Several Spartan-founded startups have been named to the 2026 Renaissance Venture Capital Hotlist, recognizing the continued contributions of Spartan entrepreneurs to Michigan’s innovation ecosystem.
The Renaissance Venture Capital Hotlist identifies and highlights Michigan-based startups expected to raise venture capital within the next 12-18 months. This list is curated from hundreds of recommendations made by universities, incubators, accelerators, angel networks, and venture funds across the state.
Spartan features include:
AG3 Labs
Gavin Gardner, College of Engineering
AG3 Labs design advanced, low-cost drones that leverage AI and cutting-edge innovation to redefine the capabilities of autonomous aerial systems.
BRCĒ
Tanvi Gadamsetti, College of Engineering
A material-tech startup, developing an ecosystem of athletic performance gear & safety accessories to support athletes in performance and recovery & industrial use-cases.
Block Harbor Cybersecurity
Bryan Blancke (B.S. ‘13) and Rachel Klavon (B.S ‘11)
An alumni startup based in Detroit, this company combines automotive expertise with advanced cybersecurity to protect and secure the connected vehicles of today and the future.
Elite Care Technologies
David Reid (MD ‘24)
Emerging from one of our own Burgess New Venture Challenge (BNVC), this healthcare tech company provides independent medical practices with real-time insights into patient status as they move through various stages of the care continuum.
Enspired Solutions
Denise Kay (PhD ‘98)
Alumni founded, women-owned, and women-led remediation company focusing on eliminating forever chemicals.
MediCool Technologies Inc.
Jeff Rynbrandt (MBA ‘02)
This Alumni startup develops technology for the painless prevention and termination of dangerous cardiac arrhythmias.
MoiiAI Inc.
Madhu Posani (MBA)
Alumni startup that leverages artificial intelligence to enhance customer engagement and digital communication tools.
Motmot, Inc.
Elliot Smith (MBA ‘24)
MotMot, Inc delivers data-driven management for underground water systems using an autonomous underwater robot that inspects live pipelines, maps infrastructure, and detects defects without interrupting service.
These recognitions reflect the growing strength of Michigan State University’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and the impact Spartan founders are making across industries and around the world.
About the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation: The Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation is the destination where students launch high-impact, entrepreneurial journeys at Michigan State University. The Burgess Institute empowers students to learn through action by providing global mentors, courses, seed funding, entrepreneurship competitions, student organizations, resources, and campus-wide co-working spaces.