Organic and Innovative Recovery Projects Selected for NextCycle Michigan FLOWS & RIT Accelerator Tracks
NextCycle Michigan, an initiative of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), announced 17 teams have been selected to participate in its next accelerator cohort focused on advancing solutions for organic material recovery and innovative technologies for recycling.
RIT Selected Teams:
Design Declassified LLC (Grand Rapids, MI): Expand collection of plastic waste from residential and commercial sources to manufacture plastic sheets used for building materials such as wall panels, partitions and tiles.
Fibarcode (Ann Arbor, MI): Demonstrate and validate fiber barcoding as integrated textile labels to improve end-of-use sorting and recycling of garments.
Great Lakes Recycling (Oak Park, MI): Expand capabilities to receive, process and recycle electric vehicle batteries.
Liquid Ion Solutions LLC (Pittsburgh, PA): Expand the use of ionic compatibilizers to recycle rigid polypropylene (PP) by identifying recycled PP feedstock and end markets in Michigan.
Nowhere Collective (Chicago, IL): Develop a Michigan-focused digital marketplace where makers and consumers can engage and purchase reclaimed materials and upcycled goods.
PittMoss (Ambridge, PA): Develop a Michigan facility to use locally sourced recycled paper fibers for manufacturing soilless gardening mixes, soil amendments and animal bedding.
Prairie Robotics Inc. (Buffalo, NY): Scale the utilization of on-truck cameras and AI algorithms to identify contaminants and recoverable materials to reduce landfill burden and improve recycling.
Chippin In (Detroit, MI): Increase collection of foil-lined products like chip bags and candy bar wrappers to upcycle into sleeping bags for individuals experiencing homelessness.
Takeout Takeout (Lansing, MI): Partner with existing restaurants and food businesses to rent reusable takeout containers with strategically placed collection containers, at-home pick up, and swapping containers with delivery drivers.
FLOWS Selected Teams:
Bioworks Energy (Grand Blanc, MI): Connect with generators of food waste streams and marketing partners to develop anaerobic digestion facilities for food waste processing and renewable energy production.
City of Detroit/Wood Work Detroit (Detroit, MI): Assess feasibility and develop business strategy to collect wood from urban tree removal, standing dead and dying trees, and pruning to be repurposed into furniture, wooden products, and musical instruments.
Eastside Compost (Lansing, MI): Scale operations around food scrap collection locations, volume and quality of compost produced, and engagement with communities, businesses and consumers.
Emmet County DPW/Recycling (Petoskey, MI): Create a comprehensive and scalable business plan for organics operation focusing on screening and grinding activities, shared equipment contracts, expansion of marketing materials, and development of operational calendar.
Hemp 4 Humanity (Three Rivers, MI): Develop comprehensive business plan and align with partners to set up infrastructure that will process industrial hemp production waste, agricultural waste, and building deconstruction waste into viable building materials for developments dedicated to disabled low-income residents.
New Horizon Property Management (Marshall, MI): Develop facility to process yard waste, brush, tree trimmings, and plant waste from local licensed marijuana growing facilities.
Sanctuary Farms (Detroit, MI): Expand food waste processing and compost cultivation operations with additional site development.
St. James Township (Beaver Island, MI): Developing organics/food waste collection and processing operations on the island.
Selected teams will participate in a six-month program that provides individualized business and technical support to move projects toward investment-attractive and implementation-ready status. Programming starts with a two-day workshop-based event, followed by several months of strategic training opportunities and access to expert coaches. There is no fee to apply or participate in the program and no equity share is required. Selected participants simply commit their time and effort. The program culminates with a Showcase event where participants pitch their projects to a live audience and judging panel with the chance to attract investors, win monetary awards, and generate publicity.
The application period for two other NextCycle Michigan accelerator tracks – Intergovernmental Initiatives and Public-Private Partnerships (I2P3) and Recycling Supply Chain (RSC) – will open February 1, 2024. An informational virtual meeting will be held on February 21, 2024, with opportunities to ask questions about the program structure, application process, eligibility, and more. Registration for this virtual meeting is available at NextCycle Michigan Application Party.