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Civilized Cycles news

Civilized Cycles Secures $100,000 from the Michigan Outdoor Innovation Fund

The Michigan Outdoor Innovation Fund is proud to welcome Civilized Cycles to our portfolio, a startup driving forward innovation in the outdoor mobility space. They are reimagining sustainable urban transportation with their electric cargo Semi-Trike, a solution for last-mile delivery, campground operations, eco-tourism, and more. The $100,000 investment will help scale operations, support trial unit production, and expand customer outreach. With proven collaborations - including work with fellow portfolio company Grounded - Civilized Cycles is paving the way for cleaner, more accessible mobility in outdoor spaces and beyond.

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Pangoo news

Pangoo Launches in Detroit

When Pangoo Apparel founder Sara Chen started climbing in Detroit, she didn’t see herself reflected in the outdoor industry. Now, she’s changing that. With a vision to make outdoor spaces more inclusive, she designed women’s climbing pants that fit, function, and perform. After raising over $175,000 in just one month and selling 1,200 pre-orders, it’s clear that Pangoo is meeting a need that has long been ignored. Chen’s innovative approach has also earned Pangoo a $50,000 investment from the Michigan Outdoor Innovation Fund through her first-place finish in the Michigan Tech Week outdoor innovation competition, a coveted spot in the BasBlue Zero-to-One fellowship, and a growing customer base. With early success and strong market demand, Pangoo is positioned for big things ahead.

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The Michigan Outdoor Innovation Fund Announces Five New Portfolio Additions

The Michigan Outdoor Innovation Fund is proud to announce five new portfolio additions - Student Athlete Score, Inc., Hercules Electric Mobility, Electric Outdoors, KUHMUTE ⚡, and LIVAQ - in the second round of pre-seed funding awards. Together, these companies are pushing the boundaries and creating breakthroughs in outdoor recreation with technologies that span from e-mobility charging solutions to sustainable camping technologies and electric off-road vehicles, playing a pivotal role in the growth and sustainability of Michigan and beyond. Although the Fund has already deployed nearly $1 million, it has significant resources remaining to ensure that the Fund capitalizes on creating new opportunities and building momentum for Michigan’s outdoor economy.

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InvestUP’s First Michigan Outdoor Innovation Fund Recipient Secures $3.5M in Follow-On Funding

The Michigan Outdoor Innovation Fund, powered by InvestUP, made its first-ever investment into Grounded RV’s, a Michigan-based electric RV company back in April 2024 as part of a Pre-Seed funding round to help the Company fulfill its first orders. Since then, the Company has been able to generate close triple revenue and recently closed on a $3.5M Seed round led by The 81 Collective, a Chicago-based hardware VC. Funds for this round will allow the company to double its staff from 10 FTE’s to 20 and enable the Company to scale sales and manufacturing.

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Electric Outdoors is Charging Ahead!

Michigan-based startup Electric Outdoors recently closed an initial $1.3M seed round, bringing their game-changing off-grid glamping platform, the EO Canopy, one step closer to market. With pilot units already launched in the U.P., EO Canopy combines sustainability and luxury for an unparalleled outdoor experience, including everything from energy and water to satellite internet and EV charging - entirely off-grid. The Michigan Outdoor Innovation Fund (powered by InvestUP), alongside Veolectra Inc and Michigan Rise, is proud to support this mission to revolutionize outdoor recreation by empowering landowners and adventurers alike.

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Building the Future and Creating Real-World Solutions, One Electric ATV at a Time

That’s what LIVAQ, an exciting startup backed by the Michigan Outdoor Innovation Fund, is doing by transforming the electric all-terrain vehicle industry and bringing cutting-edge design to our region with their EQUAD. Visionary entrepreneur, David Medina Álvarez, is making a lasting sustainable impact in the mobility sector with his futuristic ATVs that are also eco-friendly and accessible. We are proud to support innovative companies like LIVAQ, who are driving the future of mobility in Michigan and beyond.

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