Round One of the 33rd Michigan Business Challenge (MBC) hosted over 100 student teams from across the University. Of these, 22 teams will compete in Round Two on January 22, 2016.
AOE Medical – Arianna Carley (BSE ’17), Eli Fox (BA ’17), Darren Cheng (BSE ’17), Christina Tang (BS ’18), Brandon Boot (BSE ’17)
Durable Medical Equipment manufacturer that solves complex problems by creating innovative solutions.
CarePRN – Michael Lang (PhD ’17)
A trusted digital marketplace providing on-demand and scheduled access to certified in-home care.
CARt – Stacey Matlen (MPH ’16), Mikaela Rodkin (MBA/MS ’17), Ali Jensen (MPH ’16), Christine Priori (MBA/MPH ’17)
Coordinating rides for low-income, low-vehicle access individuals to get to and from supermarkets so they have increased access to healthy, affordable food.
Digital Face – Ivan Chicchon (DDS, MS ’16)
Fabricates facial prosthetics in an efficient digital workflow and allows clinicians to incorporate these workflows into their practices.
EVer Solution – Ziqi Guo (BSE ’17), Rui Zhang (MS EE ’17), Qihan Sun (BSE ’17)
Battery management solution for EV manufacturers that helps their users better interact with the EV battery and maximize its potential.
Flowgram – MacCalvin Romain (MBA ’17), Elizabeth LaCroix (MBA ’17), Aditya Pradhan (MBA ’17), Antonio Scaramuzzino (MBA ’17)
SaaS platform to design and collaborate on complex cloud architectures.
G2V Space Systems – Jason Wallace (MBA ’16), Caue Borlina (BSE ’16), Roshan Radhakrishnan (BSE ’16)
G2V plans to deliver unprecedented space weather forecasting and warning time to help protect vital technologies from catastrophic solar disturbances.
Gaudium – David Cai (BS ’16), Amanda Li (MAcc ’16), Kevin Jeon (BS ’16)
Video game development company focused on developing eastern inspired games starting with their first product, Armor Blitz.
Idea Ninjas – Spencer Heaton (MBA ’17)
Facilitates medical and engineering collaboration in product development, design and manufacturing, with an emphasis on intra-operative medical devices.
Ideaction – Brad Cawn (PhD ’17)
Web-based learning platform that provides just-in-time, practice-centered professional development to teachers and schools.
ImMaze – Walker McHugh (MSE ’17), Caroline Landau (MBA ’16)
Using a patent-pending diagnostic near-bedside device to rapidly determine correct medication.
MedAdvocate – Audrey Spalding (WMBA ’16), Abhijith Ajanahalli (WMBA ’16), Torey Hovest (WMBA ’16), Imad Nassar (WMBA ’16), Nancy Sidrak (WMBA ’16), Scott Skelton (WMBA ’16)
Fee-for-service, web-based solution where American Board-certified physicians provide personalized second opinions to cancer patients in India, empowering them with information to advocate for their best care.
Neurable – Ramses Alcaide (PhD ’15), Max Jacobson (MBA ’17)
Brain-computer interface(BCI) company, changing the way humans interact with their environment and transforming the lives of people with high-to-severe movement and speech impairments.
PadPick – Brandon Hodges (MBA ’16), Joe Price (MBA ’16), Ryan Steele (MBA ’16)
Dynamic real estate platform that helps home buyers and real estate agents better navigate the entire real estate process, from search, to selection, to post purchase needs.
Perfarm – Luiz Roberto Sodre (MBA ’16)
Application that improves management and optimizes resource use among farmers, primarily in Brazil.
Sage & Grace – Holly Price (MBA ’17)
A website and concierge service that educates and empowers grieving families to better, and more affordably, navigate the funeral planning process.
Skillet – Abigail Schachter (MPH ’16), Margaret Dowling (MPH ’16), Lily Hamburger (MBA ’16)
Convenient grab-and-go dinner kits containing a recipe and fresh ingredients for a nutritious home-cooked meal, sold through self-service kiosks.
socFoodBank – Suchandan Pal (PhD ’16)
Platform to reduce food waste by connecting small businesses, restaurant owners, and event organizers with volunteers.
StepFor – Jordan Golshan (BBA ’17), Andy Jinseok Lee (MS ’17), Hyorim Kim (BS ’17)
Maximizing the marketing value of every dollar spent on corporate donations by effectively engaging users through fitness powered crowdfunding.
WagePit – Nathan Brown (BS ’19), Joe Lacy (BA ’19), Michael Tang (BS ’19), Kyle Zappitell (BS ’19)
Online real money wager matches for the casual gamer.
In addition, nine teams will advance to the Michigan Business Challenge Social Impact Track Semi-Finals. Hosted by the Center for Social Impact in partnership with the Zell Lurie and Erb Institutes, the Social Impact Track supports the creation of new businesses, products, or services that promote social or environmental impact.
CARt – Stacey Matlen (MPH ’16), Mikaela Rodkin (MBA/MS ’17), Ali Jensen (MPH ’16), Christine Priori (MBA/MPH ’17)
Coordinating rides for low-income, low-vehicle access individuals to get to and from supermarkets so they have increased access to healthy, affordable food.
GoodVest – Mohsen Ghazi (JD ’16)
Using advanced algorithms to provide data-driven insights into the social impact and financial strength of publicly traded companies.
Inverxion – Marco A. Hidalgo (MBA ’16)
Alternative investment firm that supports minority-owned businesses with capital investments of $10,000 or more.
Kulisha – Eric Katz (BBA ’17)
Offering a superior aquafeed using insects that adds value to aquaculture operations and reduces environmental impact.
LiquidGoldConcept – Jeff Plott (PhD ’16), Rachel Atwood (MHI ’16)
Fostering an open exchange of breastfeeding knowledge to develop evidence-based lactation education tools for parents and providers.
NELO – Chiedozie Okafor (MBA/MA ’16)
Online tool and app envisioned with students first to improve the number of at-risk students that not only graduate, but are positioned to be competitive in the job market.
Project MESA – Katherine Chen (BSE ’17), Bharathi Ram (MPH ’17), Molly Munsell (BSE ’18)
Designing a portable gynecological exam table to help rural clinicians in developing countries conduct more effective and frequent women’s examinations in mobile health settings.
socFoodBank – Suchandan Pal (PhD ’16)
Platform to reduce food waste by connecting small businesses, restaurant owners, and event organizers with volunteers.
StepFor – Jordan Golshan (BBA ’17), Andy Jinseok Lee (MS ’17), Hyorim Kim (BS ’17)
Maximizing the marketing value of every dollar spent on corporate donations by effectively engaging users through fitness-powered crowdfunding.
During each round, teams will pitch to a panel of judges comprised of entrepreneurs and investors. The winners from Round Two will advance to the MBC Semi-Finals on February 19, 2016. Select teams will then move forward to the Michigan Business Challenge Finals and compete for more than $85,000 in prizes. For more information on the competition visit: www.zli.bus.umich.edu/.