Terms of Use & Privacy Policy
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Who we are
This website and the Open Call intake are operated by Newlab Detroit, LLC (“Newlab,” “we”) as the Platform Execution Partner designated by MEDC for the Michigan Launchpad for Industrial Innovation & Transformation (“Michigan LIFT” or the “Platform”). Newlab is responsible for its handling of the information collected through this website in accordance with these Terms. Newlab provides Platform-level information to MEDC, which conducts the initial eligibility screen and routes Open Call responses, and to other Platform participants as described below. By using this website or submitting information through it, you agree to these Terms. In these Terms, “Michigan LIFT participants” means MEDC and the organizations identified as participants at www.michiganlift.org/participants, as may be updated from time to time.
Newlab and MEDC
Newlab handles information collected through this website as described in these Terms. Information that MEDC receives or uses in carrying out its Platform functions is also subject to the laws that apply to MEDC as a public body, including the Michigan Freedom of Information Act and applicable records-retention requirements.
Information we collect
If you do nothing during your visit but browse, read pages, or download information, we and our website hosting provider gather and store certain information about your visit automatically, such as your IP address, browser type, domain name, access times, pages visited and referring website addresses. We do not use this information to identify you, except as described below for Open Call submissions. We also use Google Analytics, described under Cookies and analytics below.
If you submit a form, we collect the information you provide: your name, email address, company, role, business sector, a high-level description of your company, information about your existing or proposed operations in Michigan, your responses to any Open Call you select, how you heard about Michigan LIFT, and whether you asked to receive email updates. When you submit an Open Call response, we also record the confirmations you gave, the version of these Terms you accepted, the date and time of submission, your IP address and your browser’s user-agent information, so that there is a record of what you agreed to. We do not request your social security number or bank account information on this website.
How we use it
We use the information you provide to respond to your request and to administer the Open Call process. If you opt in, we also use your contact information to inform you of Michigan LIFT programs, activities or services.
We provide Open Call responses to MEDC for eligibility screening and routing. After the initial screen, responses to an Evergreen Open Call are made available to the Industrial Buyers participating in Michigan LIFT. Responses to an Open Call issued by a specific Industrial Buyer are provided only to that buyer and not to other Industrial Buyers through the Platform. If an Industrial Buyer tells MEDC that it has an initial interest in your response, MEDC may notify the Capital Providers, Community Impact Organizations and Innovation Ecosystem Organizations participating in Michigan LIFT, which may then contact you and conduct their own evaluation. A current list of participating organizations is at www.michiganlift.org/participants.
We store this information using reasonable administrative, technical and physical safeguards designed to protect it against unauthorized access, disclosure or use, although no method of transmission or storage is completely secure. We retain Open Call submissions and related consent records for the period required by the records-retention schedule that applies to MEDC’s Platform records and by Newlab’s agreement with MEDC, and we will not delete them while they are the subject of a pending public-records request or legal hold. MEDC retains the information it receives in accordance with its own records-retention obligations. We keep contact information used for email updates for as long as you remain subscribed, and after you unsubscribe we keep only what is needed to honor your request.
Non-confidential submissions and public records
Newlab treats all information submitted through the Open Call intake as non-confidential. You should assume that your Open Call submissions are non-confidential, and confidential information should be excluded from your submission. Do not include trade secrets, confidential technical data, pricing, customer names, personal financial information, or information controlled under U.S. export-control laws, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (22 C.F.R. Parts 120–130) and the Export Administration Regulations (15 C.F.R. Parts 730–774). If confidential information would be relevant to your response, you may say that it exists and that it can be provided later, directly to an individual participant under that participant’s own confidentiality arrangements.
Information you submit is made available to MEDC, a public body subject to the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, 1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231 et seq., for use in performing its Platform functions; it may be a public record subject to disclosure under that Act, and may also be disclosed by other participants in accordance with these Terms and the Open Call consent. The fact that information identifies you or your company does not mean that it will remain private in all circumstances.
If and when you submit information to us, you do so at your own risk. Such information may be used or disclosed by us, by MEDC or by any participant with whom it is shared for the purposes described in these Terms or as required by law. Each participant that receives your information handles it under its own policies and legal obligations.
Other disclosure
Except as described in these Terms, including the aggregate website-usage information processed by Google Analytics described under Cookies and analytics and the service providers that host this website, store submissions and send email for us under written obligations to use the information only to provide those services (Vercel for website hosting; Airtable for submission and consent records; Google Workspace (Gmail) for email), information you submit will not be shared with, disclosed or distributed to third parties, except that we will provide it to MEDC on request, including so that MEDC can respond to a public-records request, meet its records-retention obligations or respond to an audit, and we may disclose it when required to do so by law, for example in response to a court order or subpoena, as needed for a public-records request directed to MEDC or another participant that is a public body, when requested by a law enforcement agency, or when we have reason to believe that someone is causing injury to or interference with the rights or property of another. If Newlab stops operating this website, the information will be transferred to MEDC or to a successor Platform Administrator and will remain subject to these Terms.
Your submissions
Neither Newlab nor any Michigan LIFT participant claims ownership of the information or materials you submit (“Submissions”). By submitting, you grant Newlab, MEDC and the Michigan LIFT participants that receive your Submissions as described in How we use it above a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to copy, store, distribute and display your Submissions for the purpose of administering, evaluating and reporting on the Michigan LIFT Platform, for as long as the Submissions are retained under these Terms. MEDC may also retain, use and disclose Submissions as required or permitted by law, including public-records and records-retention laws. No compensation will be paid for the use of your Submissions. You warrant and represent that you own or otherwise control all of the rights to your Submissions necessary to grant this license, and that your Submissions do not infringe the rights of any third party.
Public reporting is limited to aggregate outcomes and program-level metrics, except where MEDC or another public-body participant is required by law to disclose or report more.
You agree to defend, indemnify and hold harmless Newlab, MEDC and the other Michigan LIFT participants, and their respective affiliates, directors, officers, employees and agents, from and against any third-party claims arising out of your breach of these Terms, including claims that your Submissions infringe or misappropriate the rights of any third party or include information you were not authorized to disclose.
No obligation
Michigan LIFT is a non-exclusive platform. Neither Newlab, MEDC, nor any Industrial Buyer, Capital Provider or other participant is obligated to evaluate, respond to, purchase from, invest in, lend to, or provide incentives to any applicant. Each participant evaluates each applicant independently through its own applicable diligence or onboarding process. Passing the initial eligibility screen is not an endorsement or approval of the applicant by MEDC, the State of Michigan, Newlab or any other participant, and creates no entitlement to procurement, financing, incentives or other support. Platform eligibility criteria are separate from any legal, programmatic, diligence or approval requirements that apply to State or other participant support. Eligibility screening and routing decisions are made at MEDC’s discretion or that of its designee and are final and not subject to appeal. No applicant is required to rely exclusively on the Michigan LIFT platform or on any Michigan LIFT participant as its source of revenue, investment, financing or other support.
Michigan LIFT may modify, suspend, reduce the scope of, or discontinue any Open Call or the Platform at any time. Newlab may temporarily suspend access to this website for maintenance, security or legal reasons. Neither Newlab, MEDC nor any other participant is liable for any costs you incur in preparing or submitting a response.
Email communications and your choices
You may unsubscribe from Michigan LIFT email updates at any time by using the unsubscribe link in any update or by emailing michiganlift@newlab.com; we will honor your request within 10 business days. You may also ask us to review, update or correct your personal information by emailing michiganlift@newlab.com. Updating or withdrawing information does not recall information already shared with MEDC or other participants in accordance with these Terms, and records held by MEDC remain subject to MEDC’s records-retention and public-records obligations. Communications you receive directly from a participant are governed by that participant’s own practices; to stop them, contact that participant.
Children
This website is intended for adults acting for a business. Open Call responses may be submitted only by individuals who are at least 18 years old and authorized to act for their company. The website is not directed to children under 13 and does not knowingly collect information from them.
Links
Certain links lead to websites maintained by third parties over which we have no control, and we are not responsible for their content or practices. Links to other websites do not constitute an endorsement. Once you link to another website, you are subject to its privacy policy.
Disclaimers; limitation of liability
Information on this website is provided “as is” and may be updated without notice; your reliance on it is at your sole risk. All warranties, express or implied, are disclaimed. Information on this website is not legal, financial or professional advice. To the fullest extent permitted by law, neither Newlab, MEDC, nor any Michigan LIFT participant, nor their respective affiliates, directors, officers, employees or agents, shall be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special or consequential damages arising from use of this website or the information on it, the Open Call process (including eligibility screening, routing and any participant’s evaluation or decision), or any disclosure made in accordance with these Terms or as required by law. Nothing in these Terms creates a joint venture, partnership, fiduciary or agency relationship among Newlab, MEDC and the other participants, and no participant is responsible for the acts or omissions of any other participant. Nothing in these Terms waives any immunity or defense available to MEDC or the State of Michigan, or limits any obligation Newlab owes to MEDC under a separate agreement.
Changes
We may change these Terms by posting the revised version here. If a change is material, such as a new category of recipient or a new use of submitted information, we will notify applicants who have submitted Open Call responses by email before the change takes effect, and we will not apply the change to information collected under an earlier version without your consent. For other changes, continued use of this website after the revised version is posted constitutes your agreement. Each version carries its own number and effective date, and superseded versions remain available on this site.
Governing law
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Michigan without regard to conflict-of-law principles. Any legal proceeding arising out of these Terms shall be brought solely in state or federal court located in Ingham County, Michigan. If any part of these Terms is held invalid, the remainder remains in full force and effect. In the event of a conflict between these Terms and specific terms in an Open Call or a separate written agreement, the specific terms control.
Contact
Questions about these Terms or your information: michiganlift@newlab.com, Newlab Detroit, LLC, 2050 15th St, Detroit, MI 48216. Public-records requests concerning MEDC records: MEDC FOIA Center, michiganbusiness.org. Questions about MEDC’s handling of information it receives: Janelle Campbell, medcfoia@michigan.org.