UM students win TCNewTech relaunched pitch contest

Bill O'Brien, The Record-Eagle, Traverse City, Mich.
·1 min read

Apr. 26—TRAVERSE CITY — A pair of students from the University of Michigan took home top honors in the relaunch of the TCNewTech pitch competition this week.

Intero Biosystems, a biotech company run by U-M students Charlie Childs and Madeline Eiken, won the $5,000 top prize and the $500 audience choice award at TCNewTech University Showdown this week held at the City Opera House. It was part of several events held as part of the regional Startup Week to highlight the region's rural healthcare sector.

"All of the pitch presentations at the University Showdown were incredibly impressive," said Eric Roberts, executive director of 20Fathoms which has taken over operation of TCNewTech. "The start-ups they're launching — and the quality of the pitches themselves — were outstanding."

Intero Biosystems specializes in the creation of organoid platforms for drug discovery and development. Organoids are three-dimensional miniaturized organs or tissues produced in vitro that mimic the functional, biological and structural characteristics of the organ. The company produces a stem cell-derived Human Intestinal Organoid, the first of its kind to contain numerous functional cell and tissue types found in human intestines. The winning prize also included a MiSpringBoard certificate for free legal services to the company to assist in its startup efforts.

Second prize went to MinaRosa, a health biotech startup that offers a portable and private light-therapy solution for urinary tract infections. That pitch was presented by Jingjing (Lily) Li and Ana Timoficiuc, also students at the University of Michigan.