U-M Entrepreneurs One Step Closer to $100,000 in Cash Prizes
Students from across the 19 schools and colleges at the University of Michigan participated in Round One of the 2019 Michigan Business Challenge (MBC). From this diverse group, only 21 teams advanced to pitch their business concepts in the second round. MBC Round 2 featured 15 teams in the Business Track and eight in the Seigle Impact Track; two of the startups participated in both tracks.
The 2019 MBC judges—seasoned entrepreneurs and venture capital professionals—faced the challenge of advancing only eight teams to the MBC Semi-Finals. The U-M student teams moving forward in the entrepreneurial competition include:
Acqua e Rosa is a Detroit-based luxury floral design brand specializing in one-of-a-kind, timeless, and elegant floral arrangements using signature acrylic boxes. Mariam Jalloul (MBA/MPH 2019).
Bschool Travel is a tech-enabled travel outfitter improving the end-to-end experience for MBA student travel. Dale Jarosz (MBA 2019) and Dhruv Dhawan (MBA 2019).
Dough is a digital loan advisor that simplifies student loans and personalizes recommendations on borrowing and repayment decisions from pre-matriculation through post-graduation. Our goals is to reduce debt burden and accelerate student loan payback. Catalina Kaiyoorawongs (MBA/MA EDU 2019), Huyen Phan (MSI 2019) Lauren Elbaum (MSI 2019), and Kyle Durant (BSI 2019).
Holly Keith Lingerie is a luxury lingerie brand focused on providing high quality lingerie to larger busted women and innovating how women are sized for bras. Holly Meyers (MBA 2019).
LineLeap is partnered with 40 popular nightlife venues in 15 different cities and sells skip the line passes, general admission tickets, VIP packages, and drink specials all on its mobile platform. LineLeap helps increase nightlife venues’ revenue and gives customers a platform where they can conveniently purchase all of these products in one place. Patrick Skelly (BA 2019) and Nick Becker (BBA 2020).
MONTA is a bath, aroma, and skincare line inspired by the landscapes we call home. Drawing influence from mountain hikes and vast canyons, each product was born from a rich connection to nature; each captures a feeling and an experience. MONTA’s 100% natural beauty products invite the user to take time daily for stillness and self-care. Gabrielle de Coster (BBA 2020).
Plaque-Buster is a safe, efficacious, and easy-to-use patent-pending medical device developed at the University of Michigan to improve the treatment of calcified, atherosclerotic plaques in cardiovascular peripheral arteries. Robert Chisena (PhD 2019) and Matthew Hildner (PhD 2020).
SubQ Assist is a task-shifting device that facilitates the consistent and accurate administration of subcutaneous contraceptive implants thereby minimizing the likelihood of complications during removal and allowing minimally trained healthcare workers to provide safe access in rural areas. Vinayak Gokhale (MBA 2019).
The MBC Seigle Impact Track, presented by ZLI, Business + Impact at Ross, and the Erb Institute, selected four teams to advance to the Finals. The ventures with a social or environmental mission competing in this track include:
Dear Black Women is an affirmation movement and social network, online and offline that grows the social capital of Black women. Florence Noel (MBA/MSI 2019).
NeoHealth is a company dedicated to eliminating counterfeit drugs in developing countries. It is estimated that over 1,000,000 people die each year solely due to counterfeit drugs. We have developed a low-cost device that attaches to a phone and utilizes the camera to detect whether an antimalarial is counterfeit or authentic. Sujai Arakali (BS 2020), Derrell Chapman (BS 2019).
Practical Prosthetics integrates 3D printing in the prosthetic manufacturing process, developing functional prosthetics operated by an independent and intuitive control system. The technology necessary to make affordable and accessible prosthetics exists—Practical Prosthetics is simply putting it to use and challenging the stigma that prosthetics need to be complicated and expensive. Harrison Price (BSE 2021), Joseph Schuman (BS 2021), Ethan Russo (BBA 2021), Anthony Salmeron (BSE 2021).
SubQ Assist is a task-shifting device that facilitates the consistent and accurate administration of subcutaneous contraceptive implants thereby minimizing the likelihood of complications during removal and allowing minimally trained healthcare workers to provide safe access in rural areas. Vinayak Gokhale (MBA 2019).
The MBC Semi-Finals, Finals, and student showcase will be held in March at the Ross School of Business. For more information on the competition, please visit: http://zli.umich.edu/programs-funds/michigan-business-challenge.