2023 RIT and FLOWS Accelerator Camp Recap
NextCycle Michigan’s 2023 Recycling Innovation and Technology (RIT) and Foods, Liquids and Organic Waste Systems (FLOWS) accelerator tracks kicked off with a combined accelerator camp in January 2023. This two-day event included workshops and sessions, networking, and coaching for the new NextCycle teams. A broad range of topics was covered, from the teams’ work-to-date to permitting; from diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to sales and marketing; and from building partnerships to business canvassing.
One compelling new camp segment was a ‘from-the-trenches' question-and-answer with two alumni team leaders: Luis Chen Aguilera of Wormies and Brian Spicer of Innovakote. Both shared moments in their NextCycle experiences where they had major turning-point insights and other ways NextCycle benefited their ventures. The teams were riveted, asked many questions, and were clearly inspired by what they heard: the crowd's enthusiasm gave the presenters an outsized round of applause.
Also new at this camp was a presentation by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) about their Pure Michigan Business Connect (PMBC) program. PMBC has a lot to offer NextCycle teams and the MEDC is excited to partner with NextCycle.
Seven new FLOWS teams and eight new RIT teams took part:
FLOWS Teams:
Ze Place
Scrap Soils
Plastus
Partridge Creek Farm
My Green Michigan
Metro Food Rescue
City of Ferndale
RIT Teams
Secondlife Solar
SCOPS Coating Technologies
Post Rock (University of Michigan)
Nion Metals
Harvest Nano
Goodwill
Duro-Last Roofing
American Classic
The connections made between the different teams are always a powerful part of the NextCycle accelerator camps. These connections are key long-term resources from which the team members can draw as their projects, businesses, and careers progress.
The core of the camps is the work the teams begin with mentors, business advisors, experts supplying specialized industry knowledge, and representatives from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), and the NextCycle Challenge Track Innovation Panels (CTIPs). The 2023 FLOWS and RIT boot camp was supported by the following experts:
Mentors, Coaches, and Experts in Attendance
Meghan Wiebe, RRS – RIT Lead
Frannie Miles, RRS – FLOWS Track Support
Bryce Hesterman, RRS - FLOWS Lead
Dan Radomski, Centrepolis Accelerator - NCMI Coach
Ashley Connelly, Centrepolis Accelerator - NCMI Coach
Josh Brugeman, Centrepolis Accelerator - NCMI Coach
Nicole Chardoul, RRS - Organics Expert and NCMI Coach
Renee Wallace, Doers Edge - FLOWS CTIP and DEI Speaker
Dan Schoonmaker, Michigan Sustainable Business Forum - FLOWS CTIP member
Al Newman, Recycle Ann Arbor - RIT CTIP member
Jess Loding, Schupan – RIT CTIP member
Divya Patil, formerly with the University of Michigan, I-Corps – RIT CTIP member
Aaron Hiday, EGLE - Organics Expert
The program supported the teams in developing and presenting pitches—presentations they will use to persuade future partners and funders to support their ventures—as well as workshopping their plans. Going forward, the teams will continue to receive strategic support from their NextCycle Michigan coaches, advance their projects, and prepare for a showcase where they will pitch their work to expert judges, NextCycle Partners, and prospective investors.