MTEC SmartZone is proud to announce that a 2025 AMMP participant, Nudena, was awarded First Place / Investor’s Choice at the 2025 Female Founder Tech Summit!
Nudena is a Detroit-based design-infrastructure company building the future of hardware innovation. Through its integrated divisions — Nudena Design and the forthcoming Nudena OS — the company supports hardware founders from early concept through manufacturability, while building the systems and infrastructure needed for Detroit to become a competitive hub for hardware startups.
Founded by Bailey Morgan, Nudena participated in MTEC’s 2025 Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Program (AMMP) this past summer. The program strengthened Nudena’s understanding of how to structure and scale a hardware company within Michigan’s economic landscape, and it helped shape the firm’s strategy for partnership and growth.
“AMMP helped us understand the business side of building a hardware company in Michigan — not just the product side. We learned how to structure partnerships, how to align with economic development goals, and how to plug into statewide programs in a way that supports long-term scalability. That clarity directly shaped how we are building Nudena.” — Bailey Morgan, Founder of Nudena
The Female Founder Tech Summit, hosted by Femology, brought together more than 200 founders, investors, and partners for a full day of networking, collaboration, and startup growth. Among all the participants, Bailey Morgan was selected as Investor’s Choice for her pitch representing Nudena.
Nudena’s win highlights the growing need for infrastructure that supports hardware founders at the intersection of design, advanced manufacturing, and AI.
“This award reinforces that the problem we are solving is real. Hardware founders want a clearer path from idea to manufacturability, and they want to build locally. Detroit is ready for that future, and Nudena is committed to building the infrastructure that makes it possible for more physical products to be imagined, designed, and manufactured here.” — Bailey Morgan, Founder of Nudena
MTEC SmartZone congratulates Nudena on this achievement, and celebrates the powerful role AMMP participants continue to play in advancing Michigan’s tech and manufacturing ecosystem.
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About MTEC
Michigan Tech Enterprise Corporation (MTEC) is one of 21 SmartZone Incubators 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, leading to the creation of over 800 high-tech jobs in the Houghton and Hancock, Michigan area.
About AMMP
AMMP targets early-stage companies seeking acceleration along the commercialization pathway. Through a three-month, in-person, cohort-based program, participants receive coaching and guidance from experienced entrepreneurs. The program helps innovators understand their markets, identify customer needs, and build clear plans for achieving their first sales. AMMP also facilitates introductions to potential investors and fosters a strong peer-support network that encourages founders to learn from one another and expand their connections. Its mission is to catalyze and support entrepreneurs throughout the region as they build successful companies in the state.