Michigan Business Challenge

The Michigan Business Challenge Seigle Impact Track, with prizes totaling over $26,000, recognizes the business plan that best pursues a mission-driven goal. This award aims to stimulate the creation of new businesses, products or services that prioritize social and/or environmental considerations. This track of the competition is sponsored by the Mark and Robin Seigle Entrepreneurial Innovation Fund and co-managed by Business + Impact at Ross, the Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise, and the Zell Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies. 

Eligibility

• The Michigan Business Challenge is open to all current U-M Ann Arbor undergraduate and graduate students. Teams may add or remove members throughout the competition.

• At least one member of the student team must be the author of the business plan.

• The proposed business may be for a consumer or industrial product or service. The business may be for-profit or non-profit, though most competitive businesses demonstrate high growth and/or large market potential.

• Teams of students from different colleges within the University may submit a business plan. Only current U-M Ann Arbor students may present the business before the judges, even if the team includes students from other campuses, different universities or non-students.

• Current U-M students must own significant equity in the venture and must hold major positions within the startup. 

Prizes & Past Winners

2020 Winners:

Lillian Augusta – OneMagnify Best in Business ($5,000), Seigle Impact Track First Place ($15,000), MIC Investment Prize ($2,000). Lillian Augusta is a brand that revolutionizes Black hair care by offering hair without harm. Jannice Newson (MS ‘20) & Nana Britwum (MS ‘20). 

Comme Homme – Pryor-Hale Innovation Track First Place ($15,000). Comme Homme is a direct-to-consumer cosmetic and lifestyle brand serving American bald men. Kene Onuorah (MBA '21) & Mejoy Lawson (MBA ‘21). 

SlumberFlow -  Pryor-Hale Invention Track First Place ($15,000), Williamson Award for Outstanding Cross-Functional Team ($5,000), Elevator Pitch First Place ($500). SlumberFlow designs and manufactures a nasopharyngeal airway device to reduce the negative effects of sleep apnea caused by upper airway obstruction. Allison Powell (MSE ’16, MD ’21) Juan Noda (MD/MBA ’20), & Lindsey Furness (BSE ’21).

For Dearborn (4D) – Seigle Impact Track Second Place ($7,500), Best Showcase ($250). For Dearborn (4D) creates space for Arab and/or Muslim Americans (AAM) to self actualize and thrive through digital media, programming, fashion and philanthropy. Rima Imad Fadlallah (MBA ‘20).  

Naya – Innovation Track Second Place ($7,500), Elevator Pitch Third Place ($100), Naya produces simple and delicious banana-based, non-dairy ice cream because customers shouldn't have to choose between real, healthy foods and dessert. Mimi Huet (MBA ’20). 

SSInnovations – Invention Track Second Place ($7,500), Sillman Best Undergraduate Award ($5,000). SSInnovations is developing an innovative eyelid speculum that improves the comfort, safety, and cost-effectiveness of intravitreal injection procedures. Braden Shugarman (BBA '22). 
 
2019 Winners: 

Calcium Solutions, Pryor-Hale award for best business for $25,000 as well as the new Michigan Investment Challenge (MIC) Investment for $2,000 and one of two Best Presentation Awards. Robert Chisena (PhD ‘19) and Matthew Hildner (PhD ‘20). 
Holly Keith Lingerie, Pryor-Hale Runner-up award for Best Business for $10,000, and one of two Marketing Awards, sponsored by Marketing Associates, for $2,500. Holly Meyers (MBA ‘19).

Dear Black Women, Seigle Impact Track Grand Prize of $15,000. Florence Noel (MBA/MSI ‘19).

Practical Prosthetics, Seigle Impact Track Runner-up for $7,500, the Sillman Award for Best Undergraduate Team for $5,000, and the Williamson Award for Outstanding Cross-Functional Team for $5,000. Harrison Price (BSE ‘21), Joseph Schuman (BS ‘21), Ethan Russo (BBA ‘21), and Anthony Salmeron (BSE ‘21). 

NeoHealth, Small Giants Positive Organizing Award for $2,500 and the Best Showcase Award.  Sujai Arakali (BS ‘20) and Derrell Chapman (BS ‘19). 
Acqua e Rosa, took home the second of two Best Presentation Awards. Mariam Jalloul (MBA/MPH ‘19).
Eastern Bazaar, was awarded the second of two Marketing Awards, sponsored by Marketing Associates, for $2,500.

2018 Winners Include: 

Clot Buster, Pryor-Hale award for best business for $25,000, and one of two Outstanding Presentation awards for $2,000. Luis Savastano, M.D., Yihao Zheng (PhD ‘16), Jeffrey Plott (PhD ‘17), and Joshua Cockrum (BS ‘16).

MedKairos Inc., Pryor-Hale Runner-Up Award for $10,000 as well as one of the two Outstanding Presentation awards for $2,000. Michael Moore (MD ’21) and Andy Kozminski (MSE ’19, MD ’20).

Advanced LIDAR Semantics (ALISE), $2,500 finalist award. Sanmeet Jasuja (MBA/MSI ’18), Brian Shahbazian (MS ’18), Ryan Branch (BSE ’18) and Minjeong Cha (PhD).

PedalCell, $15,000 Seigle Impact Track first place and a $2,000 Outstanding Presentation Award. Adam Hokin (BBA ’19) and Anna Moreira Bianchi (MBA ’19).

Canopy, $7,500 Seigle Impact Track runner-up award and the second place Elevator Pitch Award for $250, Ann Duong (MHI ’18) and Brandon Keelean (MDes ’18).

FoodFinder, $2,500 Seigle Impact Track finalist award and a first place Elevator Pitch Award for another $500. Jack Griffin (BBA ’19).

2017 Winners Include:

SAHI Cosmetics,  Pryor-Hale award for best business for $25,000, and one of two Outstanding Presentation awards for $2,000.  Sheleen Sahi  (MBA ’17).
proteinbits, Pryor-Hale Runner-up award for Best Business for $10,000, Most Successful Undergraduate team award for $2,500, one of two  Outstanding Presentation awards $2,000, and one of two Marketing Awards, sponsored by the Marketing Associates, for $2,500. Ellis Fried (BA ’17)

AIM Tech,  Seigle Impact Track Grand Prize Winner $15,000, and one of two Marketing Awards, sponsored by the Marketing Associates, for $2,500. Stephen John (MD ’19) and Aaron Steiner (MBA ’17)
Sage & Grace, Seigle Impact Track Runner-up award $7,500. Holly Price (MBA ’17)
Carrycott, Williamson Award for $5,000 for the most successful business and engineering team. Benjamin Eu (BSE ’19), Jolene Ng (BSE ’18) and Natalie Shepich (BBA ’19)
Find Your Ditto, third place in the Seigle Impact Track, $2,500. Parisa Soraya (MHI’17)
Morning Brew, Best Written Plan award for $2,000. Austin Rief (BBA ’17)

2016 Winners Include: 

PreDxion Bio, Pryor-Hale award for best business for $25,000, and the Williamson Award for $5,000 for the most outstanding business and engineering team. Represented by Caroline Landau (MBA '16) and Walker McHugh (MSE '17).

Gaudium, Pryor-Hale Runner-up award for Best Business for $10,000, the Best Written Plan award for $2,000, and one of two Marketing Awards, sponsored by the Marketing Associates, for $2,500. The Gaudium team, is comprised of David Cai (BS '16), Amanda Li (MAcc '16), and Kevin Jeon (BA '16).
Kulisha, Social Impact Track Grand Prize. Represented by CoFounder Eric Katz (BBA '17). 
StepFor, Social Impact Track Runner Up. Team members include Jordan Golshan (BBA ’17), Andy Jinseok Lee (MS ’17), and Josh Hyorim Kim (BS ’17). 
AOE Medical, Most Successful Undergraduate team award for $2,500 and one of two Outstanding Presentation awards for $2,000. Represented by Arianna Carley (BSE '17), Eli Fox, (BA '17), Christina Tang (BS '18), and Brandon Boot (BSE '17).
Sage & Grace, Outstanding Presentation award for $2,000. Founder Holly Price (MBA '17).
CARt, Marketing Award, sponsored by Marketing Associates, for $2,500. Represented by Ali Jensen (MPH '16), Stacey Matlen (MPH '16), Christine Priori (MBA/MPH '17), Mikaela Rodkin (MBA/MS '17).

Application Deadline

The application deadline for the 2021 Michigan Business Challenge is 8:00am Monday, November 2, 2020.  
The application for the 2021 Michigan Business Challenge includes three parts: a video upload, Intent to Compete form, and Qualtrics survey form. Current U-M Ann Arbor students can find the entire application, full instructions, and submission access here: https://umich.instructure.com/enroll/XTLNG8    

Please email MBC2020-21@umich.edu with any questions.