GAMIC - Global Automotive & Mobility Innovation Challenge

GAMIC - Global Automotive & Mobility Innovation Challenge

GAMIC Events


SAE International and MI Innovation Alliance are pleased to announce the four winners at the 17th GAMIC Finals held on Monday, April 7, 2025 at the SAE-WCX in Detroit, Michigan. The event was held at Huntington Place in Detroit.

2025 Award Winners:

  • Cerebrum Sensor – Van Nuys, California, USA
    Cerebrum is the world’s first IoT-enabled, vehicle agnostic solution for real-time monitoring and proactive management of tires. https://cerebrumsensor.com/
  • Electric Fish – San Carlos, California, USA
    Electric Fish provides flexible microgrid solutions to quickly enable fast EV charging and backup energy resources at grid-constrained sites.https://electricfish.co/
  • Fermi Energy – Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
    Fermi Energy, Inc. is developing fundamentally disruptive cathode technologies to help create the U.S. supply chain of battery manufacturing. They focus on developing and scaling up low-cost and sustainable cathodes for high-energy automobile batteries. https://www.fermienergy.com/
  • Nascit – Kiel, Germany
    Nascit has developed nanosculpturing for metallic surfaces to bind metallic and plastic surfaces together. A special chemical treatment creates barbed surfaces to connect automotive materials. https://nascit.de

The GAMIC 2024-2025 Challenge is over now.

The Finals took place at SAE WCX in Detroit, Michigan on April 7, 2025.
Our next year’s challenge begins in October 2025. Contact us to participate in the next year’s GAMIC competitions.

The GAMIC Finals is a perfect opportunity to see the full spectrum of mobility innovation GAMIC brings together. From over 1500 invited applicants narrowed down to 100 quarterfinalists, 18 semifinalists at University of Michigan-Dearborn and 8 finalists Startup Innovators for the 2025 Finals were selected to present their mobility solutions and roadmap to commercialization, to the audience and distinguished panel of industry judges.

Besides amazing startup presentations, the finals included guest speakers and networking opportunities.

John Jennings from Amsted Automotive tackled the challenging subject of Innovation in a Tier 1 supplier and Steve Greenfield, Automotive Ventures spoke on The Future of Mobility.

After two months of competition prep advising from a cohort of nearly 40 mentors, the 10 finalists from 5 countries and 5 states competed at the Finals at the SAE World Congress on April 7, 2025 at Huntington Place, 1 Washington Blvd, Detroit, MI 48226.

The finals also provided an opportunity to meet, mingle and learn about leading technology and investment perspectives for high-value automotive technologies and innovations.  Winners at the Finals receive in-kind acceleration services (including targeted exposure to decision‐makers) and modest cash awards.

GAMIC would like to thank each of our sponsors and partners for their contributions in making the 17th GAMIC Competition a great success.

Take a look at out GAMIC 17th 2024-2025 participants.

Meet the 2025 finalists

2025 Finals Event Details


ABOUT

The Global Automotive & Mobility Innovation Challenge, or GAMIC, is an annual competition for early-stage automotive products/ systems and mobility companies with new and innovative technologies.

Learn more about GAMIC, by watching this discussion with automotive executives and past GAMIC winners.

 

The GAMIC competition, was created in 2008 to identify innovative early-stage automotive products / systems and mobility companies; cultivate new technologies and solutions; and hasten their adoption into the automotive industry.

Innovation challenge participants are able to network and meet new partners; showcase their technologies; receive mentorship and business coaching; and compete for a continuum of commercialization assistance.

Each year, GAMIC provides competitors:

  • Access to dozens of industry experts to help accelerate and develop their businesses
  • More than $400,000 of professional services, in-kind services and cash to selected winners

The 12 Final Companies also have the chance to get exposure to over 15,000 mobility experts at the SAE International, WCX™  World Congress  Experience, held each year in the month of April. 

The GAMIC – FINALS are held on site at the Huntington Place, 1 Washington Blvd., Detroit, Michigan, USA, in conjunction with SAE. 

GAMIC is a sponsored activity of the MI Innovation Alliance, a 501-c-3 corporation and works closely with SAE International and other strategic partners.  

BENEFITS

For the participants, the benefits of GAMIC include mentoring, visibility, acceleration and, for many, proven success. Each year, GAMIC provides in-kind commercialization services to the winners. GAMIC winners and finalists have gone on to reach licensing, strategic partnership or research agreements; execute business awards and enter production; and, in several cases, raise millions in investment capital.

For our many partners – who act as speakers, judges, coaches, in-kind award and cash sponsors – GAMIC has provided early access to key technologies; introductions to fellow innovation seekers, and visibility as part of the fast-moving mobility solutions community. Find out more about becoming a Sponsor or Member.

STEM Accreditation

In recognition of its quality mentoring of start-up companies, which include underrepresented students and professionals, and its hosting of various finals, semi-finals, and quarter-finals, GAMIC is now STEM.org Accredited™.  STEM.org is an organization which fosters Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, and through an extensive collaborative effort, STEM.org has worked closely with researchers, educators, administrators, and schools to a respected set of STEM benchmarks, including  STEM.org Accredited™.

Latest News and Updates

Winners chosen in 14th annual Global Automotive & Mobility Innovation Challenge
DETROIT, April 20, 2022 – The Global Automotive & Mobility Innovation Challenge (GAMIC) selected 4 innovative start-ups as winners of its 14th annual competition, sponsored by SAE International...
Read More "Winners chosen in 14th annual Global Automotive & Mobility Innovation Challenge"
12 Global Finalists to Compete at GAMIC Finals on April 4 at SAE WCX 2022 in Detroit
DETROIT, February 25, 2022 – The Global Automotive & Mobility Innovation Challenge (GAMIC) has selected 12 innovative start-ups to move on to the Finals of its 14th annual...
Read More "12 Global Finalists to Compete at GAMIC Finals on April 4 at SAE WCX 2022 in Detroit"
Winners chosen in 12th annual Global Automotive & Mobility Innovation Challenge
DETROIT, May 6, 2020 – The Global Automotive & Mobility Innovation Challenge (GAMIC) selected four (4) innovation start-ups as Award Winners of 2020 GAMIC Finals, held virtually to...
Read More "Winners chosen in 12th annual Global Automotive & Mobility Innovation Challenge"
23 Innovators Competing in 2020 GAMIC Semifinals on Feb 27, 2020
DETROIT, February 12, 2020 – The Global Automotive & Mobility Innovation Challenge (GAMIC) has selected 23 innovative start-ups to move on to the Semifinals of its 12th...
Read More "23 Innovators Competing in 2020 GAMIC Semifinals on Feb 27, 2020"

Sponsors & Partners

Our sponsors play a critical role both in the success of GAMIC and in the viability of the Michigan entrepreneurial community.  Their support includes:

  • Serving as GAMIC judges, mentor-coaches, distinguished speakers, and/or discussion panelists
  • Supporting organizational activities and events, including Cash Awards for the annual GAMIC Winners

Special thanks to all our sponsors and partners.

Founding Partners:

                 

Lead Sponsors:

In-Kind Partners: