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About Us
  1. About Us
  2. Success Stories

Success Stories

WE EDUCATE PEOPLE TO THINK AND ACT IN WAYS THAT CREATE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL VALUE

Through Michigan Ross and the Zell Lurie Institute, highly motivated, top-tier students learn the fundamental building blocks of entrepreneurship, apply their knowledge and skills in real world projects, and launch startup companies or venture investing careers.

The Zell Lurie Institute encourages students to challenge the status quo, to question the norm, and to develop the skills to become the Leaders & Best in the world of entrepreneurship. Over the years we have adopted a truly global outlook tackling challenges faced by international entrepreneurial organizations and their leaders. 

The Zell Lurie Institute challenges how things are done and teaches University of Michigan students to constantly question and innovate. The Institute believes in providing our students with the most diverse, world-class and rewarding entrepreneurial education - resulting in success after success. 

 

Student Success Stories

BBA Student Chooses Zell Lurie Pathway to Pursue His Entrepreneurial Dreams

Ben Rathi
BBA/CS ’17
Founder and CEO
Blueprints For Pangaea
With two years to go before he completes his dual undergraduate degree in business at the Ross School and computer science at the College of Engineering, Ben Rathi, BBA/CS ’17, is considering numerous...
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MBA Student Gains Entrepreneurial Know-How to Start Supply-Chain Services Company

Bill Crane
Evening MBA
Founder and CEO
IndustryStar Solutions
Bill Crane had the ambition but lacked the know-how to start his own company. “I’ve always had an entrepreneurial bug,” Crane explains, “but I knew I didn’t have the tools I needed to raise capital fr...
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MBA Student Connects Ethical Shoppers with Sustainable Products

Marianna Kerppola
MBA/MS ’16
Marianna Kerppola, MBA/MS ’16, has leveraged Zell Lurie Institute resources to launch BetterHope, an online marketplace for products made with dignity. “As a mission-based business, BetterHope endeavo...
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Alumni Success Stories

Bootstrap Entrepreneur Retools Her Business Skill Set at Ross

Tamasin Ford
MBA ’10
Founder and CEO
Power Up Tech Academy
Passion, perseverance and personal skills powered entrepreneur Tamasin Ford, MBA ’10, through the nine years she ran her first start-up business, SharpCurve Solutions, a custom web development company...
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ZLI Student Joins Detroit-Area Venture Capital Firm

Reda Jaber
MD/MBA ’14
Partner
IncWell
A late-evening phone call in February 2014 ─ that came just 30 minutes before the 9 p.m. deadline for submitting his rank list for a medical residency program match ─ catapulted U-M dual-degree studen...
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Taking a Leadership Role in Venture Capital

Shane Kelly
MBA ’13
Executive Director
Wolverine Angel Network
Shane Kelly, MBA ’13, has used his entrepreneurial-studies education at the Zell Lurie Institute and his venture-capital investment experience at the Wolverine Venture Fund as strategic stepping stone...
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Business Success Stories

MBA Student Taps Zell Lurie Resources to Create and Launch Exotic Food Start-up

Harinee Sampath
Evening MBA ’15
Founder
South Asian Flavors
The idea of launching her own business venture simmered for a long time on the back burner of Harinee Sampath’s mind. “I never considered myself an idea person, and I thought it would be five to 10 ye...
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Founder Launches Kickstarter Campaign for Story38 Alliance

Susan Tahir
MBA ’04
Founder
Story38 Alliance
Immersion in the strong entrepreneurial culture at the Ross School and Zell Lurie Institute gave Susan Tahir, MBA ’04, the lessons-learned,...
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Ross Alum Taps Zell Lurie and ZEAL Resources to Advance Health-care IT Security Start-up

Amit Kulkarni
MBA 2012
Founder
Secure Healing
Secure Healing Inc., a start-up founded by Amit Kulkarni, MBA ’12, has developed computer security software that keeps patients’ medical records safe from prying eyes and provides alerts, in real time...
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Faculty Success Stories

Serial Entrepreneur Invites High-profile Company Founders and CEOs to His Class

Vinay Gupta
Lecturer of Entrepreneurial Studies
Vinay Gupta lives and breathes entrepreneurship and venture investing. Over the span of his 30-year career, the serial entrepreneur has launched five venture-backed technology companies and has invest...
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Entrepreneur-in-Residence Uses Flipped Classroom Strategy to Promote Action-based Learning

Jim Price
Lecturer of Entrepreneurial Studies and Entrepreneur-in-Residence
Students frequently walk out of Jim Price’s class feeling excited about a new idea for a start-up venture or stimulated by a lively group debate over some aspect of entrepreneurship. They almost forge...
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Entrepreneur and Innovator Brings Lessons-learned Back to His Alma Mater

Josh Botkin
Lecturer in Entrepreneurial Studies and Entrepreneur-in-Residence
After leading the entrepreneurial teams at two start-ups and working as an innovation consultant at Ann Arbor-based Inovo Group, Josh Botkin, MBA ’06, has returned to his alma mater to convey his less...
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Publications

Fall Report
Ranked Top 4 - Four Years Running: Driving the Entrepreneurial Spirit. Igniting Exceptional Careers.
pdf 4.46 MBDownload

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