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Michigan Good Food Fund Pitch Event

May 6, 2025 | 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Lansing Center | 333 E Michigan Ave., Lansing, MI 48933
Application open March 5 - 26, 2025

Event sponsors: MSU Center for Regional Food Systems, MSU Product Center, Lake Trust Credit Union, and the Fair Food Network

 

Does your packaged goods food business help build healthier communities and contribute to a more connected and sustainable food economy? If so, read on!

The Michigan Good Food Fund and its partners at the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems and Fair Food Network believe food is a gateway to community health, wealth, and resiliency. By offering this Pitch Event the night before the 2025 MSU Product Center’s Making it in Michigan conference and trade show, we hope to help Michigan-based food businesses elevate their presence in the marketplace. The Pitch Event gives packaged food makers a chance to win funds toward their business.


Prize opportunity  

Effectively sharing your business pitch is crucial for success. Talking to a buyer, investor, or loan officer requires you to share your business details in a condensed way.

Michigan-based packaged food businesses have an exciting opportunity to pitch their business to a live audience the evening before the 2025 MSU Product Center’s Making it in Michigan, a premier food product conference and tradeshow with a meet-the-buyers opportunity.

Three good food businesses will be selected to pitch in front of a live audience the evening of May 6, 2025, in Lansing. The recipient of the awards will be announced by a panel of judges and will receive funds and resources to invest in their business. The award can be used towards purchases like packaging, ingredients, equipment, real estate purchases, accounting services, web design, marketing services, or other expenses needed to support a good food business. 

These awards are sponsored by Michigan Good Food Fund partners, Lake Trust Credit Union and the Fair Food Network.

  • 1st place - $5,000
  • 2nd place - $3,000
  • 3rd place - $2,000

Next steps to apply 

  1. Assure that you meet the mission of the Michigan Good Food Fund. Not sure after reviewing the information? Email your business details to Jazmin Bolan-Williamson at bolanwil@msu.edu. 
  2. Review online resources and other food business pitches available to help you give an effective pitch (check out this resource from the MSU Product Center).
  3. Practice, practice, practice your pitch. 
  4. Complete this online application between March 5 - 26. 
  5. When you are ready to go, record a 60-90 video.
  6. Save your video in YouTube, Google, or as an MP4 (find instructions on creating an MP4 recording here).
  7. Submit through your video to Jazmin Bolan-Williamson via email at bolanwil@msu.edu or using the https://filedepot.msu.edu/ by Wednesday, March 26, 2025, 5 p.m. ET.

A judging panel of industry representatives will select three businesses to participate in the live event. Selected businesses will be notified by close of business April 11, 2025. Those businesses are expected to:  

  • Meet with the Michigan Good Food Fund team on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, 1 p.m. ET, to review the live session and a tech check.  
  • Present their pitch in person at Making it in Michigan in Lansing on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awardees will be announced live during the event. 

Rules & Guidelines 

  • The application will be open from March 5 - 26, 2025. No late entries will be permitted. 
  • Video submissions will be reviewed by a judging committee of professionals from the food and financing industry. 
  • To qualify, applicants must complete two steps - 1) submit the online application and 2) provide a video recording. 
  • Those who have applied but were not finalists in previous years may apply in 2025.
  • Videos will be scored on the following:  
    • Meeting the mission of the Michigan Good Food Fund.   
    • Including mention of the why the business is needed, who buys the product, competitive advantage, financials, entrepreneur’s background, and how the award will be used.  
    • The business’ impact on building healthy and resilient communities.  
    • How the funds will be used.
  • By April 11, three entrepreneurs will be selected to pitch live on May 6.
  • Funding for the awards is sponsored by Lake Trust Credit Union and the Fair Food Network, and will be provided by event organizer, MSU Center for Regional Food Systems.
Michigan Good Food Fund Pitch Flyer

Registration for Making It In Michigan Conference and Michigan Good Food Pitch Competition is open.

Registration closes at 11:59 p.m. ET on March 26, 2025.

Apply between March – March 26

Accommodations

Michigan State University is committed to providing equal opportunity for participation in all programs, services and activities. Accommodations for persons with disabilities may be requested by contacting the event contact two weeks prior to the start of the event. Requests received after this date will be honored whenever possible.

Contact Information

For more information, please contact Jazmin Bolan-Williamson at bolanwil@msu.edu.