Oct. 2, 2023 | Read time 1 min

Student View: A Spartan Entrepreneur’s Leap of Faith

Paul Reiss is a third-year Lifelong Learning student from Hudsonville, Michigan. He is earning a Minor in Entrepreneurship and Innovation with the Burgess Institute. Reiss is the co-founder and CEO of Protein Pints, a protein ice cream company based in Michigan.

Paul Reiss, co-founder of Protein Pints, is a Lifelong Learning student earning his Minor in Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Growing up in Hudsonville, Michigan, my college trajectory seemed straightforward. By 2021, I was close to completing my degree, had a full-ride scholarship, had an internship lined up, and even juggled dual-sport athletics. However, beneath the surface of success, I felt the pull of a path less traveled.

Standing at the crossroads of comfort and challenge, I often asked myself: What will I regret more? Giving it my all, or never having tried in the first place? Choosing the latter, I took a daring semester off to explore entrepreneurship. This might sound audacious to some, but for me, The best things in life are on the other side of fear.

The pivotal moment came in November 2022 when I attended the Michigan Collegiate Startup Challenge at MSU. Pitching my brainchild, Protein Pints, I clinched third place and a crucial ,000 in non-dilutive funding. More than the accolade, the recognition and encouragement from the Burgess Institute catalyzed my transfer to MSU.

Entrepreneurship is a lot like being a parent—and your startup is the child. As every parent knows, resources are the nutrients that allow a child to flourish. It’s the same for startups—they need resources to grow. And grow Protein Pints did. Under Burgess’s mentorship, my prototype evolved into a market-ready product within a matter of months, which today is making waves on store shelves.

It wasn’t merely the tangible resources that made Burgess invaluable to me. It was an irreplaceable community and culture. Being surrounded by brilliant minds, all striving towards their dreams—it’s truly transformative. After all, we reflect those we surround ourselves with.

Fueling my daily grind is a profound sense of purpose. My hustle is anchored in serving both God and others. I genuinely look forward to working every day. Knowing it’s in line with a higher purpose—that’s the best motivation. With enthusiasm and gratitude for life, I find joy in every task, big or small.

So, what does the future hold for me? I’m focused on serving God and others. This means continual personal growth, embracing new opportunities, and lifelong learning. I believe that the alignment of my goals with those of MSU and Burgess creates a symbiotic relationship where both thrive through mutual growth.

I have a heartfelt message to my fellow aspiring Spartan entrepreneurs: You are right where you need to be. Worrying achieves nothing. Relish this present moment, the sheer miracle of life. Everything is working out for the best.

My story, from a student-athlete to the CEO of Protein Pints, reminds me of the power of faith, determination, and the right environment. It underscores that even the sky isn’t the limit when passion meets purpose.

Sept. 21, 2023 | Read time 1 min

For Second Consecutive Year, Venture Summit A Resounding Success

Event Spotlights Future of Entrepreneurship, Innovation at Michigan State

by Aaryn Richard

On Friday, Sept. 15, the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation hosted its second annual Venture Summit, a two-day event focused on the future of entrepreneurship and innovation at Michigan State University. Nearly 200 attendees gathered in East Lansing, including entrepreneurs and investors—alumni and current students.

“We’re proud of Venture Summit,” said Laurel Ofstein, faculty director of the Burgess Institute. “The event celebrates the entrepreneurial community and highlights student ventures. It’s also a chance for alumni to see how our programming has evolved, underlining the impact of their support.”

Held at the Eli Broad College of Business Minskoff Pavilion, participants listened to talks from Evan Dunbar, a ’15 Management and International Business alumnus, and Jillian Lorenz, a ’00 Mechanical Engineering graduate. Dunbar, Research Data Science Tech Lead for AI Infrastructure at Meta, discussed AI’s future relevance to startups. Lorenz and her co-founder of The Barre Code, Ariana

Jillian Lorenz, co-founder of The Barre Code, leads a founder wellness workshop. ©John McGraw

Chernin, led a workshop on founder wellness.

After the talks, attendees moved to the Entrepreneurship Lab to engage with student startup teams from the Burgess Institute’s Discovery and Launch programs. They also met leaders from campus student entrepreneurship organizations such as Women in Entrepreneurship, the Entrepreneurship Association, and the MBA Entrepreneurship Association.

Student-Made at Michigan State, a new collaboration between the Burgess Institute and Student-Made, made its debut at Venture Summit, showcasing student creators and the products they sell on the platform.

The day concluded with an awards ceremony recognizing student scholarship recipients. The Burgess Institute offers multiple scholarships to foster and recognize student excellence in entrepreneurship. Thirty-three students were honored, including recipients of the Adam M. Enfroy Scholarship for Digital Entrepreneurship, the Kaufman Family Endowment Scholarship for Entrepreneurial Studies, the James Ian Gray Scholarship in Entrepreneurial Studies, the Kelly A. Ford Technology Scholarship, the Mark F. Rieth Scholarship for Entrepreneurial Studies, the Schaberg Entrepreneurship Scholarship, the Simpson-Birkestrand Endowed Scholarship for Entrepreneurs, and the Vandervarro Student Entrepreneurship Scholarship.

2023’s cohort of Schaberg Entrepreneurship Scholars. ©John McGraw

“Our students are central to our mission,” said Christopher Sell, associate director of development. “The ceremony allows us to celebrate our students’ achievements and the generosity of our alumni.”

Today, the Burgess Institute’s programming boasts over 1,000 student participants. In fact, since 2016, Spartan venturers have raised over 0M in follow-on investment in their startup ideas. Each year, the Burgess Institute accommodates nearly 300 student teams who apply to the Burgess Institute’s Discovery program. Approximately 50 teams advance to the Launch program annually, gaining access to specialized services, mentoring, and funding opportunities. Fifteen of these teams eventually compete in the Burgess New Venture Challenge, Michigan State’s premier pitch competition.

Yuktha Pulavarthi (center) and Abbie Townley (right) discuss their startups with Venture Summit attendee. ©John McGraw

Paul Jaques, managing director of venture creation for the Burgess Institute and a longtime supporter of the program, has witnessed countless standout student successes, like Brett Kopf, founder of the classroom app Remind, and Joe Johnson, founder of VADE Nutrition.

“Adopting an entrepreneurial mindset is about more than starting a venture,” Jaques said. “We know companies seek candidates with this mindset. Getting startup experience gives students a competitive edge as they launch their careers.”

Jaques added that student entrepreneurs who have tapped into this mindset are better problem-solvers and market analysts.

“Every day is different here,” said Jaques. “I enjoy seeing students evolve their ideas into ventures or careers.”

The Burgess Institute will continue to catalyze student collaboration and venture creation, looking ahead to further growth and impact.

“As we reflect as a team on Venture Summit, we are proud of the impact our programs have on the lives of our students. As we look to the future, we know Spartan entrepreneurs will run successful startups or will have fulfilling careers.”

Be the first one to see photos from Venture Summit 2023: From Grand River to Grand Futures on the Burgess Institute’s Flickr page. Interested in taking your first steps with the Burgess Institute? Apply to the Discovery program by clicking here, or attend one of our events and join the Spartan entrepreneurship and innovation community.

Aug. 28, 2023

Empowering Tomorrows Entrepreneurs The Rise of the Student Made Marketplace at Michigan State

by Aaryn Richard

This week, the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation launched its partnership with Student-Made. As a marketplace, this collaboration creates an avenue for Spartan venturers, known to Student-Made as creators, with retail products to begin selling their wares at scale.

Student-Made, founded in 2019, established itself at eight campuses, and many more new campuses are coming this fall! Student-Made is a custom online marketplace that supports student creators on campus. Each university has its unique marketplace, so it’s a convenient space to support our Spartan entrepreneurs. The platform connects students, alumni, and the local community while giving students real-life experiences and a chance to share their passion with others. Student-Made establishes a community of inventors and innovators, offers exposure to creator products, and provides growth in skill sets needed later to thrive as an entrepreneur. Student-Made is a safe space for starting a business with low risk but maximum support.

Launched on August 27th, Student-Made at MSU features 18 creators, with many more to come. Students don’t have to join alone; they can bring a team of students to build their business. Currently, products include clothes, jewelry, bags, desserts, ceramics, digital art, embroidered goods, blankets, stickers, stationery, plushies, self-defense keychains, 14K-filled gold bracelets, and so much more on the way. The Student-Made marketplace will have a space for students with apps or services to advertise their businesses. Patrons can find students with photography businesses or beauty services.

Lori Fischer, the Burgess Institute’s director of operations, spearheaded the partnership with Student-Made. “We wanted to create a digital retail space where students could reliably engage with customers, with a team dedicated to that purpose.”

“Our goal this semester is to continue generating buzz around student-owned businesses and their products,” said Yuktha Pulavarthi, a Student-Made creator and founder of Macaronza, a custom macarons shop. “We want students to gain real-world business experiences and develop connections in a community run by the students for the students.”

The Burgess Institute helps Spartans launch their own ventures, no matter their home college or major.

“We want to inspire young entrepreneurs, who might fear starting a business all on their own with no prior knowledge, into taking that first step of turning an idea into reality,” said Fischer. In that way, Student-Made unifies the entire campus community. Alums, faculty, students, and even members of other universities get to discover and support the entrepreneurial spirit present on their respective campuses.

Student-Made at MSU hopes to grow the platform throughout the Fall semester to include 30 creators in the program. Student-Made will only continue to grow from there, and with the help of the Spartan Nation, know this program will have a successful launch!

There are several ways to get involved. Keep an eye out for Student-Made popups on and off campus and collaborations with campus departments, organizations, and colleges. Student-Made continues to form new partnerships to give students different opportunities to sell and promote their products across campus. Student-Made will be at Michigan State and Burgess Institute events, such as Sparticipation, Spartan Remix, 2Day Venture, Venture Summit, and so many more. Creators get the opportunity to feature their businesses at all of these events.

Although Student-Made is predominately product-focused, services creators are also welcome to advertise their businesses.

Learn more about Student-Made at MSU by visiting the new website: www.studentmademichiganstate.com. Make sure to follow the program on Instagram, @studentmade_michiganstate, to learn more about on- and off-campus popups in the Lansing area.

Burgess New Venture Challenge Announces 2023 Competition Winners

Contacts: Aaryn Richard, Clare Hampel

East Lansing, Mich. — The Burgess New Venture Challenge (BNVC), an early-stage pitch competition bringing together Michigan State University student entrepreneurs and business leaders, announces the winners of its fifth annual contest. On Thursday, April 13, at the Graduate East Lansing, fifteen Spartan student teams pitched their startup ideas to a panel of expert judges. All were competing for their share of ,000 in total scholarship prizes.

This is my first time experiencing the Burgess New Venture Challenge, and I can say it is more than a competition, said Laurel Ofstein, faculty director at the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. It’s a motivational force. Students draw on their experiential learnings, shaping and refining their startups. We couldn’t be prouder of these Spartans who’ve dedicated their time and talents to building something new.

This year nearly forty teams applied to be part of the Burgess New Venture Challenge, with fifteen semifinalists rising to the top.

To qualify to compete, BNVC team members must be enrolled students at MSU (undergraduate or graduate) and be in good academic standing. Applicants must be active participants in the Burgess Institute’s Discovery or Launch Programs. Once selected, semifinalists must commit to attending group practice sessions, meet with assigned venture coach mentors, and demonstrate movement toward their tailored milestones. Winning ideas must use awarded cash toward accelerating their startup ideas.

And The Winners Are . . .

These MSU student startups presented their most robust cases to 2023’s Burgess New Venture Challenge judges and, as a result, took home the top prizes:

1st Place: ,000: UniServices (Adam Green, (greenad4@msu.edu), College of Law and Hemkesh Agrawal (agrawalh@msu.edu), College of Engineering.) UniServices is the Uber of odd jobs. It simplifies student-led task solutions, using a mobile and web app to connect college students to residents in their communities to complete everyday chores.

2nd Place: ,000: Protein Pints (Paul Reiss (reisspau@msu.edu), Eli Broad College of Business). Protein Pints is a protein ice cream supplement designed for athletic recovery and performance.

3rd Place: ,500: Reel Free (Alexander Pollack (polloc56@msu.edu), College of Natural Science). Reel Free is a medical device that prevents falls for individuals using supplemental oxygen.

4th Place: ,000: Odin Classroom (Aman Dhruva Thamminana (thammina@msu.edu), College of Engineering; Rajmeet Singh Chandok (chandok1@msu.edu), College of Engineering). Odin Classroom is an online coding platform aimed at reducing friction in computer science courses by providing a better user experience and reducing downtime.

5th Place: ,000: Complete Competitor (Danielle Hanson (hanson83@msu.edu), College of Human Medicine). This is a business in the form of an application that caters to the mental health and well-being of student-athletes, providing 24/7 support.

The Burgess New Venture Challenge attendees held sway in choosing two People’s Choice Awards. These awardees earned ,000 each: Protein Pints and CodeBlue.

New this year, the Eli Broad College of Business’s Center for Ethical and Socially Responsible Leadership sponsored a ,000 Social Impact Award. Representing CESRL were Beth Hammond, CESRL’s managing director, and faculty member, Dr. Jennifer Dunn. 2023’s Social Impact Award went to Motmot.

“Without a doubt, Motmot stands out as the startup with the most social good impact,” said Beth Hammond. “Sustainable access to clean water impacts us all, and Motmot offers a solution that’s well within reach.”

As is BNVC tradition, no team goes home empty-handed. Each of the remaining semifinalist teams took home 0 in seed funding.

Our mission is centered around creating unforgettable learning experiences, said Paul Jaques, managing director for venture creation at the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The connections these student entrepreneurs make — with each other and with the experienced mentors, judges, and attendees from across the entrepreneurial ecosystem — is all a part of setting them up for success.

Congratulations to this year’s winners and to all the semifinalist teams!

___

About the Burgess New Venture Challenge

The Burgess New Venture Challenge promotes entrepreneurship, leadership, and innovation at Michigan State University. The competition identifies strong Spartan startups, provides mentorship and team development workshops, and culminates in a year-end showcase event. 2023’s event was held on April 13, 2023, at the Graduate East Lansing from 4–8 pm. Find out more about the Burgess New Venture Challenge at eship.msu.edu/burgessnvc.

About the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation

The Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation empowers students to learn through action by providing programs, courses, and resources to foster an entrepreneurial mindset, develop empathy, and create new ventures. Our program is designed to prime students to embrace failure mindfully, explore unknowns, and develop skills that matter. Find out more at eship.msu.edu.

Burgess New Venture Challenge Announces Semifinalists for Fifth Annual Competition

The Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation today announces the fifteen semifinalist teams selected to compete in its fifth annual contest, the Burgess New Venture Challenge (BNVC).

On April 13, 2023, the Burgess Institute will host MSU’s premier pitch competition at The Graduate in East Lansing from 4 PM – 8 PM. The annual competition highlights top student entrepreneurs and celebrates Michigan State University’s growing venture creation ecosystem.

The Burgess New Venture Challenge is more than a competition, said Laurel Ofstein, faculty director for the Burgess Institute. This is high-stakes experiential learning at its best. These fifteen semifinalist teams must prove their ideas are viable; that the market demands their solutions; and, ultimately, that their value propositions hold up to scrutiny.

2023’s BNVC semifinalists will pitch their ideas during a private session before the student showcase opens to the public at 4 PM. With only five finalist slots available, student venturers will need to convince a panel of expert judges they have what it takes to compete for the ,000 in total grant prizes.

BNVC requires student applicants to be competition-ready: To qualify to compete, students must enroll in the Burgess Institute’s intensive Discovery and Launch programs, collect feedback about their ideas from potential customers as well as business leaders and venture coaches, and form collaborative teams around their submitted ideas.

BNVC is a competition that supports student venturers from concept to pitch, said Paul Jaques, managing director of venture creation for the Burgess Institute. The BNVC experience ensures students are thinking critically about their ideas. They spend time refining and derisking. They are building skills through action: market research, customer discovery, supply chain — these are essential skills that bring value to their future, whether they pursue their startups or join established firms and innovate from within.

INTRODUCING 2023’S BURGESS NEW VENTURE CHALLENGE SEMIFINALISTS

2023’s Burgess New Venture Challenge semifinalists represent eight colleges and over a dozen disciplines of study. Here are this year’s semifinalists:

Axiom Finance

Applicant: Braeden Kantz (kantzbr1@msu.edu), College of Natural Science

Axiom is a decentralized digital banking system that leverages the power of statistics and differential calculus, empowering users to plan for their financial future.

Bridge

Applicant: Christian Shaman, (shamanch@msu.edu), Eli Broad College of Business

A technology learning platform to help students of any age learn to code.

CodeBlue

Applicants: Teia Shaman (kinnerte@msu.edu), College of Natural Science; Unser Jaffry (jaffryun@msu.edu), Lyman Briggs College; Nicolina Ivanovic (ivanovi7@msu.edu), Eli Broad College of Business; Nasreen Al-Qadi (alqadina@msu.edu), Human Medicine; Vincent Nguyen (nguye776@msu.edu), Communication Arts & Sciences; Jessica Toomajian (toomaji8@msu.edu), Eli Broad College of Business

The condom that indicates when there is a hole by turning blue.

Complete Competitor

Applicant: Danielle Hanson (hanson83@msu.edu), College of Human Medicine

A business in the form of an application that caters to the mental health and wellbeing of student athletes, providing 24/7 support.

macaronza!

Applicant: Yuktha Pulavarthi (pulavar2@msu.edu), Eli Broad College of Business

Delicious, homemade, and customizable macarons for your every need!

Motmot

Applicant: Elliot Smith (smit3821@msu.edu), Eli Broad College of Business

Engineering company that installs submersible drones to inspect public water infrastructure.

Odin Classroom

Applicants: Aman Dhruva Thamminana (thammina@msu.edu), College of Engineering; Rajmeet Singh Chandok (chandok1@msu.edu), College of Engineering

An online coding platform aimed at reducing friction in computer science courses by providing a better user experience and reducing downtime.

Protein Pints

Applicants: Paul Reiss (reisspau@msu.edu), Eli Broad College of Business

Protein Pints is a protein ice cream supplement designed for athletic recovery and performance.

Reel Free

Applicant: Alexander Pollack (polloc56@msu.edu), College of Natural Science

Prevent falls for individuals using supplemental oxygen.

SØLV

Applicant: Benjamin Pikus (pikusben@msu.edu), Eli Broad College of Business

Top quality, comfortable, patent-pending machine-washable bathmats.

Sparks of Purity Shelter Connect

Applicant: Kevin Wang (wangkev2@msu.edu), Eli Broad College of Business

Startup dedicated to connecting animal shelters, sanctuaries, and rescues to reduce rates of euthanasia.

Stuck on You Stickers

Applicant: Ella Lynch (lynchell@msu.edu), Eli Broad College of Business

Stuck on You Stickers is a one-stop-shop for waterproof stickers that represents you and your interests in the best way possible!

Talbina

Applicant: Sana Hamdan (hamdans1@msu.edu), College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Talbina is an Islamic nutrition health app that helps Muslims develop holistic lifestyles in a knowledge-learning and goal-achieving platform.

TRIPLE4’S

Applicants: Matt Rogien (rogienma@msu.edu), Eli Broad College of Business; Logan Nash (nashloga@msu.edu), School of Packaging

Launching an innovative pepper spray device with location sharing technologies.

UniServices

Applicants: Adam Green (greenad4@msu.edu), College of Law; Hemkesh Agrawal (agrawalh@msu.edu), College of Engineering

Simplifying student-led task solutions, using a mobile and web app to connect college students to residents in their communities to complete everyday chores.

___

About the Burgess New Venture Challenge

The Burgess New Venture Challenge promotes entrepreneurship, leadership, and innovation at Michigan State University. The competition identifies strong Spartan startups, provides mentorship and team development workshops, and culminates in a year-end showcase event. 2023’s event will be on April 13, 2023, at The Graduate in East Lansing from 4 PM – 8 PM. Find out more at eship.msu.edu/burgessnvc.

About the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation

The Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation empowers students to learn through action by providing programs, courses, and resources to foster an entrepreneurial mindset and create new ventures. Our programs are designed to prime students to embrace failure mindfully, explore unknowns, and develop skills that matter. Find out more at eship.msu.edu.

Student View UniServices Founder Adam Green

Adam Green is a third-year College of Law student at Michigan State University. In 2020, Green earned his degree in political theory and constitutional democracy from MSU’s James Madison College. Green, a lifelong Spartan from a long line of Spartan grads, is the founder and CEO of UniServices, a startup focused on helping college students earn income from assisting individuals in local communities with everyday tasks and chores.

Hi everyone! My name is Adam Green. I am a third-year law student at Michigan State University and the founder and CEO of UniServices. I also happen to be a lifelong Spartan — my family members are Spartans, and we have been coming to campus for football games since I can remember.

MSU is the only school I have ever wanted to attend. Fortunately, it was my best option for achieving my goals and getting my desired education. I was always interested in law and politics, so coming to MSU allowed me to attend the James Madison College residential college. What appealed to me most was that I could also work down the road at our State Capitol for all three years of undergrad! When the opportunity to attend MSU’s Law School presented itself, I couldn’t turn down the chance to continue my Spartan experience.

As a law student, making ends meet is difficult. I was selling my plasma twice weekly to get some extra cash. It was a challenging time, but it also sparked an idea. I saw a need for affordable and reliable services and knew college students had the skills to provide them. That’s when the idea for UniServices was born.

Starting a business is not easy, especially when you’re still studying and struggling to make ends meet. However, for me, it was the solution to a problem that I was facing myself. UniServices, a platform connecting students with people who needed their services, was born out of my own struggle.

The idea was simple yet innovative, and the response was overwhelming. Students from all over the country signed up, and people were excited to have access to affordable and reliable services. UniServices was filling a gap in the market and creating opportunities for college students to earn some extra cash and develop valuable skills.

However, the journey to turn UniServices into a thriving business was not without its hurdles. I knew I couldn’t do this alone and needed help to make UniServices a reality. That’s when I reached out to the Burgess Institute, a resource center at Michigan State University that supports student entrepreneurs.

The Burgess Institute became instrumental in helping me and my team turn UniServices into a sustainable business. Through the Institute, we had access to experienced mentors, networking opportunities, and even funding. There, my team and I connected with Hemkesh Agrawal, now our CTO, who was crucial in building the app. We had access to advisors nationwide, who helped us refine our business model and plan for growth. We even had opportunities to travel the country, meet alums, and attend business events that helped us learn from successful entrepreneurs and gain valuable insights.

One of the biggest inspirations for UniServices was the connection between students and the community. We saw how much students could contribute to the community by providing affordable and reliable services. UniServices also created opportunities for students to develop valuable skills, gain work experience, and earn some extra cash, which is especially important given the high cost of education.

Despite the challenges, UniServices has made a significant impact on the community. With the help of the Burgess Institute, my team and I were able to turn our idea into a successful business. Today, our UniServices team provides affordable, reliable services while creating opportunities for college students to earn much-needed extra cash and develop or hone valuable skills.

As UniServices looks towards expanding across the country, we have filled a gap in the market. There is a significant demand for college students to have flexible work, and UniServices provides a platform that connects them with people who need their services. With multiple venture capital firms and other investors backing us, UniServices is ready to go full-time following my graduation in May.

UniServices is an excellent example of how student entrepreneurs can turn their ideas into successful businesses, even during school. With the help of the Burgess Institute, I was able to identify a gap in the market and create something that has a huge impact. The Burgess Institute was crucial in helping my team and me turn UniServices into a thriving business by providing access to experienced mentors, advisors, and funding opportunities.

2022 Michigan Collegiate Startup Challenge Announces Semifinalists Teams

by Aaryn Richard

East Lansing, MICH — The Michigan Collegiate Startup Challenge (MCSC) today announces the 20 semifinalist teams competing for the competition’s ,500 in total cash prizes.

MCSC is Michigan’s university-level business model competition specifically designed for student entrepreneurs across the state of Michigan. MCSC fosters entrepreneurship by encouraging students to commercialize their ideas. The event provides a forum where students develop skills by pitching their ideas and building entrepreneurial ventures.

The pitch competition is a collaboration between Central Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University, Ferris State University, Kendall College of Art and Design, Grand Valley State University, Michigan State University, Michigan Technological University, Mid-Michigan College, Northern Michigan University, and Wayne State University. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation sponsors the event.

2022’s Michigan Collegiate Startup Challenge Semifinalists

Central Michigan University
Zachary Bagbey, Perfect Pour
Carolina Hernandez Ruiz, Mapscratched
Jake Kapusansky, Kap and Company LLC

Eastern Michigan University
Caitlyn Elenz, Wasted Generation Textile
Zoe Sponseller, Red Thread Unraveled

Ferris State University
Ahmad Naqshbandi, Cutt
KayAnna Williams, Razia

Grand Valley State University
Lilith Froude, SmartSeat Media LLC
Elias Giannakopoulos, RentrEasy
Octavio Latino, One Take Recording

Michigan State University
John Hart, Fello
Austin Pollock, REEL FREE
Shreesha Maddur, TalleyJobs

Michigan Technological University
Jordan Craven, Tall and Small Designs
Anastasia Motta, The Droplet
Rourke Sylvain, Integrated Molecular Innovations

Northern Michigan University
Austin Niemi, G3
Brandon Wicks, W&W Consulting

University of Michigan
Michael Meadows, Protein Pints

Wayne State University
Advait Rode, Electric Vehicle (EV) Charger Finder App

Co-hosted by Michigan State University’s Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and Central Michigan University, MCSC will be held at the Edward J Minskoff Pavilion. Semifinalists will compete on Friday, November 11, 2022, from 3PM – 8PM. The event is free and open to the public. For event registration and details, please follow this link: bit.ly/mcsc2022event

Momentum Pre-Accelerator Announces 2022 Summer Cohort

Contact: Aaryn D. Richard

The Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation announces its second cohort of startup teams for its summer pre-accelerator program, Momentum.

On May 10, 2022, the Burgess Institute will launch the pre-accelerator’s programming, which will run through June 16, 2022. The annual, six-week pre-accelerator is a competitive program that focuses on emerging startup teams. It provides additional financial and mentorship resources to advance MSU-based student startup teams and prepare them for more intensive accelerators.

Momentum’s 2022 Cohort

Fello

Co-founders: Danielle Tice (ticedani@msu.edu), College of Arts & Letters, and John Hart (hartjoh3@msu.edu), College of Communication Arts and Sciences

Fello is a peer-to-peer location-based app that establishes and bolsters creative ecosystems, taking them from the digital world to the physical world. Fello encourages and facilitates collaboration and connection among creatives.

Lumic

Founder: Vigneshwer Ramamoorthi (ramamoo3@msu.edu), College of Engineering

Lumic has a vision redesign what consumer electronics look like in the near future. Their first first redesigning project is reimagining what a mechanical keyboard can truly do, given the technological capabilities of 2022.

Soup N’ Sip

Founder: Olivia Simone (simoneol@msu.edu), Eli Broad College of Business

Soup N’ Sip is a walk-up and drive-through venture that caters to busy people on the go in need of a fast and easy satisfying meal with spoonless, sippable soup.

Subleasify

Founder: Bryan Lendzion (lendzio9@msu.edu), Eli Broad College of Business

Subleasify is an innovative, web-based platform that seamlessly connects property management companies, tenants, and subtenants, allowing all three parties to finalize sublease agreements.

Triple4s

Founder: Logan Nash (nashloga@msu.edu), College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and Matthew Rogien (rogienma@msu.edu), Eli Broad College of Business

Triple4s is a technologically advanced solution for common pepper spray
devices.

Momentum is a six-week journey during which each team receives industry-specific mentorship, focused work time on their startup, and ,000 in scholarship funding. Applications for the program are open only to current MSU student teams active in the Burgess Institute’s Discovery or Launch venture creation programs.

Paul Jaques, the Burgess Institute’s managing director of venture creation, launched Momentum in 2021.

We saw a need in our venture creation programming where early-stage student teams needed a boost, said Jaques. These teams are working hard, but they may not be quite ready for a full-scale accelerator. That’s where Momentum comes in. We help them flesh out their ideas and get them to a point where they can apply to renowned accelerators, like Conquer, TechStars, and Y-Combinator.

We are excited to welcome 2022’s Momentum cohort to in-person co-working, said Lori Fischer, director of operations for the Burgess Institute. Getting teams to work side-by-side, bounce ideas off one another, and push each other to achieve set goals—that’s what sets intensive programming apart.

Fischer went on to say that alumni mentors help make a huge difference. Our student teams value their insights and getting a chance to learn from mistakes others have made. These alumni are incredible. They make themselves available to teams; they join as guest speakers, centering their sights on tangible topics, like marketing, legal, accounting, and investing, Fischer said.

Ultimately, Momentum’s participants graduate from the program having more vital, more durable startups. They are prepared to apply to competitive accelerator programs. Six weeks may not sound like a lot of time; however, the program’s intentional design gets teams focused on goal-setting and holding themselves accountable.

One of the key attributes of the programming is working with the teams on proper goal-setting and developing metrics. Six weeks means intense focus. Teams can make significant progress precisely because they must produce something. They’re held accountable to themselves, the program, and one another during weekly check-ins, said Jaques.

Follow Momentum’s 2022 Cohort on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Applications to be part of Momentum’s 2023 Summer Cohort will open in early March 2023.

The-Princeton-Review-Ranking-2022

The Princeton Review announcement marks the fifth consecutive year of distinguished recognition

Contact(s): Aaryn Richard

Michigan State University’s Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation has been recognized as a leader in entrepreneurship education by the Princeton Review for a fifth consecutive year.

MSU comes in at No. 21 on The Princeton Review’s new rankings and stands among the top 25 undergraduate entrepreneurship programs in the nation.Significant investment in MSU’s program since its inception in 2012 has fostered a culture of innovation at the university, attracting the attention of talented, motivated students and alumni venturers.

“Providing students with real-world opportunities to take action on their ideas is a serious undertaking,” said Lori Fischer, the Burgess Institute’s director of operations. “Since 2012, we’ve helped Spartans build courage to take calculated risks and provided tangible resources to those willing to take a chance on their ideas. Our programs are designed not only to assist students in launching successful ventures, but also aid them in defining an entrepreneurial mindset.”

MSU’s minor in Entrepreneurship and Innovation began in 2016 and continues to be one of the fastest-growing minors in the university’s history. With nearly 800 students currently enrolled, the minor includes undergraduates from every MSU college and area of study.

“When we started the undergraduate minor in entrepreneurship and innovation, our vision homed in on cultivating a culture of entrepreneurship at MSU. Being recognized for a fifth consecutive year confirms we’re doing something right,” said Ken Szymusiak, the Burgess Institute’s managing director of academic programs.

“This recognition,” continued Szymusiak, “highlights the depth and breadth of what we offer students — from an undergraduate minor in entrepreneurship and innovation to a student-exclusive startup incubator to a summer pre-accelerator to a venture capital fund — students will find a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem at Michigan State.”

Year over year, participation in the Burgess Institute’s programming has seen exponential growth. Over the last five years alone, student venturers have launched 915 startups and gone on to raise a staggering .9M in follow-on funding.

Beyond the entrepreneurship and innovation minor, which boasts 50 entrepreneurship-related undergraduate courses, MSU’s student offerings include: participation in national startup competitions, like South by Southwest and the Consumer Electronic Show; mentoring opportunities with successful entrepreneurial alumni; student organizations and clubs; as well as dynamic spaces where students can create.

“We had over 5,000 students participate in our academic entrepreneurship courses last year, representing 154 unique majors across all colleges. This is what sets Michigan State apart,” Szymusiak said.

Over the last year, the Burgess Institute expanded programming and events to serve its innovative student community. The newly established Venture Kitchen, located in the MSU Union, provides a commercially licensed space for students launching food-based and cosmetics startups. Also, at the MSU Union, a new Spartan Student Startup Popup Shop has been created where student venturers can sell their goods and products.

In September, the Burgess Institute hosted its first annual Venture Summit. This year’s event invited students, alumni, faculty and staff to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the MSU Hatch, the Burgess Institute’s student startup incubator. Showcasing the growth of Burgess Institute programs, this event celebrated student scholarship recipients while setting the stage for the Venture Summit’s future.

“Big things have small beginnings,” said Laurel Ofstein, the Burgess Institute’s faculty director. “We launched the Hatch in 2012 with a handful of students. Today, we see over 200 students in our Discovery program annually. We are excited to share our growth with the alumni who helped build this program throughout the decade. This recognition from the Princeton Review shows what dedicated communities of innovators can build together to support generations of students to come.”

“The colleges on our list have truly superb entrepreneurship programs,” said Robert Franek, The Princeton Review’s editor-in-chief. “Their faculties are genuinely engaged in entrepreneurism. Their courses are rich with in-class and out-of-class experiential components, and the financial and networking support their students receive via donors and alumni is extraordinary.”

To compile the 2022 ranking, The Princeton Review surveyed more than 300 schools offering entrepreneurial studies across data points related to scholarships and grants, successful alumni entrepreneurs, and faculty support.

Burgess New Venture Challenge Announces Competition Winners

Contacts: Aaryn Richard, Karina Stankowski

East Lansing, Mich. — The Burgess New Venture Challenge (BNVC), an early-stage pitch competition bringing together Michigan State University student entrepreneurs and business leaders, announces the winners of its fourth annual contest. On April 7, at the Graduate Hotel in East Lansing, fifteen Spartan student teams pitched their startup ideas to a panel of expert judges. All were competing for their share of more than ,000 in total scholarship prizes.

“The Burgess New Venture Challenge is more than a competition,” said Ken Szymusiak, managing director of academic programs at the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. “It’s a motivational force. Students draw on their experiential learnings, shaping and refining their startups. We couldn’t be prouder of these Spartans who’ve dedicated their time and talents to building something new.”

This year over forty teams applied to be part of the Burgess New Venture Challenge, with fifteen semifinalists rising to the top.

To qualify to compete, BNVC team members must be enrolled students at MSU (undergraduate or graduate) and be in good academic standing. Applicants must be active participants in the Burgess Institute’s Discovery or Launch Programs. Once selected, semifinalists must commit to attending group practice sessions, meet with assigned venture coach mentors, and demonstrate movement toward their tailored milestones. Winning ideas must use awarded cash toward accelerating their startup ideas.

And The Winners Are . . .

These MSU student startups presented their most robust cases to 2022’s Burgess New Venture Challenge judges and, as a result, took home the top prizes:

1st Place: ,000: OG’s Bakery (Olivia Gargett (gargetto@msu.edu), Eli Broad College of Business). OG’s Bakery is a custom cake pop company with the mission to spread sweetness at small and large events. These treats taste and look amazing and provide an experience for customers.

2nd Place: ,000: Branching Out (Avery Tilley (tilleyav@msu.edu), College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, Honors College). Branching Out is your supplier of fully customizable, grafted fruit trees yielding sustainable and organic peaches, plums, lemons, and more, all from the same single tree growing comfortably in your living room.

3rd Place: ,000: TalleyJobs (Shreesha Maddur (maddurs1@msu.edu), College of Engineering). TalleyJobs is a job board website that solves the inconvenience, repetitiveness, and significant time commitment of the job searching process by automating and optimizing it through a matchmaking algorithm.

4th Place: ,000: Uniservices (Adam Green (greenad4@msu.edu), College of Law). Uniservices is the Uber of odd jobs. It uses a mobile and web app to connect college students to residents in their communities to complete everyday chores.

5th Place: ,000: The Cut (Madison Marsh (marshmad@msu.edu), College of Agriculture and Natural Resources). The Cut is a cooking, health, and wellness brand emphasizing the importance of shopping local and sharing the beauty Michigan offers. The brand’s cookbook has over 100 fun, simple, and stress-free recipes.

The Burgess New Venture Challenge attendees held sway in choosing two People’s Choice Awards. These awardees earned ,000 each: AlterNut and The Cut.

Each of the remaining semifinalist teams took home 0 in seed funding.The Burgess New Venture Challenge’s programming launched in the fall of 2018. The newly formed competition combined two MSU contests — Greenlight Michigan and the Broad Business Model Competition.

“Our mission is centered around creating unforgettable learning experiences,” said Paul Jaques, managing director for venture creation at the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. “The connections these student entrepreneurs make — with each other and with the experienced mentors, judges, and attendees from across the entrepreneurial ecosystem — is all a part of setting them up for success.”

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About the Burgess New Venture Challenge

The Burgess New Venture Challenge promotes entrepreneurship, leadership, and innovation at Michigan State University. The competition identifies strong Spartan startups, provides mentorship and team development workshops, and culminates in a year-end showcase event. 2022’s event was held on April 7, 2022, at the Graduate Hotel in East Lansing from 4-8 pm. Find out more about the Burgess New Venture Challenge at eship.msu.edu/burgessnvc.

About the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation

The Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation empowers students to learn through action by providing programs, courses, and resources to foster an entrepreneurial mindset, develop empathy, and create new ventures. Our program is designed to prime students to embrace failure mindfully, explore unknowns, and develop skills that matter. Find out more at eship.msu.edu.