Active Michigan VCs patronizing Detroit and Ann Arbor companies in 2026

Michigan raised $2.8B across 220 deals in 2025. Most capital went to mobility tech, advanced manufacturing, and enterprise software. The ecosystem splits between Detroit's automotive innovation and Ann Arbor's university spinouts. You won't find much consumer tech funding here - industrial B2B dominates.

Quick list

Why Michigan works for industrial tech fundraising

Michigan closed 220 deals in 2025 with average seed rounds at $1.8M and Series A at $10M. That's lower than coastal markets but competitive for the Midwest. The state produces more mobility and manufacturing tech per capita than anywhere except maybe Pittsburgh.

Detroit and Ann Arbor drive most deal flow. Detroit's automotive legacy means deep expertise in mobility, supply chain, and manufacturing software. Ann Arbor's University of Michigan generates 30-40 fundable spinouts annually in life sciences and materials science.

Michigan investors strongly prefer B2B companies solving industrial problems over consumer apps. If you're building social media or DTC, raise elsewhere. The state has limited growth capital above $30M rounds. Most successful companies bring in coastal VCs for Series B+.

Picking the right Michigan investor

Local presence: Michigan VCs expect you to be in-state or have strong ties to the auto industry. Detroit investors want to see how your tech applies to mobility or manufacturing. Ann Arbor funds look for University of Michigan connections. Remote companies rarely get funded unless solving a clear industrial problem.

Portfolio companies: Check if they've backed companies in your specific sector. Fontinalis only does mobility. Arboretum only does healthcare. Ludlow looks broader but still wants B2B. Don't pitch consumer apps to Detroit funds - they'll pass immediately.

Check sizes: Seed rounds run $500K-$2.5M. Series A typically $8-12M. Series B hits $15-25M but options narrow to 3-4 funds. Michigan has maybe 2 funds that can lead $50M+ rounds. Plan your growth rounds with coastal investors.

Local network: Michigan investors connect you to Ford, GM, Stellantis buyers. The "auto exec network" is real - every Michigan VC knows procurement people at the Big Three. University of Michigan's tech transfer office works closely with Ann Arbor funds. MEDC (Michigan Economic Development Corporation) relationships can unlock state grants.

Communication: Share your deck with Ellty trackable links. Michigan investors typically respond slower than coastal VCs - expect 2 weeks versus 2 days. They'll spend more time on team background and industry experience than your TAM slide.

Follow-on capacity: Only Beringea and Renaissance have consistent follow-on capital. Most Michigan seed funds bring in Chicago or SF investors for Series A. Ask about their typical syndicate partners - you'll be working with those firms next round.

How to find and approach Michigan investors

Research local deals: Check Crain's Detroit Business and MLive's startup coverage for recent Michigan deals. MichBio tracks life sciences funding. Automotive News covers mobility investments. Most active investors speak at Detroit Startup Week and University of Michigan's Zell Lurie Institute events.

Leverage local ecosystem: TechTown Detroit and Ann Arbor SPARK accelerators place 70%+ of graduates with local VCs. Michigan Rise pre-seed fund identifies companies before they're ready for institutional capital. Join Detroit Tech Watch community - their email list shares deal flow before it's public.

Build relationships first: Michigan investors want 4-6 meetings before term sheets. Plan on 120-150 days from intro to close for seed rounds. Series A takes 5-7 months. That's slower than SF but faster than other Midwest markets. Nobody writes checks from coffee shop meetings here.

Share your pitch deck: Upload to Ellty and create unique links for each Michigan fund. You'll notice Detroit investors focus heavily on automotive application slides and competitive landscape. Ann Arbor VCs spend more time on IP and university research background. Track who actually opens your deck versus who's just being polite at networking events.

Attend local events: Detroit Startup Week in October draws every active Michigan investor. Ann Arbor's A2 Tech Trek in spring connects University of Michigan startups with VCs. Automation Alley's Industry 4.0 Conference is where manufacturing tech deals happen. Skip the small meetups - focus on these 3 annual events.

Connect with portfolio founders: Michigan VCs will intro you to portfolio founders if you ask directly. Talk to them about post-investment support and hands-on help. You'll learn which funds actually leverage auto industry connections versus just claiming they can. The ecosystem is small enough that honest references spread quickly.

Organize due diligence: Set up an Ellty data room before partner meetings. Michigan investors expect detailed financial models and customer pipeline specifics. Include any automotive partnerships or pilots - that data point matters more here than in other markets. Manufacturing tech investors want to see production timelines and supplier relationships documented.

Understand local pace: Michigan VCs move slower than SF but similar to other Midwest markets. Seed deals close in 90-120 days with warm intros. Cold outreach adds 60-90 days minimum. Most funds want to see pilot customers, not just LOIs. Expect reference calls with your automotive contacts if you claim industry relationships.

Michigan investment preferences

Michigan investors fund mobility tech, manufacturing software, supply chain tools, and industrial automation almost exclusively at seed stage. Healthcare and life sciences get attention in Ann Arbor with University of Michigan ties. Automotive applications open doors - even non-auto companies pitch how their tech could apply to vehicles.

Plan on 120-150 day fundraising timelines. Michigan VCs want clear paths to automotive customers within 12 months. Profitability matters but less than in Utah - they'll fund 36-month burn if you're solving real manufacturing problems. Show ties to Ford, GM, or Stellantis and timelines compress.

Competition is light compared to SF or Boston. You're fighting fewer companies for attention, but investors are pickier about sector fit. Out-of-state funds lead 50%+ of Michigan Series A rounds. Local investors often take smaller pieces and bring in Chicago or SF leads.

16 top investors in Michigan

1. Ludlow Ventures

Detroit-based seed fund that backed Stord, Roadie, and 100+ logistics and supply chain companies.

• Recent Deals: Stord $90M Series C (2024), Outdoorsy $120M Series D (2024), Mailchimp pre-acquisition rounds (2023)
• LinkedIn: Brett Brohl
• Sector Focus: Supply Chain, Logistics, B2B SaaS, Mobility
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A
• Office Location: Detroit, Downtown
• Website: ludlowventures.com

2. Invest Michigan

State-supported fund focusing on Michigan-based growth companies across sectors.

• Recent Deals: Kraig Biocraft $15M Series B (2024), Genomenon $4M Series A (2025), Censio follow-on (2024)
• LinkedIn: Colleen Killen-Roberts
• Sector Focus: Advanced Manufacturing, Life Sciences, Software, Materials Science
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B
• Office Location: Ann Arbor, Near campus
• Website: investmichigan.org

3. Arboretum Ventures

Ann Arbor healthcare investor with $600M+ AUM and medical device expertise.

• Recent Deals: LivaNova medical devices $200M growth (2024), ViewRay $180M Series D (2024), North Coast Medical acquisition support (2025)
• LinkedIn: Tim Petersen
• Sector Focus: Medical Devices, Healthcare IT, Digital Health, Biotech
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Series C, Growth
• Office Location: Ann Arbor, Downtown
• Website: arboretumvc.com

4. Renaissance Venture Capital

Ann Arbor fund backing University of Michigan spinouts and Michigan tech companies.

• Recent Deals: May Mobility $111M Series D (2024), SkySpecs $65M Series C (2024), Asterion $22M Series B (2025)
• LinkedIn: Chris Rizik
• Sector Focus: Autonomous Vehicles, Robotics, Enterprise Software, Clean Energy
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Series C
• Office Location: Ann Arbor, Research corridor
• Website: renaissanceventurecapital.com

5. Bamboo Ventures

Detroit fund focused on manufacturing tech and industrial software.

• Recent Deals: Censio $8M Series A (2024), Simfuni $5M seed (2024), multiple Detroit manufacturing tech seeds (2025)
• LinkedIn: Trey Rosier
• Sector Focus: Manufacturing Software, Supply Chain, Industrial IoT, B2B SaaS
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A
• Office Location: Detroit, New Center
• Website: bamboodetroit.com

6. Glacier Hills Capital

Ann Arbor life sciences fund with pharmaceutical and biotech focus.

• Recent Deals: Lycera $44M Series C (2024), Armune BioScience $18M Series A (2024), Neumora pre-IPO (2025)
• LinkedIn: David Gerber
• Sector Focus: Biotech, Drug Discovery, Precision Medicine, Therapeutics
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Series C
• Office Location: Ann Arbor, University area
• Website: glacierhillscapital.com

7. Huron River Ventures

Ann Arbor early-stage investor in life sciences and healthcare.

• Recent Deals: Asterand acquisition support (2023), multiple University of Michigan spinouts (2024-2025)
• LinkedIn: Kathleen Schlueter
• Sector Focus: Life Sciences, Medical Devices, Diagnostics, Healthcare IT
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A
• Office Location: Ann Arbor, Downtown
• Website: huronriver.com

8. Beringea

Michigan's largest venture fund with $600M+ AUM and offices in Farmington Hills.

• Recent Deals: SkySpecs Series C (2024), HistoSonics $102M Series D (2024), Genomenon Series A (2025)
• LinkedIn: Tom Jermoluk
• Sector Focus: Healthcare, Software, Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Tech
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Series C, Growth
• Office Location: Farmington Hills, Northwestern Detroit suburbs
• Website: beringea.com

9. Detroit Venture Partners

Dan Gilbert-backed fund that invested in StockX and Detroit's startup resurgence.

• Recent Deals: StockX $275M Series E (2024), Censio Series A (2024), Shipt pre-Target acquisition (2023)
• LinkedIn: Josh Linkner
• Sector Focus: E-commerce, Marketplaces, B2B SaaS, Supply Chain
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Office Location: Detroit, Downtown
• Website: detroitventurepartners.com

10. Ann Arbor SPARK

Economic development organization with venture fund for University of Michigan spinouts.

• Recent Deals: 50+ University of Michigan spinouts annually, Duo Security early rounds (2023), Censio seed (2024)
• LinkedIn: Paul Krutko
• Sector Focus: Life Sciences, Advanced Materials, Software, Clean Energy
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed, Seed
• Office Location: Ann Arbor, Campus area
• Website: annarborusa.org

11. Endeavor Capital

Birmingham-based fund investing in Michigan and Midwest growth companies.

• Recent Deals: Gentherm automotive tech pre-IPO (2023), multiple Michigan manufacturing tech Series A rounds (2024-2025)
• LinkedIn: Michael Hammes
• Sector Focus: Automotive Tech, Manufacturing, Enterprise Software, Industrial
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Growth
• Office Location: Birmingham, North of Detroit
• Website: endeavorcapital.com

12. ID Ventures

Ann Arbor fund that backed Duo Security's $2.35B exit to Cisco.

• Recent Deals: Duo Security pre-Cisco acquisition (2023-2024), SkySpecs Series B (2024), multiple cybersecurity seeds (2025)
• LinkedIn: Scott Dorsey
• Sector Focus: Cybersecurity, Enterprise Software, B2B SaaS, Identity
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Office Location: Ann Arbor, Downtown
• Website: idventures.com

13. Fontinalis Partners

Detroit mobility-focused fund backed by Bill Ford, only invests in transportation tech.

• Recent Deals: May Mobility $111M Series D (2024), Outdoorsy $120M Series D (2024), Cavnue $130M Series B (2025)
• LinkedIn: Zia Yusuf
• Sector Focus: Autonomous Vehicles, Mobility, Transportation, Supply Chain
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Series C
• Office Location: Detroit, Downtown
• Website: fontinalispartners.com

14. Michigan Angel Fund

Seed investor in 100+ Michigan companies with focus on Ann Arbor and Detroit.

• Recent Deals: Multiple Michigan seeds annually (2024-2025), Duo Security early rounds (2023), SkySpecs seed (2023)
• LinkedIn: Mike Gietzen
• Sector Focus: Software, Manufacturing Tech, Healthcare, Life Sciences
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed, Seed
• Office Location: Ann Arbor, Near University of Michigan
• Website: michiganangelfund.com

15. Cahoots Capital

Detroit real estate tech investor backing proptech and construction software.

• Recent Deals: Multiple Detroit proptech seeds (2024-2025), construction management software Series A rounds
• LinkedIn: Anthony Longo
• Sector Focus: Proptech, Construction Tech, Real Estate, Supply Chain
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A
• Office Location: Detroit, Midtown
• Website: cahootscapital.com

16. Northern Lights Venture Capital

Detroit early-stage fund in manufacturing and industrial tech.

• Recent Deals: Multiple Michigan manufacturing software seeds (2024-2025), industrial IoT Series A rounds
• LinkedIn: David Blaszkiewicz
• Sector Focus: Manufacturing, Industrial IoT, Automation, Supply Chain
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A
• Office Location: Detroit, Downtown
• Website: nlvc.com

Start tracking your Michigan investor outreach

These 16 investors closed 180+ Michigan deals in 2024-2025. Before you start reaching out to Detroit and Ann Arbor funds, set up proper tracking.

Upload your deck to Ellty and create a unique link for each Michigan investor. You'll see exactly which slides they view and how long they spend on your automotive application section. Michigan-based founders often find investors skip market opportunity slides but scrutinize your connections to Ford, GM, or Stellantis. They want to see pilot agreements or LOIs from automotive buyers.

When Michigan investors ask for more materials, share an Ellty data room instead of email attachments. Your technical specs, customer pipeline, and supplier relationships in one place with view analytics. Detroit VCs expect organized documentation before partner meetings - it signals you understand enterprise sales cycles.

Common questions

Do I need to be based in Michigan to raise from Michigan investors?

Not required but heavily preferred. Companies without Michigan presence get funded if solving clear automotive or manufacturing problems. Most Detroit VCs expect quarterly in-person meetings. Ann Arbor funds are more flexible but still want University of Michigan ties.

How does Michigan compare to Chicago or SF for fundraising?

Smaller checks but stronger automotive networks. Average Michigan Series A is $10M versus $15M in Chicago or $18M in SF. You'll find investors who understand manufacturing constraints and automotive sales cycles. Limited late-stage capital - most companies raise Series B+ in Chicago or coastal markets.

What's the average seed round size in Michigan?

$1.8M in 2025. Range is typically $500K-$2.5M. Pre-seed rounds run $250K-$600K. You won't find many $4M+ seed rounds unless you have strong automotive partnerships already signed.

Should I raise locally or go straight to Chicago/SF?

Raise locally for seed if you're in mobility, manufacturing tech, or supply chain. Michigan investors understand automotive sales cycles and can make introductions. Go to Chicago for Series A+ or if you're pure software without industrial applications. Detroit has limited growth capital above $25M.

Do Michigan investors expect in-person meetings?

Yes for first meetings and all partner meetings. Zoom works for updates and early screening calls. Plan on visiting Detroit or Ann Arbor 3-4 times during fundraising. If you claim automotive relationships, expect investors to verify them in person with your contacts.

What industries get funded most in Michigan?

Mobility tech and automotive software take 35% of deal volume. Advanced manufacturing and supply chain take another 30%. Life sciences in Ann Arbor gets 20%. Enterprise SaaS without industrial application struggles. Consumer tech gets almost no seed funding.

How important are automotive connections for fundraising in Michigan?

Very important for Detroit investors, less so in Ann Arbor. If you're building mobility or manufacturing tech, you need relationships at Ford, GM, or Stellantis. Pilot programs or procurement contacts significantly increase your chances. Pure software companies can succeed without auto ties but check sizes will be smaller.