News & Stories
MTEC SmartZone Secures Over $4.1 Million in Grants to Propel Innovation and Support Small Businesses Across Michigan
HOUGHTON, MI – November 13, 2023 – MTEC SmartZone, a leading organization in fostering innovation and supporting local businesses, proudly announces the successful acquisition of two major grants, totaling over $4.1 million. These grants, awarded by the U.S....
7th Annual Return North Professional Career Fair
MTEC SmartZone and partners host their annual Upper Peninsula-wide Career Fair aimed at attracting alumni, former residents, and friends of the U.P. to the region. Houghton, Mich., September 1, 2023 – Mark your calendars for the eagerly anticipated 7th annual Return...
Integrated Molecular Innovations Wins Individual Investment and Cash Prize
Congratulations to Rourke Sylvain and Ali Dabas, who not only made it through the qualifying rounds of the 2023 Rice Business Plan Competition with their start-up pitch for imi – integrated molecular innovations, an electrochemical biosensor for T4...
Client Corner – with Jake Northey
By Amanda JacksonIf you’ve met Jake Northey, you know he has lots of experience in the business of starting up businesses. But being an entrepreneur can have its highs and lows, and sometimes when things don’t work out it’s not necessarily a failure. I sat down with...
Clients Win at the 2023 CMU New Venture Competition
On April 21, Michigan Tech students, Bayle Golden and Rourke Sylvan, traveled to Central Michigan University to compete in the 2023 New Venture Challenge (NVC). The NVC challenge is a competition event for student to help develop their entrepreneurial mindset, learn...
Niomin (Revex Metals, Inc.) Awarded As A NextCycle Michigan Pitch Winner
The 2023 NextCycle Michigan Team Showcase took place at the TechTown Detroit Innovation Center in Detroit on Thursday, April 20, 2023. The Showcase featured 15 teams pitching their businesses and projects as part of the Recycling Innovation Technology (RIT) and Foods,...
Client Corner – with Steelhead Technologies
By Amanda Jackson I met up with Jeff Halonen, one of the six co-founders of Steelhead Technologies in Calumet, MI, who shared some entrepreneurial insight, what it took to get up and running, and the story behind their name. Can you share a little about yourself?Jeff:...
Two MTEC SmartZone Clients Selected for Keweenaw Community Sparkplug Awards
The Keweenaw Community SparkPlug Awards are an annual community celebration that recognizes local businesses, organizations, community projects, and individuals for their efforts during the past year. The awards are given in eight different categories and the...
Chicken Tramper Ultralight Gear Sews Its Way Into Industry 4.0: A Q&A With Co-founder Nathan Ackerman
by Dennis Burck, Automation Alley Operating out of the U.P. in Hancock, MI, Chicken Tramper Ultralight Gear (CTUG) is a small hiking gear manufacturer employing a staff of nine. Its line of backpacks and accessories are designed to withstand harsh conditions while...