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Entrepreneurs who change the world. The Zell Lurie Institute provides students with the knowledge, skills, and motivation to achieve entrepreneurial success in a variety of settings.

Identifying opportunities and embracing risk.

Entrepreneurship is the journey of identifying opportunities, taking calculated risks, and creating innovative solutions to meet market needs. As an entrepreneur, you are not just a business owner – you are a visionary, a problem-solver, and a trailblazer. You have the freedom to carve your own path and create something truly unique.

Are you interested in launching a business? Have you launched a business and are ready to take it to the next level? No matter where you are in your journey, the Zell Lurie Institute provides the practical education and real-world experience you need to tap into your inner entrepreneur. Through competitions, workshops, mentorship, and internships, you’ll cultivate a growth mindset with confidence and learn to embrace risk.

Expand to see the depth and breadth of innovative programs available to experienced and emerging University of Michigan entrepreneurs.

Zell Lurie Launch + Learns

Through entrepreneurial office hours, the team at Zell Lurie is available to advise on business concepts, course selection, program issues, student-led fund questions, or any other entrepreneurial concerns that students or alumni face. Office hours are made available throughout the academic year.

Michigan Business Challenge (MBC)

a campus-wide, multi-round business plan competition where student teams have the opportunity to win cash prizes totaling over $100,000, gain feedback from leaders in the business community, and expand their business network.

Pinkert Healthcare Accelerator

Provides grant funding and support from experienced faculty and mentors to help students realize their vision for reimagining healthcare. The program supports student ventures to create value by increasing healthcare quality and access, reducing costs, and making patient experiences better.

Five Ideas

A design thinking workshop focused on finding entrepreneurial solutions to common challenges women face. Explore human experiences, gain ideation skills to craft impactful solutions, and empower yourself and others to take action. Together we will make the world five ideas stronger.

Startup Grant Programs

Composed of the Mayleben Venture Shaping grants and the Eugene Applebaum Dare to Dream grant program, moves University of Michigan students through the business creation process by offering startup workshops and awarding $300-$5,000 in grants to individuals and/or student teams.

Zell Entrepreneurs

An elite program designed to support students dedicated to working on their businesses full-time upon graduation. Students selected to participate in this immersive, year-long program will receive support, mentorship, resources, and funding to get their ventures launch ready.

Zell Lab for Technologies

The design and build studio for U-M student and alumni entrepreneurs. ZLT connects UI/UX design interns to startups to design, build, and test technology products through highly personalized coaching and mentorship.

Customer Acquisition Program

A 12-week program designed to help student and alumni startups accelerate and optimize their customer growth and potential revenue drivers. Potential topics include website sales conversion, engaging influencers, pitching press, optimizing digital ads, and more. The techniques introduced in the program are designed to not require any cash expenditures, but rather your flexibility, creativity, and time.

Nobody in my family or network was an entrepreneur. While I’ve consulted for businesses, I had never been in the driver’s seat.

Aaron Steiner

MBA ‘17

Aaron Steiner Holly Price Michigan Business Challenge Zell Lurie Institute

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