Building the Future of Advanced Materials: One Week at a Time
The AMMP Accelerator is well underway and momentum is growing. From deep-tech material breakthroughs to clean energy solutions, these founders are tapping into local resources, expert mentorship, and a thriving entrepreneurial community to bring transformative products to market. Their progress reflects not only individual drive, but also the strength of Michigan’s emerging innovation ecosystem.
Laying the Groundwork: From Ideas to Impact
From Day 1, the AMMP Accelerator has brought together founders with a shared commitment to solving tough industrial challenges. Whether it’s turning difficult-to-recycle plastics into fuel alternatives or developing new materials to quickly remove PFAS from water (Sequestro), these companies are creating solutions with national and global implications.
In the opening weeks, founders identified their ideal markets, developed business models, and explored early customer discovery. Brad King, co-founder of Orbion Space Technology, inspired the cohort with lessons on building high-tech startups in Michigan and beyond.
To learn more about our cohort companies, please see this release.
An AMMP staff member holding an AMMP mug with some mid-day coffee and a bit of creative product photography.
A Deeper Dive into Markets, Messaging, and Strategy
Weeks 2 and 3 focused on critical foundations like understanding your customer, building a business that lasts, and sharpening your story. The AMMP Accelerator Wing welcomed guest speakers including Lisa Casper, Mike Morley, and Michael Cant. We also took a deep dive into all things marketing with Matt Monte of Monte Consulting. These weeks featured pitch reviews, one-on-one mentorship, and collaborative working sessions designed to accelerate growth.
Advanced material companies like BRCĒ have developed the World’s First Shoelace That Never Comes Untied™, designed for safety and performance in high-impact environments. In 2024, BRCĒ hit $93K in sales, sold out at Sneaker Con Detroit, and secured deals with the NCAA, NFL, USA Rugby League, and Enda Sportswear bolstered by their newly issued US utility patent. BRCĒ and TrailEagle Packs also had the opportunity to showcase their innovations at the recent U.P. Outdoor Summit, hosted by Jim Baker and Jim Tenzillo’s Michigan Outdoor Innovation Fund event series.
Matt Monte presenting in the AMMP Accelerator Wing to the 2025 Cohort on Marketing.
Week 4: From Team Building to Boardroom Confidence
This past week, the AMMP Accelerator explored some of the hardest and most human aspects of entrepreneurship: leadership, ethics, and the people behind the product. We were fortunate to learn from one of the best, Cassy Tefft de Muñoz CEO and Founder of Kinship. Sessions covered team and culture, ethics in entrepreneurship, pitch practice, and community connection. This week’s social hosted by Superior Fab Lab event went beyond the basics, Thursday night’s Meeting of the Makers at The Orpheum Theater offered a powerful reminder of why local innovation matters. Makers and dreamers of all ages gathered to demo projects, swap stories, and support a growing entrepreneurial culture in the Keweenaw.
Why It Matters
The AMMP Accelerator isn’t just building companies, it’s building capacity. Each week, founders are growing not just in technical skill, but in confidence, collaboration, and clarity. As Michigan doubles down on reshoring manufacturing and supporting clean tech, programs like AMMP help ensure that rural regions and small towns remain part of the conversation and part of the solution.
It’s accelerating Michigan’s economy and innovation.
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About AMMP Accelerator
The Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Program (AMMP) Accelerator is designed to support around five cohort companies every three years, fostering a sustainable model for startup acceleration. Through targeted training and mentorship, the initiative aims to catalyze economic growth, with a projected creation of 40 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs in the Upper Midwest region. Additionally, the program will provide guidance and mentorship to approximately 120 companies in the community, driving forward the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Program funding comes from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) Build to Scale Program, Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), and MTEC SmartZone.
About MTEC
Michigan Tech Enterprise Corporation (MTEC) is one of 21 SmartZones 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.