Plug and Play Detroit

Hey Startup Founders.. Are you signed up to Showcase at AutoTech in June?? Got a game-changing mobility, AI, or automotive tech startup? AutoTech 2025 is your chance to showcase your innovation, connect with industry giants, and get in front of investors who are ready to back the next big thing! 📍 Where? Novi, Michigan 📅 When? June 3-5 🎯 Who’s attending? 3,000+ industry professionals, OEMs, Tier 1s, VCs, and tech leaders all looking for what’s next in auto & mobility. Why bring your startup to AutoTech 2025? ✅ Network with top automakers & suppliers – perfect for pilots & partnerships ✅ Meet investors who are fueling the next wave of mobility innovation ✅ Gain insights from industry experts on what’s driving the future ✅ Be at the center of automotive & mobility transformation 🎟️ Startups, we’ve got you covered! Use code PLUGPLAY25 for 25% off your pass! 🔗 https://shorturl.at/zUEOh The future is built by those who show up. Will we see you at hashtag #AutoTech2025? WardsAuto Plug and Play Mobility

🎙️ I had the privilege of serving as the emcee at the Aerospace & Defense Pitch Session hosted by Macomb County Planning & Economic Development and Plug and Play Detroit 📍 Macomb County is the heart of Michigan’s defense industry, securing 63% of the state’s federal defense contracts in 2023. Home to U.S. Army TACOM Selfridge Air National Guard Base U.S. Army DEVCOM Ground Vehicle Systems Center and major defense players. Over 150 defense industry companies call Macomb County home. It is a key node in the national security innovation network. 🔗 Plug and Play Tech Center is proud to help bridge the gap between startups and the defense industrial base, advancing dual-use technologies that power both civilian and military applications. This session featured 9 cutting-edge startups pitching to an audience that included: ✅ General Dynamics Land Systems ✅ BAE Systems ✅ American Rheinmetall ✅ GM Defense ✅ National Advanced Mobility Consortium (NAMC) ✅ Macomb County Planning & Economic Development 🎤 Honored speakers included: 🔹 Jack Johns, Macomb County Planning & Economic Development – Top 50 Economic Developer in North America (2022) 🔹 Paula Macpherson, Executive Director at Velocity – driving entrepreneurship and innovation in Macomb County 🔹 Manveer Sandhu, Plug and Play Defense – also an Intelligence Analyst in the U.S. Air Force Reserve and a Councilmember in California 🚨 Featured startups: GuardKnox | Dispel | Aurelius Systems | Sesame Solar | Ripple Two | Torev Motors | Instrumental Inc. | Learn to Win | Ottopia 🙏🏽 Big thanks to the Macomb County Planning & Economic Development team: Vicky Rowinski, CEcD, Jack Johns, Todd Seibert, Curt Chowanic and the Velocity team. 🗣️ Shout out to the Plug and Play Detroit team: Logan Azelton, Vic Estrada, Ava Milana, Emma Gran and the SV Mobility team Aitana Hierro and Kristyn Coons Proud to be from here and proud to support manufacturers here with Alisio. The Michigan Office of Defense and Aerospace Innovation and Macomb County are serious about brining more startups and defense primes to Michigan. If you're thinking about starting up or scaling up, reach out. #DefenseInnovation #DualUseTech #AerospaceAndDefense #PlugAndPlay #StartupPitch #NationalSecurity #AdvancedMobility #MacombCounty #DefenseTech #DoD

On Monday we teamed up with Macomb County Planning & Economic Development to host an Aerospace & Defense Startup Pitch Session, bringing together cutting-edge startups and regional industry leaders to explore emerging technologies shaping the future of Defense and Aerospace. By creating these connections, we’re supporting Michigan’s leadership in national security, advanced manufacturing, and next-generation mobility. A huge thank you to our partners at Macomb County and to everyone who joined us to make this event a success. Presenting Startups: 🔹 GuardKnox 🔹 Dispel 🔹 Aurelius Systems 🔹 Sesame Solar 🔹 Ripple Two 🔹 Torev Motors 🔹 Instrumental Inc. 🔹 Learn to Win 🔹 Ottopia #PlugandPlayTechCenter #Aerospace #DefenseInnovation #StartupEcosystem #MacombCounty #MobilityInnovation #ManufacturingTech #PlugandPlayDetroit

🚀 What if your supply chain could make smarter decisions, faster? At Plug and Play Detroit’s Expo on May 7th, we’re excited to feature SupplyHub.AI, a company revolutionizing strategic sourcing and supply chain management with generative AI. Led by Co-Founder & CTO Sachin J., SupplyHub.AI leverages AI-powered intelligence, speed, and precision to transform sourcing from a back-office task into a competitive advantage. By unlocking new levels of agility, smarter decision-making, and continuous innovation, SupplyHub is helping businesses elevate their supply chain capabilities. Why SupplyHub.AI is changing the game: ⚡ Generative AI for faster, smarter sourcing decisions 🔍 Increased agility to adapt to market shifts 📈 Continuous innovation to drive supply chain success Want to learn how SupplyHub is shaping the future of supply chain management? Join us at Expo! 🎟️ Registration is required via the link below. https://lnkd.in/gAs8E6rB #PlugandPlay #AI #SupplyChain #StrategicSourcing #Innovation #StartupSpotlight

❓ What if manufacturers could eliminate downtime before it even happens? At Plug and Play Detroit’s Expo on May 7th, we’re featuring Arch Systems, a company reshaping global manufacturing with AI-powered intelligence. Led by CEO Andrew Scheuermann, Arch Systems unifies fragmented factory data and transforms it into actionable insights—helping manufacturers reduce waste, prevent costly delays, and optimize efficiency like never before. The impact: 💡 Predict & prevent downtime with real-time analytics 🌍 Reduce waste and improve sustainability ⚙️ Turn operational challenges into a competitive advantage Want to hear directly from Andrew about how Arch Systems is redefining factory intelligence? Join us at Expo! 📅 May 7th | 12:30 - 6:00pm ET  🎟️ Registration is required via the link below. https://lnkd.in/gAs8E6rB #PlugandPlay #SmartManufacturing #AI #Industry40 #FactoryIntelligence #StartupSpotlight

💡 What if procurement teams could secure better deals—before negotiations even start? At Plug and Play Detroit’s Expo on May 7th, we’re excited to feature Arkestro, a company transforming enterprise procurement with AI-driven Predictive Procurement. Led by Founder & Chief Strategy Officer Edmund Zagorin, Arkestro leverages AI and game theory to help procurement teams unlock hidden savings, reduce risk, and influence more spend with greater efficiency. By integrating Negotiation Science, Supplier Science, and Process Science, Arkestro empowers teams to improve win rates while strengthening supply chain agility. The advantage: 🔹 Faster Savings – Arkestro speeds up best and final offers, cutting negotiation cycles from weeks to days. 🔹 3x More Spend Influenced – Optimize all spend types without extra resources.  🔹 Risk Proactively Mitigated- Supplier diversification, secure market-beating prices, and automate compliance.  🔹Stronger Supplier Relationships – Intelligent counteroffers and built-in feedback loops enhance collaboration. Want to learn how Arkestro is shaping the future of procurement? Join us at Expo! 🎟️ Registration is required via the link below. https://lnkd.in/gAs8E6rB #PlugandPlay #ProcurementInnovation #AI #SupplyChain #PredictiveProcurement #StartupSpotlight

🚀 Startup Spotlight: Ottopia 🚀 Learn more about Ottopia from Paul Kandel on April 7th at our Aerospace and Defense Startup Pitch Session, co-hosted with Macomb County Planning & Economic Development. Ottopia is transforming mobility with its Hybrid AI platform for vehicles, enabling safe, long-range teleoperation and integration with autonomy stacks. Deployed in 100+ vehicles and battle-tested by the IDF, Ottopia holds sole supplier status and works with commercial leaders like Hyundai and Magna. With a new Detroit office, Ottopia is expanding its U.S. defense presence—don’t miss this session! 🎟️  Interested in attending? Registration is required using the link below with password 'Defense25'. https://shorturl.at/HBHrA #PlugandPlay #Aerospace #Defense #Autonomy #Teleoperation #Mobility #Innovation #Startups #MacombCounty #Ottopia

💡 Startup Spotlight: Instrumental Inc. 💡 Looking forward to hearing from Doug Brantley from Instrumental Inc., at our Startup Pitch Session on April 7th, co-hosted with Macomb County Planning & Economic Development. Instrumental Inc. is transforming electronics manufacturing with its AI-powered Manufacturing and Data Platform, helping brands optimize assembly, operations, and quality control. By eliminating waste and improving efficiency, Instrumental accelerates time-to-market, boosts yields, and reduces rework for mission-critical electronics. 🎟️ Interested in attending? Registration is required using the link below with password 'Defense25' https://shorturl.at/HBHrA #PlugandPlay #Aerospace #Defense #ManufacturingAI #Electronics #QualityControl #Innovation #Startups #MacombCounty #Instrumental

🏗️ Speaker Announcement We’re excited to welcome Jack Johns on stage at our Aerospace and Defense Pitch Session on April 7th. Jack is the Economic Development Program Director with our co-host Macomb County Planning & Economic Development. Recognized as a Top 50 Economic Developer in North America (2022), Jack drives business growth across Macomb County’s key industries, including Aerospace & Defense, Automotive & Mobility, Automation & Robotics, Distribution and Logistics, Agriculture & Food Processing. Macomb County offers a business-friendly ecosystem with incentives, site selection support, workforce development, and expansion assistance to help companies establish and thrive in the region. 🎟️ Interested in attending? Registration is required. Comment ‘Defense’ and we’ll send you the link! #PlugandPlay #Aerospace #Defense #EconomicDevelopment #MacombCounty #BusinessGrowth #Startups #Mobility #Innovation

⚙️ Startup Spotlight: Torev Motors ⚙️ We’re excited to feature Rory Brogan, Founder & CEO of Torev Motors, at our Startup Pitch Session on April 7th, co-hosted with Macomb County Planning & Economic Development. Torev Motors is developing the world’s highest-performance rare earth-free electric motors for defense and automotive vehicles. The company was recently awarded a U.S. Army SBIR contract to develop e-motors for hybrid defense vehicle powertrains, won the 2024 Global Automotive & Mobility Innovation Challenge, and has been featured in MotorTrend and the SAE Update. Proudly designed and manufactured in the USA, Torev Motors is redefining electric propulsion for high-performance applications. Don’t miss the chance to learn more about their cutting-edge innovations! 🎟️ Interested in attending? Registration is required. Comment ‘Defense’ and we’ll send you the link! https://shorturl.at/HBHrA #PlugandPlay #Aerospace #Defense #EV #ElectricMotors #RareEarthFree #Startups #MacombCounty #TorevMotors