March 6, 2024, Toronto, ON and Philadelphia, PA – EnerTech Capital is pleased to announce that Gian Vergnetti will join the Oversight Committee for the University of Michigan (U-M) MTRAC Advanced Transportation Innovation Hub as part of the firm’s expanding innovation activities in the State of Michigan and growth of the EnerTech Advanced Mobility Ecosystem (EAME).
The EAME is an initiative made up of key stakeholders collaborating to promote the commercialization of advanced mobility innovations across the US and Canada. Gian is leading the expansion of EnerTech’s mobility ecosystem in Michigan and joins industry and investment experts on the Oversight Committee to provide consultation and mentoring to emerging mobility companies. MTRAC’s funding areas overlap with key focus areas for EnerTech related to decarbonization and digital transformation in the mobility sector including electrification, advanced manufacturing, and software defined vehicle applications.
"We are thrilled to have Gian of EnerTech Capital join the Oversight Committee for the MTRAC Advanced Transportation program. The expertise of the committee, engagement with and feedback to the projects is what makes the MTRAC program unique and so successful,” said Denise Graves, Commercialization Program Director at MTRAC Advanced Transportation.
The MTRAC Advanced Transportation Innovation Hub is managed by Innovation Partnerships at U-M and is part of a statewide program supporting translational research projects with high commercial potential, with the ultimate goal of launching new technologies into the mobility and transportation sectors. The program offers early-stage funding opportunities through the MTRAC Advanced Transportation annual grant program. Additionally, MTRAC reinforces the commitment of the Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF), the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, and U-M to entrepreneurship as a dynamic catalyst for economic growth, allowing for greater collaboration and ultimately increasing the number of start-ups, jobs, industry licenses, and investment for Michigan.
“I am excited to join the Oversight Committee,” said Gian Vergnetti, Partner at EnerTech Capital. “So much important innovation is happening across universities in the state of Michigan, and I look forward to working with an impressive group of industry professionals, subject matter experts, and key collaborators to support this initiative.”
The MTRAC program offers initial support for proposal development, pitch preparation and initial market research. Awarded projects go on to receive a one-year grant and resources that support the commercialization milestones with connections to industry partners, coaching from the MTRAC Team which includes mentors, licensing professionals and Industry and Investment Advisory Board members.
“We are proud to have Gian join MTRAC as he leads the expansion of our mobility ecosystem in Michigan and develops proprietary relationships in the mobility space for our limited partners in our latest fund, the Global Strategic Mobility Fund. The state of Michigan is a leader in automotive innovation and will provide us valuable access to exciting investment opportunities and new partnerships,” said Wally Hunter, Managing Partner at EnerTech Capital.
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About EnerTech Capital
EnerTech Capital is a globally recognized venture capital firm that has been investing and partnering with innovators since 1996, empowering entrepreneurs to build transformative technology companies. The firm has pioneered an integrated approach to business building, leveraging strategic collaboration across a diverse stakeholder ecosystem to create value; with a focus on Mobility, Industry 4.0, and Connected Customer. EnerTech’s current platform has a significant focus on emerging opportunities in the mobility space across Electrification, Autonomy, Smart Mobility, and Connectivity. The firm has a long history of working with corporate strategic investors and providing value added insights and partnership opportunities to support growth and innovation objectives.
EnerTech has offices in Toronto, Philadelphia, Palm Beach Gardens, Boston, and Orange County.
For more information, visit: www.EnerTechCapital.com
Contact:
Name: Wally Hunter
Phone Number: 416-418-1505
Email: whunter@enertechcapital.com
About Innovation Partnerships
Innovation Partnerships, a unit based in the Office of the Vice President for Research at the University of Michigan, is the primary gateway for U-M researchers seeking to increase the impact of their work by connecting with the private sector. Innovation Partnerships' team of experts help amplify the impact of U-M research through corporate-sponsored research collaborations, licensing and intellectual property strategies and connections with business mentors, entrepreneurs and investors to support startup company formation.
For more information, please visit https://innovationpartnerships.umich.edu
Contact:
Name: Denise Graves
Phone Number: 734-936-5304
Email: dmgraves@umich.edu
