MSpire Pitch Competition for Ohio manufacturing-focused entrepreneurs

Mspire 2025 : Manufacturing Innovation Pitch Competition
October 16, 2025
(Applications accepted through August 18, 2025) 

Prizes totaling more than $85,000!

What is Mspire?

Ohio's Premier Manufacturing Pitch Competition with more than $85,000 in prizes such as engineering design or operations services to help move your startup to the next milestone. If you have a physical product, idea, or manufacturing innovation, apply today.

Learn more about Mspire from our past 2024 winners here!

Why should I apply?

Winners receive tailored resources, guidance and connections that address their unique needs and circumstances, aligned with where they are at in the product development process. Our efforts are dedicated to providing winners with the necessary support to take their ventures to the next stage.

Who should apply?

Any Ohio-based entrepreneur with a physical product, idea, or manufacturing innovation.

What are the prizes and benefits?

Prizes and benefits include MAGNET's manufacturing consulting services adapted to meet the needs and services of a company or product, such as:

• Engineering Assistance & Prototyping
• Operational Services 
• Sales and Marketing
• Innovation Award, sponsored by Huntington, for up to $10K for diverse founders
• Exposure to The Advanced Manufacturing Fund
• Visibility to a judging panel of local services providers and investors
• Guidance from MAGNET's team of manufacturing experts

Last year's winners include:

• Accelerate Wind – $20,000 Engineering Prize
  Accelerate Wind, founded by Erika Boeing, is developing affordable wind turbines that capture wind energy from the edges of building roofs, complementing rooftop solar panels and helping buildings move towards net-zero energy?.
   
• Auxilium Health – $5,000 Huntington Innovation Award
  Auxilium Health, co-founded by Isaiah Kaiser and Aparna Agrawal, is revolutionizing wound care with next-generation diagnostics and therapeutics that reduce complications and improve outcomes?.
   
• Daisy Makes – $15,000 Engineering Prize
  Amy Mucha’s Daisy Makes transforms the art of cake popping with its 3D-printed molds, speeding up production while maintaining creativity and consistency in the process.
   
• Galvanix – $20,000 Engineering Prize
  Galvanix, led by Alan Long, is commercializing an innovative metallization process that generates critical metals like neodymium, essential for industries such as electric vehicles and renewable energy?.
   
• Peaceful Fruits – $10,000 Operations Prize
  Peaceful Fruits, founded by Evan Delahanty, self-manufactures 100% fruit snacks that combine the fun, nostalgic feel of candy with the health benefits of fruit. The company is scaling its operations to seize national distribution opportunities?.
   
• Solar Sprout – $5,000 Huntington Innovation Award
  Led by Lexi Knight, Solar Sprout combines agriculture and renewable energy by allowing dual-use of land for farming and solar energy generation, increasing yields while providing a sustainable energy source?.
   
• UGen – $10,000 Engineering Prize
  UGen, led by Michael Haritakis, offers a smart medical device that uses sensor-based software to aid physical therapy patients with biomechanics correction, allowing for both in-clinic and remote rehabilitation?.

I applied last year. Can I apply again?

Yes! However, if you’ve been awarded in the past, you must demonstrate a pivot or significant progress to be eligible.

What is the judging criteria?

Each application/pitch will be evaluated on containing a well-defined problem, unique solution, clear path to market, and alignment with MAGNET's capabilities and prize offerings.

What types of submissions are you looking for?

Any physical product, idea, or manufacturing innovation is welcome to apply.
 Software (or SaaS) companies are not a fit unless there is a primary or secondary physical component. 

What Should I Expect After Applying?

All applications will be reviewed by a panel of judges. Selected applicants will be invited to participate in a virtual semifinal round, where they will be expected to deliver a 10-minute pitch followed by Q&A. Finalists from that round will advance to the in-person pitch competition at MAGNET in Cleveland, OH, taking place on October 16, 2025. 

Mspire Partners

The Huntington Innovation Award is generously supported by Huntington.

Questions?

Email our team!