Share
Michigan Rise Pre-Seed Fund III invested in three Michigan-based startups during June 2025. The companies span a range of industries and reflect the fund’s focus on early-stage, high-growth ventures.
The fund supported the following companies:
- ArtClvb: An online platform helping artists sell artwork, connect with collectors, and earn royalties through a user-friendly marketplace.
- LIVAQ: Building an all-electric ATV that delivers off-road performance without the noise or emissions, offering a smarter, more sustainable way to explore the outdoors.
- Ocutheia: Developing therapies to preserve vision by restoring metabolic function in photoreceptors, aiming to halt progression of diseases like macular degeneration.
“We invest early to help founders turn strong ideas into scalable businesses,” said Jeff Wesley, Executive Director of Michigan Rise. “These startups are tackling challenges in health, mobility, and the creative economy, and that diversity reflects the strength of Michigan’s startup pipeline.”
Michigan Rise is a wholly owned venture capital subsidiary of the MSU Research Foundation, operated in partnership with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). Michigan Rise provides early-stage funding to innovative companies that have the potential to transform industries and create jobs in Michigan.
