Letter — Max Morefield, KISS, on House Bill 5031 and the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti SmartZone Extension

Summary

This is a letter, Re: Support for House Bill 5031 – Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti SmartZone Extension, addressed to the Michigan House of Representatives. The author, Max Morefield, identifies as the Founder and CEO of KISS, a Michigan-based digital health technology startup headquartered in Ann Arbor, an active client of Ann Arbor SPARK and an MBA student at Eastern Michigan University. The letter states strong support for House Bill 5031 and the extension of the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti SmartZone. It says that through SPARK, KISS has participated in funding readiness programming and received one-on-one mentorship.

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Re: Support for House Bill 5031 – Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti SmartZone Extension

Dear Members of the Michigan House of Representatives,

My name is Max Morefield, and I am the Founder and CEO of KISS, a Michigan-based digital
health technology startup headquartered in Ann Arbor. I am also an active client of Ann Arbor
SPARK and an MBA student at Eastern Michigan University. I am writing to express my
strong support for House Bill 5031 and the extension of the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti SmartZone.

As an early-stage founder building a health technology platform in Michigan, the resources
provided through Ann Arbor SPARK have been directly tied to our ability to develop, test, and
scale our product within this state. Through SPARK, KISS has participated in funding
readiness programming, received one-on-one mentorship, engaged in strategic planning
sessions, accessed investor and pitch opportunities, and connected with a statewide network
of founders, operators, and capital providers. These programs have materially accelerated our
progress and reduced the barriers that typically force startups to relocate to larger coastal
markets.

The SmartZone is not an abstract economic development tool. It is operational infrastructure
that enables startups to move from prototype to commercialization. For companies like mine,
which operate in digital health and data-driven technology, early access to mentorship, capital
pathways, and ecosystem connectivity determines whether we can build and hire in Michigan
or whether we must leave to survive.

HB 5031 represents a continuation of a proven innovation pipeline that retains highly skilled
talent in Michigan, supports commercialization of university-linked and founder-led
technologies, de-risks early-stage companies and attracts private investment, creates
high-wage, knowledge-based jobs, and strengthens regional collaboration between
universities, startups, and industry.

My own journey reflects that pipeline. As an EMU MBA student and founder, I am building
KISS within Michigan’s higher education and startup ecosystem. The existence of the
SmartZone and Ann Arbor SPARK is a primary reason our company is scaling here rather
than relocating to another state.

The return on investment is long-term and compounding. Startups supported through this
ecosystem hire locally, contract with Michigan service providers, collaborate with research
institutions, and contribute to the state’s tax base as they grow. Sustaining this infrastructure
ensures that Michigan remains competitive in attracting and retaining technology companies.

On behalf of KISS and the broader founder community that relies on these programs, I
respectfully urge you to support House Bill 5031 and the continued operation of the Ann
Arbor/Ypsilanti SmartZone.

Thank you for your leadership and your commitment to Michigan’s innovation economy.
Sincerely,

Max Morefield
Founder & CEO, KISS
Ann Arbor, Michigan


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