News & Stories
MTEC Monthly | August 2026
Thimbleberries are almost ripe, Pasty Fest has concluded, and another summer is flying by! While we soak up the last few weeks of long, summer days, there is lots happening within our entrepreneurial community. From a major funding announcement to a new innovation...
What It Takes to Become Investable
Fourteen weeks of programming. Over 100 hours of instruction. And, in the end, it all boils down to 5 minutes. 5 minutes to step onto a stage, pitch your company to a room full of investors, and sell your idea. For SinusBath CEO Sergiy Blackwood, those 5 minutes...
MTEC SMARTZONE, LAKE SUPERIOR COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP, AND HEADWATERS NORTH AWARDED $850,000 TO STRENGTHEN SMALL BUSINESSES ACROSS THE UPPER PENINSULA
Houghton, MI – [August 4, 2026] – The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) has awarded MTEC SmartZone $850,000 through its Small Business Support Hubs (SBSH) 2.0 Program to serve as the Region 1 Hub in partnership with The Lake Superior Community...
MTEC Monthly | July 2026
Between the long, sunny days, colorful sunsets, and occasional haze from Canadian wildfires, this summer in the Upper Peninsula has been anything but boring. This month, we’re highlighting the revival project of a community staple in Greenland, the conclusion of our...
A New Chapter On Plank Street
Tucked away in the small town of Greenland lies a building many locals remember well. Sitting right on Plank Street, originally known as Dick’s Dugout and then Beer Belly Bob’s, was a longtime community gathering place. After closing back in 2019, the community...
Inside Our AI Training Series
MTEC SmartZone hosted its first AI Training Series in May and June 2026. Following our successful Reimagining Leadership Conference in February, MTEC recognized a growing demand for AI-focused training. The region wanted to better understand AI and how to practically...
MTEC SMARTZONE ANNOUNCES NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT INTERN
MTEC SmartZone is excited to announce a new member of the team this summer, Austin Salani! Austin is a third-year Government modified with Economics and Philosophy (PPE) student at Dartmouth College. He is also a member of the NCAA Division I, Dartmouth Men’s ice...
MTEC Monthly | May 2026
After months of a long and snowy winter (over 350 inches, to be exact!), warmer weather is finally making its way to the Keweenaw. Tulips are blooming, trees are budding, and new ideas are in the air. This month, we’re highlighting an innovative SmartStart graduate,...
FairMapr: Map Smarter, Not Harder
Picture this: You’re at a career fair, farmers market, or community event with hundreds of booths. Endless rows of vendors, multiple pathways, and only a couple of hours. How do you know where to start? Where is that one booth you’ve been looking forward to visiting?...