CMURC Board of Directors announce Entrepreneur of the Year

Central Michigan University Research Corporation (CMURC) has named Shane Emmons, founder of Swept AI, as its 2025 Entrepreneur of the Year. Emmons is recognized for building a high-growth, technology-driven company while creating meaningful economic opportunity in the Great Lakes Bay Region. 

“From the beginning, our focus with Swept AI has been to make artificial intelligence practical, safe, and impactful for organizations,” said Emmons. “There’s a lot of hype around AI, but we’re focused on helping companies implement it in a way that actually works, driving real results while minimizing risk.”

Founded in 2023, Swept AI helps organizations operate more efficiently through applied artificial intelligence, serving industries including insurance, healthcare, nonprofit, and professional services. The company has helped dozens of organizations adopt AI in practical ways, generating more than $500,000 in combined revenue growth and cost savings for its customers.

In 2025, Swept AI reached several key milestones, including raising $1.75 million in capital, with more than $500,000 from Michigan-based investors and state-awarded grants. The company also expanded its team, creating three full-time jobs and engaging 12 paid contractors, while continuing to grow its impact across industries.

“Shane exemplifies the type of entrepreneur we strive to support: innovative, persistent, and focused on solving real-world challenges,” said CMURC President + CEO Erin Strang. “Swept AI’s growth highlights the strength of Michigan’s startup ecosystem and the impact of technology-driven companies.”

Emmons was selected for his persistence as a repeat entrepreneur, his ability to attract in-state investment, and his commitment to building a scalable technology company rooted in Michigan. His work has helped bring CMURC one step closer to creating a community in which people invest their lives – a key driver to economic development.

Emmons will be honored as CMURC’s Entrepreneur of the Year on May 20, 2026. The recognition will take place at CoWork RC Mt Pleasant during the Celebrate ME session at 3 p.m., which brings together entrepreneurs, small business owners, and professionals. Presented by Lake Trust Credit Union, Business Breakthrough Day features expert-led panels, valuable networking opportunities, and free coworking, all designed to support business growth and innovation in the region. To register, click here. 

For more information about Swept AI, please visit their website at swept.ai. To learn more about coworking and entrepreneurial programs, please visit cmurc.com 

About Swept AI

Swept AI was founded in 2023 by AI engineers and security researchers with decades of documented success building production systems serving 25+ million users. We've built compliance-grade software and we know that traditional security frameworks fall short when it comes to AI systems. We are also the creators of the first end-to-end comprehensive AI Supervision Layer, which is why we say that unquantified AI is an empty promise. Swept offers three mix-and-match solutions: 1) evaluating AI agents before launch, 2) an AI-enabled supervisor that takes action to keep agents on track, 3) publishable compliance. Whichever you choose, one sweep can save millions on your AI investments.