, co-founded Warmilu after learning about how many infants die due to hypothermia and preterm birth complications worldwide. Infant hypothermia occurred during transport within and to hospitals, especially in resource-scarce settings, where doctors and nurses wondered whether there were affordable and safe infant warming methods that were less expensive and easier to maintain than incubators. As a preterm baby herself, she felt like it was worth trying to use her materials science engineering background to help other preterm infants have a better source of warmth on Day 0.
“We heard how much passion there was in the stories of doctors, nurses, and hospital care teams trying to improve infant and maternal healthcare,” added Grace, “and realized we wanted to be able to roll up our sleeves to help.”
Like many startups, Warmilu faced numerous challenges in its early stages, particularly around product development, scaling, and market penetration. It can take two years from the first conversation to successful clinical deployment for their humanitarian and hospital customers to become repeat customers. However, Warmilu’s ability to adapt and persist through these obstacles has been a key element of its growth. Their journey was marked by moments of learning and iterating, refining the technology to ensure it met both performance standards and social objectives.
“Be focused. Warmilu’s entrepreneurial journey thus far has been one of overcoming obstacles, innovating in the face of real-world needs, and staying committed to its core values of compassion, sustainability, and affordability,” added Grace. “When you know what you can stand for, it helps you build the right team at the right time and pick out the right resources to support business development.”
Valerie Obenchain – Founder & CEO of Advanced Interactive Response Systems (AIRS)
Valerie founded AIRS in 2013 to bring oxygen solutions to the market. As a respiratory therapist who had a grandmother on supplemental oxygen therapy, she had first-hand experience in the lack of oxygen systems in the market. AIRS produces high-quality safety and monitoring products that improve patient health and caregiver performance.
Since 2013 AIRS has achieved multiple noteworthy milestones in its entrepreneurial journey. AIRS is an FDA-registered company with patents issued in 20 different countries. The company is undergoing pilot studies using funds from governmental grants and their products are listed on the GSA schedule.
As a women entrepreneur, Valerie expressed her biggest challenge has been raising funds for the regulatory verification and validation process. “Women have been known to have great leadership skills, including time management, prioritizing, and multitasking,” added Valerie. “However, when it comes to funding, most of the money goes to men.”
We need more investors to fund women-owned businesses and close that gap between men-owned businesses. Valerie’s advice is to “1) Make sure to surround yourself with experts and be willing to take their advice. 2) Recognize your weaknesses and find people who can help in those areas. 3) Do your due diligence before making big decisions.”
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The future is bright for female entrepreneurs, but there is still a lot of growth to take place to even out the playing field. Taking the time to appreciate and recognize women in this profession plays a key role in their growth. Women’s Entrepreneurship Day inspires the next generation and helps foster gender-inclusive entrepreneurship. MTEC SmartZone is proud of our entrepreneurs and grateful to be a part of their journey.
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About MTEC
Michigan Tech Enterprise Corporation (MTEC) is one of 21 SmartZone Incubators in the State of Michigan. MTEC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization working with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), its mission is to facilitate the creation and ongoing success of high-tech value propositions in conjunction with the local entrepreneurial ecosystem. Since 2003, the MTEC SmartZone has provided mentoring, technical support, and other services to local companies that have led to the creation of over 800 high-tech jobs in the Houghton and Hancock Michigan area.