Grand Rapids DeepTech is where bold ideas meet real impact by showcasing AI, robotics, health tech, and advanced software innovations ready to transform industries. Hosted by Grand Valley State University’s College of Computing, this high-energy competition fuels research-backed ventures with mentorship, student talent, and direct pathways to commercialization.
Who Can Participate
- GVSU Faculty, students, staff developing tech innovations.
- Student teams refining prototypes and exploring startup pathways.
- Entrepreneurs and technologists seeking research-backed collaboration.
- Investors and partners interested in deep tech opportunities.
From Application to Victory
The competition features two tracks:
- An Emerging Ideas Track for teams of early innovators developing concepts or prototypes, and
- A Venture Track for more mature startups with demonstrated progress toward commercialization.
Whether you’re competing, cheering from the audience, or tracking the journey, these are the milestones that shape GR DeepTech.
Timeline
Registration open for early-stage startups in both 1- Emerging Ideas and 2- Venture tracks
Join us for one of the following workshops:
- 3:00 p.m. - Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences (CHS 540 - Grooters Conference Room) on the GVSU Health Campus (Parking Info)
- 5:00 p.m. - Mackinac Hall Computing D-Wing Conference Room (Fishbowl, Room Number MAK D-2-168) on GVSU Valley Campus
Written pitch material deadline (11:59 p.m. ET).
We invite your team to share a short, two-page document that highlights your technological innovation, key technical challenges (and how your solution is unique), the market opportunity you are targeting, and the strength of your team. The aim is to tell a clear and compelling story that connects your technology to the real-world impact.
Finalist teams will be informed of the decision and instructions to submit final pitch deck.
Instructions will be provided to finalists.
Final pitch competition will be hosted for the two tracks during Innovation Day on Friday, Apr 24th.
Awards
- Cash Prizes for the Top Teams in each Track
- bamboo Coworking Membership Awards
