Recap: 2023 I2P3-RSC Accelerator Camp
SUMMARY OF EVENT
NextCycle Michigan’s 2023 Intergovernmental Initiatives and Public-Private Partnerships (I2P3) and Recycling Supply Chain (RSC) Accelerator Tracks kicked off their new cohorts with a combined accelerator camp on June 15 and 16. The camp was held at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ Ralph A MacMullan Conference Center on the shores of Higgins Lake in Roscommon County. The event included workshops and sessions to support 14 teams in further developing their businesses and projects.
Ashley Connelly, an alum of the 2022 Recycling Innovation and Technology (RIT) Accelerator Track’s team from Industrial Sewing and Innovation Center (ISAIC) was a featured speaker. She began by presenting an abbreviated version of the ISAIC Team’s pitch, then was interviewed by Keira Higgins of Resource Recycling Systems (RRS).
Asked how the NextCycle Michigan accelerator was helpful to her team, Connelly highlighted how the program gave ISAIC ongoing access to the NextCycle Michigan network of teams, subject matter experts, and funders. Connelly also emphasized how the accelerator process improved their ability to communicate with different people including stakeholders and venture capital investors. In response to a question about anything she would change about ISAIC’s NextCycle Michigan experience, Connelly emphasized knowing, “It’s okay that we’re figuring this out as we go.”
The Accelerator Camps are designed to offer teams foundational information, perspectives, and relationships. The Camps
offer a chance to network with other teams in their cohort and with the Track leads;
provide mentoring and direct consulting with industry experts;
prepare teams to pitch their work to grantors and investors;
expand their understanding of the recycling landscape in Michigan;
equip teams to use data to inform project work; and
bring teams and their advisors together to discuss teams' plans for the rest of the track including coaching, partnerships, and additional support.
Partnership breakouts, training on developing the projects’ stories led by internationally recognized expert Thaler Pekar, and track-specific presentations were among the many workshops and sessions. Throughout the camp programming NextCycle teams have the opportunity to work one-on-one with coaches and to make connections with members of other teams. Networking continued after the Accelerator Camp: teams even reported using the carpool ride home to share ideas and resources.
Following this event, these NextCycle Michigan teams will meet virtually with other relevant subject matter experts and receive technical support and coaching as they further develop their work and prepare for their Pitch Showcase. The Showcase will be held on October 23rd at Treetops Resort in Gaylord.
ATTENDEES
I2P3 TEAMS
Calhoun County Comprehensive Recycling Center Planning
Crawford Countywide Recycling
Dickinson County Curbside Framework Development
Eaton County Recycle Center
Isabella Regional Hub and Spoke Materials Recovery Facility
Muskegon County Recycling Solutions (by the West Michigan Environmental Action Council)
Community Composting Pilot (by the Western Upper Peninsula Planning & Development Region)
RSC TEAMS
Fill Minds Not Landfills (a program of SCRAP Creative Reuse)
Hero Project Cannabis Vape Pen Recycling
Kadeya Water Kiosks
PURSEvere Handbags for Heels
reUser
Sipzee
Trash Transformer and Transparency
COACHES & SPEAKERS
Ashley Connelly – Centrepolis Accelerator
Bridgette Pollaski – Resource Recycling Systems (RRS)
Dan Radomski – Centrepolis Accelerator
Dan Schoomaker – West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum
Elisa Seltzer – RRS
JD Lindeberg – RRS
Jeff Krcmarik – Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)
Josh Brugeman – Centrepolis Accelerator
Keira Higgins – RRS
Kerrin O’Brien – Michigan Recycling Coalition
Liz Paul – RRS
Matt Flechter – EGLE
Matt Naud – RRS
Renee V. Wallace – Doers Edge, LLC
Thaler Pekar – Thaler Pekar & Partners
Tracy Purrenhage – EGLE
Yahang Zhang – RRS