The University of Michigan Center for Entrepreneurship is excited to announce the 2026 cohorts for all five Perot Jain TechLab (PJTL) programs: Perot Jain TechLab at Mcity, Perot Jain TechLab Electrification, Perot Jain TechLab Climate Change, Perot Jain TechLab HealthTech, and the newly launched Perot Jain TechLab Air & Space. Over the past few months, the program recruited startups with breakthrough potential from around the world, alongside exceptional students from across the Ann Arbor campus. Together, these teams are collaborating on projects that aim to create new opportunities in some of today’s most critical and promising fields.
“For decades, the University of Michigan has helped educate the engineers, founders, and innovators shaping the global space industry. Perot Jain TechLab Air & Space continues that legacy—connecting students with emerging aerospace startups while working alongside the University’s M-Air Initiative to help advance the next generation of drone technologies capable of transporting data, goods, and eventually people.”
Nick Moroz, Director of Entrepreneurial Practice.
This year’s announcement comes as Perot Jain extends its philanthropic support for the PJTL series through 2028, with renewed funding helping to enrich program resources, deepen student experience, and expand mentorship-driven collaboration. Perot Jain’s ongoing commitment enables the TechLab programs to provide unparalleled opportunities for students and startups, transforming classroom learning into real-world innovation and leadership.
Since its launch, the Perot Jain TechLab series has become one of the university’s most distinctive experiential learning programs. It pairs technically skilled students with innovative startup companies so they can tackle industry-changing challenges by applying entrepreneurial thinking and technical expertise to ambitious, open-ended projects. Students develop skills in both engineering and business, learning firsthand how to turn ideas into concepts, prototypes, and beyond.
The partnership and support of Perot Jain have elevated the TechLab programs, enabling hundreds of students across the campus to engage directly with founders, engineers, and technical leaders from companies around the globe. Many students have gone on to launch startups, drive industry innovation, or transition into impactful roles in sectors aligned with their PJTL experiences. This investment continues to build Michigan’s reputation as a leader in innovation, creating environments where students can thrive and solutions can scale.
Five Programs, Five Frontiers
Perot Jain TechLab Air & Space launches its first cohort this year, connecting students with startups working in aerospace, orbital logistics, and advanced mobility. Michigan teams will explore projects such as rocket reusability, space debris management, satellite energy transmission, and next-generation cargo drone delivery. The inaugural program is led by Danny Ellis, co-founder of Ann Arbor-based drone inspection startup SkySpecs and advisor to numerous drone and aerospace companies, and Stephanie Gowell-Hull, a veteran aerospace executive whose career spans leadership roles at Boeing and Lockheed Martin, where she helped advance satellite systems and commercial space technologies.
Perot Jain TechLab at Mcity continues its legacy as one of the Center for Entrepreneurship’s longest-running programs, focused on real-world mobility and transportation technologies. Student cohorts collaborate with industry leaders to tackle challenges in connected and autonomous vehicles, robotics, and artificial intelligence. The program is co-instructed by Eric Wingfield, a serial entrepreneur and venture builder who has founded and led multiple technology startups and helped scale mobility-focused ventures, and Doug Moore, a transportation technology veteran whose leadership roles have included work with autonomous vehicles and robotics at Ford Motor Company, bringing advanced mobility systems from concept to real-world deployment.
Perot Jain TechLab Electrification immerses students in the rapidly evolving world of transportation electrification. Teams partner with startups developing electric vehicle systems, advanced batteries, and energy storage technologies that support the transition to a cleaner energy future. The course, led by Jay Ellis, Director of Innovations and EV Charging at Walmart, welcomes Sarah Hipel as co-instructor for her first cohort. Hipel serves as the Chief Strategist for Secure Digital Infrastructure for Energy and Mobility at the National Laboratory of the Rockies.
Perot Jain TechLab Climate Change connects U-M students with startups advancing carbon utilization, sustainable manufacturing, and resource efficiency. Teams are tackling real-world decarbonization challenges while developing technologies with global environmental impact. The program is co-instructed by Volker Sick, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, Mechanical Engineering, and founder of Global CO2 Initiative, a leading international effort advancing carbon capture and utilization technologies, and Ryan Waddington, climate-tech entrepreneur and investor, Co-Founder and CEO of Cowboy Clean Fuels, as well as Co-Founder of Huron River Ventures.
Perot Jain TechLab HealthTech pairs students with startups building the next generation of healthcare technology, from digital medicine platforms to diagnostic tools and medical devices. Students gain hands-on experience helping founders refine products, validate markets, and prepare innovations for clinical and commercial adoption. The course is led by Scott Merz, a serial entrepreneur and founder of MC3, which was recently acquired by Medtronic, and by Mike Pisano, a longtime healthtech entrepreneur and executive, currently serving as Chief Operations Officer for Northern Bio.
Celebrating Our Student Cohorts
Every PJTL program selects a talented cohort of undergraduate and graduate students from fields such as engineering, computer science, data analytics, environmental science, biomedical engineering, business, and public policy. These students lead project-based collaborations with startup founders, tackling ambiguous problems and learning how to drive technical and entrepreneurial momentum. More than 200 students applied for the 2026 cohorts, hailing from 7 schools and colleges and representing first year to PhD experience.
The new cohort of 120 total students is welcomed for their skills, creativity, and passion to make a difference. Through these immersive collaborations, Michigan students gain industry exposure, mentorship, and valuable experience, preparing them for the next steps in their careers.
Explore the 2026 Cohorts
Learn more about this year’s students and companies for each TechLab program:
Perot Jain TechLab at Mcity
2026 Startup Cohort & Student Teams
Perot Jain TechLab Electrification
2026 Startup Cohort & Student Teams
Perot Jain TechLab Climate Change
2026 Startup Cohort & Student Teams
Perot Jain TechLab HealthTech
2026 Startup Cohort & Student Teams
Perot Jain TechLab Air & Space
2026 Startup Cohort & Student Teams
2026 Company Descriptions
Here are the companies working with Michigan students in the coming year:
Perot Jain TechLab Air & Space
Blueflite (Brighton, MI): Drone logistics platforms for commercial cargo delivery
FireFly Aerospace (Cedar Park, TX): Reliable launch vehicles and lunar landers
SkyGig (Campbell, CA): Wireless solutions for advanced networks
Raptor Maps (Somerville, MA): Drone-based solar asset inspection
Kall Morris (Houghton, MI): Robotics for space debris removal
Overview Energy (Ashburn, VA): Orbital solar energy transmission
Perot Jain TechLab at Mcity
Snowbotix (Detroit, MI): AI-powered outdoor maintenance robots
TrubAI (New York, NY): Urban mobility and transportation platform
VTI Aerospace (Bozeman, MT): Technology for the next generation of aviation safety
GEKOT Robotics (Southfield, MI): Safety technology for light electric vehicles
NiFT (Canton, MI): Prototyping and engineering for electric and autonomous vehicles
Mapless (Pittsburgh, PA): Empowering safe, real-time remote control of fleet vehicles
Perot Jain TechLab Electrification
Utilidata (Ann Arbor, MI): AI-powered grid operations
Carbon Zero Mobility (Nairobi, Kenya): Electric vehicle solutions for Africa
Emerald Battery Labs (Seattle, WA): Sodium-ion battery innovation
Spark SuperApp (Kadikoy, Istanbul): Unified mobility platform for EVs
Rollyy (Porvoo, Uusimaa, Finland): Mobile charging robots for electric vehicles
Perot Jain TechLab Climate Change
Upcatalyst (Tallinn, Harjumaa, Estonia): Materials for battery production
ICODOS (Mannheim, Germany): CO₂ capture and transformation for industry
Oxylus Energy (New Haven, CA): Electrochemical conversion for sustainable manufacturing
BlueShift (Boston, MA): Cleantech for minerals and carbon removal
Perot Jain TechLab HealthTech
AIPHAS (Taipei City, Taiwan): AI platform for patient records
GigXR (Los Angeles, CA): Augmented and mixed reality for healthcare education
Vistim Labs (Miami, FL): Neurodiagnostics and advanced EEG
Ride Your Way (Grand Rapids, MI): Non-emergency medical transport
Hippo Technologies (Seattle, WA): Physical and virtual care integration
Life Magnetics (Ann Arbor, MI): RNA isolation for diagnostics
Get Involved
Click the links above to explore full details about each program and company.
The Perot Jain TechLab series continues to empower Michigan’s talented students and startups to lead innovation on campus, in the community, and beyond.