Vince Nystrom
Vince has over 30 years of experience across various sectors, roles, and responsibilities. He holds a mechanical engineering degree from Michigan State University and spent a decade in the advanced manufacturing sector, focusing on automation, robotics, and machine vision, including several years at a startup.
Currently, Vince works as a contractor/consultant and this work includes Entrepreneur-in-Residence at both the Innovate Marquette SmartZone and Michigan State University’s Spartan Innovations. He also consults with Michigan’s University Research Corridor and InvestUP, and supports the development of the Kupari Venture Capital Fund at Michigan Tech University. Additionally, Vince is an active angel investor and serves on the advisory boards of several early-stage companies.
Vince led the formation and development of the Michigan Outdoor Innovation Fund, an early-stage company investment fund focused on outdoor recreation technologies–the first of its kind in the Upper Peninsula. Vince developed the strategy and authored the proposal that secured $3 million from the State of Michigan to create and launch the fund.
His economic development experience includes two tenures at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) as well as local economic development roles at Ann Arbor SPARK and InvestUP. This work encompasses extensive business development, attraction efforts, and the creation and support of several entrepreneurial programs that remain active in Michigan today. These include the 21st Century Jobs Fund, SmartZone business accelerators, SBIR Emerging Technology Fund, university initiatives, Technology Tri-Corridor Fund, and Pure Michigan Business Connect, among others.
Vince also served as Program Director for Michigan’s University Research Corridor (URC), a partnership between Michigan State University, the University of Michigan, and Wayne State University, aimed at transforming and diversifying Michigan’s economy. In 2016, he returned to the private sector as a partner at Renaissance Venture Capital Fund, where he supported due diligence on startup investments and venture capital funds. Responsibilities included connecting Michigan startups with national venture capital funds, helping generate over $2.3 billion in venture investment in Michigan. His role also involved linking Renaissance’s venture and startup investments with its corporate partners.
Vince splits his time between Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and Lower Michigan. He is active in the community, serving on the board of Marquette’s Room at the Inn (Emergency Shelter) and previously served on the board of the Spartan Child Development Center. He also supports several business accelerators and competitions.
