Innovate Marquette SmartZone

10/21/2026

Working with fellow entrepreneurs encourages Caleb Bell to continue building his own venture capital company. Caleb, a future Northern Michigan University graduate, has been studying finance and venture capital since he became an entrepreneur in high school.

Since starting his entrepreneurial journey with a lawn care business with a friend, Caleb’s interest in business has morphed from not only starting a business, but funding one.

Through Innovate Marquette’s pilot internship program, Caleb was able to work with the Michigan Outdoor Innovation Fund as an investment intern. While meeting with inspiring Michigan entrepreneurs, Caleb gained hands-on experience in the world of venture capital, which will help him as he focuses on building his own firm after graduation.

Learn more about Caleb’s journey at https://innovatemarquette.org/venture-capital-internship/.

10/20/2026

Feeling lost navigating the ins-and-outs of clear and effective communication for your business? Join us on Wednesday, October 28, at 11 AM EST for a free webinar, led by Adela Piper. 💻

While building an early-stage company, every conversation is high-stakes. Whether you are pitching investors, hiring initial team members, or winning early partners, your narrative is your greatest asset.

Yet many founders get trapped in technical weeds, over-engineered slides, or generic buzzwords that fail to land. When messaging feels overly polished or disconnected, it stops sounding human and worse, people stop trusting it. If you do not actively shape your story, someone else will define it for you.

Join Adela Piper, founder of Siren Strategic Communication, for an actionable session on treating communication as a vital growth strategy rather than an afterthought. Learn how to ditch the jargon, translate complex ideas into clear direction, and communicate with the intention required to earn lasting stakeholder buy-in.

Register for free here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ws7viDILSliIuS9C305v-g #/registration

10/16/2026

The Michigan Outdoor Innovation Fund is the first seed-stage venture fund in the Upper Peninsula and rural Michigan. The fund is a $5.6 million fund dedicated to fostering the growth of highly scalable, Michigan startups that commercialize technology that serve the outdoor industry.

Northern Michigan University student Caleb Bell worked as the fund's investment intern this year, often serving as the first point of contact with the fund. Caleb's internship played a critical role in evaluating investment criteria, gaining insight on each applying startup, and being a supportive advocate of the resources available to Michigan startups.

Learn more about Caleb's experience at https://innovatemarquette.org/venture-capital-internship/

10/15/2026

Whether you're playing in a tournament or a casual game of pool, the way the balls are racked can make a difference. Even small inconsistencies in positioning and alignment can result in a bad rack, impacting the break and the game that follows.

Al Baldasari recognized this problem and worked with the Innovate Marquette Protolab to develop LockNLoad, a patent-pending magnetic racking system designed to take the guesswork out of the process.

Using magnets embedded beneath the table and within the rack, LockNLoad guides the rack into the same position and alignment every time, helping players achieve a more consistent and repeatable rack.

No more guessing where the rack should go. Just lock, load, and play.

Learn more at https://www.lockandloadbilliards.com/

10/15/2026

Congratulations to Stephanie Jones and KytherID on being chosen as one of six startups to compete in next month's NAR NXT Pitch Battle! The pitch competition, sponsored by the National Association of Realtors, will take place in New Orleans and give competitors a chance to win $15,000. We are proud to play a part in this entrepreneurial journey!

📣 THE BIG REVEAL IS HERE! Meet your 2026 NAR NXT Pitch Battle contestants!

Six startups have been selected to take the stage in New Orleans, ready to pitch their solutions, face off against expert judges and compete for the $15,000 grand prize!

Introducing your 2026 competitors:
🔥 Association Online https://bit.ly/4yfWfti
🔥 BrokerBot https://bit.ly/4Bi6Gzw
🔥 CleanSL8® https://bit.ly/4jehvvT
🔥 KytherID https://bit.ly/4hI0B7F
🔥 Property Shield https://bit.ly/4B24z2n
🔥 SKLÜT https://bit.ly/4xj8yVe

Each will have just four minutes to make their pitch, followed by four minutes of rapid-fire Q&A with the judges.

Plus, attendees will vote live to determine who walks away with the Crowd Favorite title and bragging rights.

Six startups. One stage. Who has what it takes to win?

📍 NAR NXT | New Orleans
📅 November 7, 2026
🔗 Meet the competitors: https://bit.ly/3WlYii9

10/15/2026

Caleb Bell, a Northern Michigan University finance major, is building a career in venture capital.

Caleb has been no stranger to the ins and outs of starting a business. In high school, Caleb created and ran a lawn care business, igniting his entrepreneurial spirit. Now, he has spent his summer helping other entrepreneurs gain access to funding that allows their dreams to take off.

Through his internship with the Michigan Outdoor Innovation Fund, powered by InvestUP. Caleb often served as a founder’s first point of contact with the fund. His role is critical in evaluating investment criteria, gaining insight on each applying startup, and being a supportive advocate of the resources available to Michigan startups.

The Michigan Outdoor Innovation Fund is the first seed-stage venture fund in the Upper Peninsula and rural Michigan. Caleb’s work with the fund has been part of Innovate Marquette’s pilot internship program, an effort to offer continued support to startups making strides in outdoor innovation.

Learn more about Caleb’s experience at https://innovatemarquette.org/venture-capital-internship/

The Michigan Outdoor Innovation Fund, managed by InvestUP, is the first seed-stage venture fund in the Upper Peninsula and rural Michigan.

10/14/2026

One of Marquette’s startups is pitching in New Hampshire this month, and we’re inviting you to join us in supporting them from Marquette.

Innovate Marquette is hosting a watch party on Thursday, October 29 from 5:30-7:30 PM to cheer on Marquette-based startup journai as they compete live for a $10,000 cash prize during the Center on Rural Innovation’s Small Towns, Big Ideas Pitch Event.

The watch party will take place at the Innovate Marquette Office (101 W Washington St, Suite 11, Marquette, MI 49855). Feel free to bring a blanket, and join Innovate Marquette in watching journai compete in Small Towns, Big Ideas!

Pizza and snacks will be provided. Please bring a camping chair to lounge in around the TV.

Please RSVP using the link below — we’d love to see you there!
🔗https://forms.gle/fMENghFSjkHfk4hP9

10/13/2026

Fresh Coast Film Festival returns this week, October 15-18 and we are excited to sponsor this great event for another year!

The weekend kicks off with Fresh Coast Free on Thursday from 5-9 pm and we will be there featuring a few of our founders in outdoor innovation. Family friendly film screenings will begin at 7 pm for a free preview of what the weekend has in store.

Snag your tickets for the full weekend or a day pass if your time is limited! Tickets can be purchased online or at the box office during the event.

10/13/2026

We are hiring a Project Coordinator! This collaborative position supports all facets of Innovate Marquette and Invent@NMU operations, assisting Projects Managers and providing guidance and support to student employees.

This position is integral in the Marquette entrepreneurial ecosystem, working with founders to support the development of their ventures in technology, while supporting the growth and success of Northern Michigan University students through Invent@NMU

Learn more and apply at the link below
🔗https://app.hirescore.com/landing/innovatemarquette/project-coordinator

10/02/2026

🎱 What if you could take the guesswork out of racking a game of pool?
Meet LockNLoad, a new patent-pending technology designed by local inventor Al Baldasari and developed with the Innovate Marquette Protolab to create a more consistent, repeatable rack.

For more than 150 years, players have relied on their own judgment to position and align the rack. During tournaments and everyday games, even small differences in placement can lead to an inconsistent rack.

LockNLoad approaches the problem differently. Using magnets positioned beneath the table and within the rack, the system guides the rack into the same predetermined position and alignment every time.

No eyeballing. No adjusting. No guesswork.

Lock. Load. Done. 🎱

Learn more about the technology and how it was developed at lockandloadbilliards.com.