Judges Panel

Our panel of judges brings a dynamic blend of expertise across venture capital, entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence, biotech, and startup ecosystem development. From leading investment portfolios and founding tech startups to scaling accelerator programs and championing inclusive innovation, each judge offers a unique perspective rooted in deep industry experience. Representing organizations such as the MSU Research Foundation, Venture Catalysts, and Global Detroit, they share a common commitment to supporting emerging founders and driving transformative growth across Michigan and beyond.

  • Max von Wels

    Max von Wels is an Entrepreneur in Residence with Global Detroit, supporting immigrant tech founders in Michigan. He is Co-founder and Business Development Lead at Life Magnetics, a biotech company advancing RNA stabilization, and an Investment Analyst with Cantilever Investors, focused on early-stage healthcare startups. Max holds degrees from the University of Amsterdam and RSM Erasmus University, and completed MBA-level coursework at the University of Michigan. His work blends entrepreneurship, venture capital, and sustainability.

  • Monica Wheat

    Monica Wheat is a venture catalyst, strategist, and investor with over two decades of experience in venture development, digital strategy, and ecosystem building. She is Executive Director and Co-Founder of Venture Catalysts and formerly served as Managing Director of Techstars Detroit. Monica has led initiatives at FoundersBoost, Parallel Ventures, and Backstage Capital, helping build inclusive startup communities. Recognized as one of the "100 Most Influential Women," she brings deep expertise in startup growth, innovation partnerships, and investment.

  • Pete Martin

    Pete Martin is Director of Portfolio Management at the MSU Research Foundation, where he supports startups through Michigan Rise, Red Cedar Ventures, and Conquer Accelerator. A Michigan native, Pete returned after a decade in tech—having co-founded the SaaS company ALTR and led customer success at DASH Financial. He also served as Head of Connection at Michigan Founders Fund, fostering a strong founder community. Pete brings expertise in product strategy and startup scaling, with a passion for Michigan’s innovation economy.

  • Egor Folley

    Egor Folley is an AI entrepreneur and robotics specialist serving as an Entrepreneur in Residence with Global Detroit. He is developing stealth AI agents for the construction industry and previously founded ARTIAL, a drone software startup backed by Techstars Berlin. Egor brings expertise in vision-based robotics, multimodal LLMs, and applied AI, combining technical depth with startup leadership across global markets.