Tech Teams Wins $30,000 Competition

Michigan Tech 'Latest News'

A team from Michigan Technological University took the $30,000 top prize in the annual New Venture Competition, held last month at Central Michigan University.  The competition was hosted by CMU and co-sponsored ­by the Innovation Center for Entrepreneurship in Michigan Tech’s Pavlis Honors College.
A total of 29 student teams, 24 from Central Michigan, four from Michigan Tech and one team with members from both schools competed, competed for more than $77,000 that was awarded to seven different teams.
Tech mechanical engineering major Nick Dubiel took the $30,000 first prize for his company, Multi Dimensional Manufacturing. He was assisted in his pitch by scientific and technical communications major Morgan Crocker.
The pair won for pitching Metaloid, a metal-framed 3D printer. Dubiel describes Metaloid as a “large, fast Delta printer that can apply material eight times faster than any conventional printer without losing resolution and can process more materials than current desktop 3D printers.”
He says he’s been working on the business for about four years and decided to try pitching the idea to get some feedback. “It turns out I’m not crazy, and the investors really seemed interested.” So interested, in fact, that his idea took the top prize.
Crocker says their pairing was, essentially, made by chance. “I was paired up with Nick from an entrepreneurship class,” she says. “I was told he needed help polishing up his pitch for the competition and any help would be appreciated.”
When they got together, Dubiel walked Crocker through the very technical side of his 3D printer. In addition, she says she got a glimpse into something more than the nuts and bolts of a machine. “I really got to understand Nick’s passion behind it. He was so technical in language that I suppose it was perfect that I was part of the team.”
Crocker says it was her job to get everyone ...

Read More