MBC Seigle Impact Track Spotlight
The 2021 Finals for the Michigan Business Challenge (MBC), are quickly approaching! The week leading up to the campus-wide business plan competition, the Zell Lurie Institute will highlight the innovative teams advancing from the MBC Semi-Finals.
Startup Description
CLOVO Brand is a sustainable fashion company that makes natural and sustainable sheer tights that leave less of an impact on the environment and empower women.
What was the origin of this venture? How was the problem or opportunity discovered?
Co-Founders Megan and Monica started CLOVO in 2018 while studying at Colgate University. Living through freezing Upstate New York winters, tights were a lifeline when wearing a dress or skirt. However, they absolutely hated how they felt, sagged all day, ripped easily, and were incredibly itchy! From this tight strife, EverTights came into existence. Their first idea was to figure out how to eliminate sag and fit all women better. That is where the spandex short integration idea started. Along the path of finding a manufacturer, they discovered how terrible nylon plastic is for the environment and for your skin. That is why they are working to eliminate it completely. The perfect pair of sheer tights grew from these two seedling ideas.
What do you think will be the long-term impact of launching your venture?
CLOVO leaves positive impacts for the environment and for women. Our tights are over 80% produced from natural materials made in a renewable energy powered factory. Moreover, they leave less of an impact on the environment from production to end of life because they have minimal micro-plastics and are mostly biodegradable. Additionally, their functional design offers comfort and skin friendly benefits for women including: no sag, harmful chemical free, breathable, durable, and easy to put on and take off.
How did you form your team?
We formed the CLOVO team from the best fit interns that worked for us in our intern programs last year.
How has participation in MBC helped move your venture forward?
MBC has really helped CLOVO solidify our financials, business plan, and our e-commerce strategy through the different deliverables that we had to complete. All together, we are much more organized as a result of this competition.
What has been your biggest takeaway from the MBC experience (so far)?
My biggest takeaway is definitely the pitch experiences. I grew a lot as a speaker from having to create new and different pitches for the different rounds, learn how to present them in a intriguing, condensed way, and how to create a cohesive pitch deck.
What are your plans following MBC? How would prize money help your venture?
CLOVO’s next two biggest milestones are to enter retail and set up our international supply chain logistics. The prize money would be a huge help in achieving these two milestones.
What advice do you have for other student entrepreneurs?
The best advice I can give for student entrepreneurs is to find a project that you are passionate about and don’t be afraid to start working on it, even if it means taking small strides at first. It is amazing what you can accomplish with the resources you have access to in college.
How can others connect with your venture?
@clovobrand – Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Youtube
2021 Michigan Business Challenge Finals
Learn more about these great University of Michigan student startups by following the Michigan Business Challenge Finals on February 26 through ZLI social media. Route for your favorite team during the MBC final presentations and cheer on the winners as they accept cash award prizes totaling over $100,000!