BUSINESS PLANNING

Skill in business planning is essential for a successful company launch. Students are taught how to “operationalize” a business, not just create a document.

Developing the Skill

Multidisciplinary Entrepreneurial Management & New Venture Creation Courses Dare to Dream Integration Grants up to $10,000 Michigan Business Challenge (final rounds) TechArb Accelerator Michigan Growth Capital Symposium

Award-winning Business, Team and Presentation

Angelique Johnson, MSE ’07, PhD EE ’11, Co-founder, MEMStim

While conducting research on cochlear implants, Angelique Johnson, MSE ’07, PhD EE ’11, discovered an efficient, cost-effective fabrication process for producing a more flexible, yet resilient, electrode lead to deliver electrical pulses to the inner ear. If adopted by the medical-device industry, the safer, improved product potentially could expand the cochlear-implant market to patients with residual hearing. Johnson wanted to commercialize her research discovery, but lacked the entrepreneurial skills and experience to start her own company. Drawing on the campus-wide resources offered through the Zell Lurie Institute, the Ross School of Business and the College of Engineering’s Center for Entrepreneurship, she teamed up with two MBA students to enter intercollegiate business competitions. At the Michigan Business Challenge, the trio captured $27,000 in awards for the best business, team and presentation. Following the wins, Johnson and Chris Cadotte, BSE ’03, MSE ’05, MBA ’12, co-founded MEMStim. This fall, the company plans to begin developing a prototype of its patented MEMS electrode lead for distribution to medical-device companies for beta testing. “It’s a good time for entrepreneurial graduate students to be at Michigan, because the University, the Ross School and the College of Engineering are interested in transforming innovative technologies into new business ventures,” Johnson says.