Office of Possibilities for Education
NMC Innovation & Entrepreneurship Hub
The Office of Possibilities (OOPs) for Education provides NMC students, faculty, and staff with encouragement, support, and resources to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset and successfully pursue innovative ideas that positively impact our campus and community.
Funding support
Every year, OOPs provides students, faculty, and staff with the opportunity to apply for funding awards by proposing and pitching innovative ideas aligning to the NMC Strategic Plan.
Real-world learning
OOPs engages NMC students in real-world learning opportunities, including pitch coaching and speed interviewing workshops, as well as problem-solving challenges with local businesses.
Community Connections
OOPs connects students who are interested in starting their own business to mentorship, startup support, and networking opportunities in Traverse City and the surrounding area.
2026 Request for Proposals (RFP)
Eligibility
NMC faculty, staff, and students are eligible to apply
RFP Information & Application
The winter 2026 RFP application process has closed. Thank you to all of those who applied!
Funding Amount
Awarded projects will typically receive $500–$10K from the NMC Foundation.
Pitch Competition
Proposals undergo an initial review in late March, and top scoring proposals move forward to a pitch competition held from 1–3 pm on April 23, 2026 in rooms 106 & 107 of the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center.
Featured Past Funded Projects
Neurodiversity Support Center
The late Nancy Gray, NMC English Instructor, established the Neurodiversity Support Center, a campus space for neurodivergent students to decompress and study, as well as a support system to ensure student success, including study tables, seminars, peer mentoring, and academic coaching.
Assessing Microplastic Pollution
Nick Roster, an NMC Science and Math Instructor, analyzed microplastics in the Boardman/Ottaway watershed, and NMC students quantified microplastic pollution in Grand Traverse Bay and the air around Grand Traverse County. A fluorescence microscope was purchased to positively identify microplastics in complex samples.
NMConnect Application
Ali Thornton, NMC Coordinator of Technology Support Services, designed an app specifically for NMC students that helps students create manageable routines—things that will help them not just survive, but thrive. The app provides encouraging feedback and upcoming reminders to students.
Video Podcast for Audio Tech Students
Veronica Boals, NMC Student Audio Tech Lab Assistant, produced a video podcast episode using equipment from Founders Hall and created a mobile podcast station for Audio Tech students so they could easily create podcasts from different campus locations.
Advanced Scientific Research Program
Nancy Olenchek, Kingsley High School science teacher and NMC adjunct faculty member, created an Advanced Scientific Research Program. High school students conduct research and receive NMC college credits for their work. Students are able to continue their research as NMC college students.
Memory Bright
Mark DeLonge, Assistant Director of Instructional Technology, and retired NMC faculty members Tom Gordon and John Velis, co-founded Memory Bright, an online platform that implements Reminiscence Therapy through fun and engaging activities for individuals who are experiencing memory loss or dementia.
2026 Innovation & Entrepreneurship Events
Unless stated, all events listed below are free.
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April
Michigan Veteran Entrepreneur Lab
Entrepreneurship bootcamp for military-connected individuals in Michigan
Location: GVSU Traverse City Regional Center
April 7–June 15
20Fathoms: Startup Office Hours
Topic: Legal
April 13, 4–7 p.m.
Northern Michigan Manufacturing Summit
Location: Hagerty Center
April 13
Full registration: $65/person
20Fathoms: Women in Tech Meetup
April 15, 5-7 p.m.
Earthen Ales, Traverse City
20Fathoms: Startup Office Hours
Topic: Branding and Website
April 16, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
Northern Michigan Startup Week (NMSW)
April 20–24
Grand Valley State University (GVSU) Applied AI and Entrepreneurship: Building Connections for Innovation
April 20, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. (including lunch)
Hagerty Center, NMC Great Lakes Campus
NMSW NMC Program Overview & Facilities Tour
Focus: Water Studies, Marine Technology, and Uncrewed Aerial Systems
April 22, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. (including lunch)
Location: Rooms 222/224, Parsons-Stulen Building, Aero Park Campus
NMSW Panel Discussion (hosted by NMC & Traverse Connect) - From Education to Operations: How Northern Michigan Is Building a National Model for Drone Integration
April 22, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. (including lunch)
Location: Rooms 222/224, Parsons-Stulen Building, Aero Park Campus
NMSW NMC OOPs Pitch Competition
April 23, 1–3 p.m.
Location: Rooms 106/107, Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, 1701 Front St.
NMSW NMC & GVSU Student Science Symposium
April 23, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Location: Rooms 106/107, Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, 1701 Front St.
20Fathoms: Startup Office Hours
Topic: Business Strategy
April 30, 2:30-5 p.m. -
May
20Fathoms: Startup Workshop
Topic: Customer Discovery - Find Your Market
May 2, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. (kickoff event)
May 13, May 20, May 27, and June 3 (virtual sessions)
20Fathoms: Women in Tech Meetup
May 13, 5-7 p.m.
Earthen Ales, Traverse City
20 Fathoms: Startup Office Hours
Topic: Business Strategy
May 28, 2:30-5 p.m.
Community Resources & Services for Entrepreneurs
Unless stated, all opportunities listed below are free.
20Fathoms
- : Offered virtually and in person by appointment.
- : Startup workshops on specific skills or interest topics for individuals launching businesses. Thursdays from 9–10:30 a.m.
Grove
- (Community OOPs). Tuesdays from 9–11 a.m.
Michigan Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
- and
- to assist individuals who are growing a small business
Northern Michigan Angels
- Northern Michigan Angels supports promising, early-stage companies in Michigan and the Northern Michigan Region. Interested companies can apply to pitch.
Northern Michigan woman
- NoMiWoman creates welcoming spaces for women to connect, share ideas, support one another, and build meaningful relationships. Women can join the community through membership ($10/month; $79/year), attending events, or staying connected through e-news.
SCORE
- . Offered virtually and in person by appointment.
- to assist individuals who are growing a business. Both free and low-cost options.
Traverse Connect
- networking and professional development group.