The Showcase is the culminating event of the NextCycle Michigan Accelerator program. After six months of coaching and working to refine project plans, identify supply chains, create marketing strategies, and calculate impacts, 17 teams are poised to pitch their projects. Watch as they appeal to potential investors and partners while competing for monetary awards (and bragging rights).

2025 NextCycle Michigan Summer Showcase
June 25, 2025 | 1:00pm - 6:00pm
University of Michigan - Dearborn

This is also a great opportunity to network with other business leaders, public sector decision-makers, recycling industry representatives, community groups, and investors. Join us to witness changemakers building Michigan’s circular economy!

KEYNOTE: ANNA DELAGE

We are excited to announce our keynote speaker for the 2025 Summer Showcase will be Anna DeLage, Recycling Market Development Manager with the South Carolina Department of Commerce.

Prior to joining the Department of Commerce in 2015, Anna started her career in sustainability as a student leader at the University of North Carolina at Asheville as the cofounder and director of the Student Environmental Center. She then served as Richland County’s first sustainability director in 2010, managing over $2M in energy efficiency and clean energy projects resulting in a 10% reduction in energy use in county buildings portfolio-wide during her tenure.

Meet the 17 entrepreneurs, nonprofits, small businesses, and community teams that will pitch their projects during the Summer Showcase. Their projects include innovative recycling technologies and organic material solutions - all aimed to fill gaps and improve Michigan’s circular economy.

NextCycle Michigan is built on a foundation of collaboration and partnership. Your organization can be a part of accelerating reuse, repair, recycling, and composting in the state - demonstrating a commitment to advancing solutions and building a robust circular economy.

Download the prospectus to learn about the various sponsorship opportunities. We’re also happy to work with your organization to develop a custom sponsorship! Contact MRad (mradiwon@recycle.com) to discuss how you can be a part of NextCycle Michigan.

• May 13-15, 2025 - Michigan Recycling Coalition Annual Conference: It’s that time of year again! Join business and community leaders as we dig into Michigan’s recycling and organics recovery market. NextCycle Michigan is a mini-showcase featuring four alumni teams pitching their circular projects. Learn more

• May 28, 2025, 11:00am - Michigan Material Marketplace Virtual Roundtable: This roundtable will focus on reuse opportunities for organizations that are consolidating, renovating, moving, or other transition, and what happens to the surplus furniture, fixtures, construction materials, electronics or other hard-to-recycle items. Learn more

• June 13, 2025 - Composting Consortium Grant Application Deadline: Grants up to $50K available to composters and communities who are interested in establishing or scaling their programs to include certified, food-contact compostable packaging. Learn more