Lectric Boil founder Jarrett Schlaff, right, accepts the Make it in Michigan Award at the Outdoor Innovation Pitch. (Photo courtesy of Aubry Healy at Innovate Marquette)

MARQUETTE — Northern Michigan University in collaboration with Innovate Marquette SmartZone and SISU: The Innovation Institute held a successful second annual Innovation week in late February.

Innovation Week is a professional development conference that brings together thought leaders, creative people and entrepreneurs to inspire, enlighten and spark curiosity. It’s the largest event of its kind in the Upper Peninsula.

“The success of Innovation Week is defined by the impact the event has on the entrepreneurs, students, business owners and creative thinkers who attend and the sense of community they create among each other,” said Kristin Tanner, programs manager for Innovate Marquette. “We are grateful for the opportunity to create space for community members to forge meaningful and collaborative working relationships. We hope that attendees continue to build off that momentum as we turn our sights toward making next year’s event even better.”

Innovation Week programming included dynamic keynote speakers, a curated Design Jam and unique Innovation Quests that allowed attendees to directly interact with experts in the local community.

Innovation Quests were interactive learning sessions with industry leaders that transported participants to locations around campus and in Marquette. They were split into four categories: outdoor innovation, creative technology, artificial intelligence and sustainability.

There were nearly 300 ticketed attendees, a more than 40 percent increase over the first Innovation Week.

“Innovation Week is more than a conference, but a challenge to the organizers to be innovative in how we deliver content, highlight our local businesses and showcase all that Marquette has to offer,” said Bill Digneit, director of SISU: The Innovation Institute at NMU. “We are proud of what we accomplished through this year’s event and look forward to implementing the feedback and learnings from this Innovation Week next year.”

This year’s Innovation Week also featured two pitch competitions, The Big Pitch and the Outdoor Innovation Pitch.

For The Big Pitch, 906 Pet Treats, LLC, founded by Heather Lindstrom, took home the event’s $3,000 prize. Peninsula Pizookies, founded by Brecken Mills and Maggie Boburka, won $1,500 as the Crowd Favorite.

Additional winners through the New Business Venture Competition include Dan’s Loft Kit Kart, founded by Morgan Johnson, which won $4,000 for having the best business plan. Snackage, founded by Christopher Anderson, Sergiy Blackwood and Josie Beach, was the $1,500 trade show winner.

“Innovation Week is the perfect opportunity for NMU students to see what is possible from the founders and entrepreneurs they aspire to be, as well as get practical, real-world experience competing in The Big Pitch and the entire New Business Venture Competition,” said Carol Johnson, department head and dean of the NMU College of Business. “We look forward to seeing what all the students who participated in Innovation Week accomplish throughout their entrepreneurial journeys.”

The Outdoor Innovation Pitch featured multiple, Michigan-based businesses, with Grounded (led by CEO Sam Shapiro) winning $50,000 from the Michigan Outdoor Innovation Fund in services and investments, and Lectric Boil, LLC (led by founders Jarret and Ryan Schlaff) winning $10,000 in product development services.

Planning for the third annual Innovation Week has already begun.