Student and Alumni Start-Up Companies

These business innovators are a sampling of former Ross School of Business students who launched their own firms while earning their degrees.

ADI Thermal Power (ATP) Corporation by George Weinmann, CEO and Anant Kumar (MBAs 2004)
ADI Thermal Power has developed an advanced power generation system that is a major improvement in efficiency and cost over competing fuel cell, turbine, and diesel technology. The system is based on proprietary "dual shell" Stirling engine technology. ATP has patented technology that makes Stirling Engines super efficient as well as buildable at a fraction of today's current costs.

Arcanum Medical Systems by Sreeram Veeragandham (MBA 2004)
Arcanum has developed a non-invasive glucose-monitor to replace the current invasive blood testing process for diabetics. This technology will increase accuracy, reduce pain and lower the cost of blood testing.

Army Property by Sherman Powell (MBA 2009)
Army Property is an online inventory management system for members of the military.

Asite Apartments by Chris Ongena (MBA 2004)
Asite Apartments seeks to become a dominant real estate firm serving the young professional residential market niche.

Assay by Dave Purcell (MBA 2004)
Assay is pursuing the creation of a SmartShelf, a retail shelving system aimed at solving common promotional and in-store sampling challenges.

B.A. Maze, Inc. by Robert G. Mazur, CEO (MBA 2003)
B.A. Maze, Inc. specializes in low-cost, low-technology products for the aging population. PurrFect Opener, B.A. Maze, Inc.'s first product, assists in the opening of medicine containers. His products are featured at Marking with Molli and a recent interview with The Detroit News showcases his success.

BountyJobs by Jeremy Lappin (BBA 2001) and Ron Elitzur (MBA 2001)
BountyJobs is a web marketplace where employers offer bounties to professional recruiters for delivering successful placements.

Bubble Island by David Lin (Mechanical Engineering)
Bubble Island is a campus cafe selling bubble tea - a mixture of cold tea and tapioca balls consumed through a giant straw. It also offers ice cream balls, shaved ice, and fried food.

Caliente Grille by Carlos Collier and Jeremy Sutton (Evening MBAs)
Caliente Grille, a Mexican fast-casual restaurant with an aggressive growth plan, opened its first restaurant in Dearborn, Michigan in summer 2004. The restaurant offers a food assembly line where customers can watch their orders being handcrafted by “Burrito Builders ™" and a fresh salsa bar.

China Product Arbitration Group, LLP by David O'Dell, CEO (MBA 2004)
China Product Arbitration Group is a consulting firm specializing in shifting production of manufactured goods from the United States to China. As experts on the value chair from China to the United States, they offer value added services to companies looking to decrease their costs and increase profits.

Check My Campus by Evan Steinberg (BBA 2006)
Check My Campus i a service offering candid online videos created by college students that detail how they really feel about their experiences at their schools, both the good and the bad.

Developing Power by Scott Baron, CEO (MBA 2004)
Developing Power focuses on the implementation of hybrid renewable energy mini-grid systems and micro enterprise capacity building in rural villages of developing countries.

European Professional Services by Irena Stoeva (MBA 2004)
European Professional Services is focusing efforts on bringing qualified professionals to the United States to work in industries with a shortage of U.S. workers such as health care.

Elevate Learning by Shaily Baranwal and Suhas Guhge (MBA 2007)
Elevate Learning is a comprehensive, result-oriented, and research-based one-to-one online tutoring program designed to help currently struggling students and bridge the achievement gaps in schools.

GetOutdoors.com by Josh Meron (MBA 1999)
GetOutdoors.com is a user-friendly website for active people. It offers articles on camping, skills, health in the wilderness, necessary gear, suggested locations and parks, activities in your area, and other outdoor groups. It even has a message board to learn about people's personal experiences with various trails and equipment!

Gregory Professional Sports Management by Matthew Gregory, (MBA 2006)
Gregory Professional Sports Management brings unique branding, sales and hospitality opportunities to its clients and is focused on delivering phenomenal returns on investment for companies that seek to enhance their global sales initiatives. GPSM leverages The Volvo Ocean Race, with audience of 2 billion people, to accomplish this initiative.

Group 90 by Jeffrey G. Wilkins (MBA 2003)
Group 90 is a diversified real estate development and construction company that focuses upon multi-family, office, and retail acquisition and development opportunities throughout the Midwest and Southeast.

Hitchsters by Jason Lin (MBA 2009)
Hitchsters is a website that connects travelers going to/from major airports so that they can share a cab, and split the fare.

iceBerg Toys, LLC by Josh Berg, President (BBA 2005)
iceBerg Toys designs, markets and distributes a line of unique, collectible plush animals under the name of Passenger Pals. The Pals can be attached to a child's seatbelt through the use of built in velcro straps on the back of each animal. Since the inception of iceBerg Toys in fall 2002, Passenger Pals have been promoted by Radio Disney stations and were introduced for national distribution at the 2004 American International Toy Fair.

iHome Electronics by Benjamin Lewis (MBA 2005)
The iHome solution offers an integrated media system, unified messaging system, and a home automation system all controlled by a central computer located in the home. In addition to making your home a wireless “smart house,” iHome will save people time, increase home security, and make lives better by making homes more convenient.

Incept BioSystems by Michael Crowley (COO) and Douglas Covert (MBA 2005)
Incept BioSystems creates innovative microscale and nanoscale technology to give cell biologists the means to gather data about cell growth and behavior by improving in vitro manipulation, performance, and viability of high-value cells.

Intelligun by Chris Evans, CEO and Tim Tillman (MBAs 2004)
Intelligun is a storage unit for firearms that locks internally by using a fingerprint scan. Because unauthorized users can't access the contents, children and criminals are prevented from finding the gun and using it to harm themselves or others.

J. Chocolatier by James Green (MBA 2004)
J. Chocolatier creates premium chocolate that focus on classic hand-crafted candy-making techniques.

Kid Car NY by Topher McGibbon (MBA 2006)
Kid Car NY provides safe, comfortable, and convenient transportation to children and their parents throughout Manhattan by providing specially trained drivers in kid-friendly, luxury minivans with professionally-installed child safety seats.

The League by Chris Evans, CEO and Tim Tillman (MBAs 2004)
The League is a sports bar with a Negro League Baseball Theme. It is being established to provide an underserved entertainment segment in Prince George's County, Maryland - an approximately 65% black suburb of Washington D.C - with much needed dining options.

Lightkeeper Films by Tom Anstead, President & Founder (Evening MBA 2004)
Lightkeeper Films seeks to break down film distribution barriers often met by independent filmmakers and film students. The on-demand DVD publishing company will provide this niche market with a cost effective way to distribute their product.

Lijit by Jake Braly and Jason Godley (MBAs 2006)
Outfoxed, now known as Lijit, is a plug-in for Firefox or Internet Explorer that shuffles through search options to display results that your social network has rated as "good," "dangerous," or "bad."

Mindblue Productions by Paul Baldoni (BBA 2006) and Tim Fagan (BA 2001)
Mindblue Productions creatively uses pop culture to teach middle school and high school students. Each study guide merges an academic topic with relevant music, film, comics, or other forms of artistic expression. Students are encouraged to apply what they learn in the classroom to how it affects the world around them.

Mindscape Strategies by Carlos Collier (Evening MBA)
Mindscape seeks to provide test-taking strategies and fundamental academic reinforcement to urban grade school and high school students. Two pilots will be conducted during the 2003-2004 school year in the Detroit Public School (DPS) system. Negotiations with DPS are contingent upon the results of the pilot.

Mobius Microsystems by Wade Rushing and Jeffrey Wilkins, (MBA 2003)
Mobius seeks to commercialize and market several new patent-pending, mixed signal technologies that enable a next generation of silicon products to deliver high-performance, low-noise, mixed-signal solutions.

Music Distribution by Rajeev Ved, CEO and Alexis Lubensky (MBA 2004)
Music Distribution is being created to develop a system of distribution for individual songs over the internet through the building of a trustworthy distribution system, formulation of a new business model, and strategic partnerships.

Native Solutions by Jerry Kuo, CEO; Sami Fogul, and Chuck Fuller (MBAs 2004)
Native Solutions is centered on providing a unique, high quality organic fertilizer derived from fish waste and lime. This organic agricultural product comes from a Native American practice of combining fish and lime to their gardens. The product development, conducted by Dr. Shiou Kuo, was in part funded by the U.S. Marine Fisheries Department.

NetMentors.Org by James Green, Executive Director; Neerav Shah, Todd Markson, William Lewallen (MBAs 2004), and Emily Collings (MBA 2005)
NetMentors.Org improves the lives of youth by providing career-development eMentoring with the support of caring, experienced professionals. NetMentors.Org has become a national leader in eMentoring since its 1999 founding, now connecting more than 1,800 mentors and teens nationwide to explore over 70 careers.

NextServices by Praveen Suthrum, Satish Malnaik (MBA 2004), and Samir Deshpande (MBA 2005)
NextServices offers health care solutions that improve administrative tasks and ensure compliance with regulations mandates through customized technology solutions.

One View Inc. by Arvind Ramnani, CEO (MBA 2004)
One View Inc. provides an information technology solution for credit unions and banks. The solution integrates all existing IT systems resulting in increased employee effectiveness and better decision-making.

outdoor DIVAS by Michael Callas (MBA 2002)
outdoor DIVAS devotes its entire energy toward finding the best outdoor products, gear, and apparel designed exclusively for women. This store also hosts women-only classes and events for women to discover new outdoor challenges and activities.

outdoor DIVAS is more than just a shop with a selection of “ladies models”. By devoting 100% of our space, inventory and energy to active women, we offer superior products and a selection of gear and apparel that is designed exclusively for women.

Pixel Velocity by Heather Brzoznowski, Manager of Human Resources and Administration (MBA 2004)
Pixel Velocity aims to use smart video technology and thereby revolutionize the accuracy and efficiency of processing video data. The first application is in the burgeoning security markets.

Purple Tango Media & Entertainment Group by Sunil Thakur, CEO (MBA 2004)
Purple Tango Media & Entertainment Group seeks to provide high-quality local news, community update, and entertainment to ethnic communities across the USA.

QUALMOD, LLC by Rajeev Jain (MBA 2007)
QUALMOD, LLC provides consulting and research for business's with environmental issues by using mathematical modeling techniques.

The Real Retro by Pat Ford, Andrew, Lloyd, Rohan Ma (BA 2006), David Miller (BS 2007), Gregory Sherman, and Evan Steinberg (BBA 2006)
TheRealRetro provides t-shirts for consumers that want to express an appreciation for academic and historical heroes.

Risk Reps, LLC by Rodney Emerson, CEO, Jose Arredondo, Malik King, Jed Taylor, and Vadim Tsysin (MBA 2004)
Risk Reps, LLC helps people in the entertainment and sports industries manage their newfound wealth to protect them from from unscrupulous financial advisors.

Roger, Inc. by John Gary (MBA 2004)
Roger, Inc. plans to be the premier supplier of fitness software solutions.

RPM Ventures by Marc Weiser
RPM Ventures is an early stage venture fund that primarily invests in Midwest Fortune 500 manufacturers and technology startups developed in a premier midwest research center.

Spirit Shop, Inc. by Todd Sullivan and Ben Lewis CEO (MBA 2005)
Spirit Shop is a custom apparel and merchandise vendor selling personalized, made-to-order products to K-12 schools via co-branded websites.

Ugrub.com by Adam Linkner (BBA 2004)
Ugrub.com seeks to provide college students with free and easy access to restaurant discounts, phone numbers, and menus. Visit their site implemented at the University of Michigan campus, Eatblue.com.

Valerie's Crepes by Scott Sappenfield, Eric Yang, Eric Ariyoshi, Richard Baudin, Yves De-Parseval, and Sung Jo (MBA 2003)
Valerie's Crepes is the icon in the U.S. made-to-order gourmet crepes business. Available ready-to-eat or through catering.

Vaughn and Company by James Green (MBA 2004)
Vaughn and Company counsels hopeful entrepreneurs in the planning, launch, and management of their new ventures through helping to prepare business plans, marketing plans, and investor presentations with the help of a network of other professionals.

Wolverine Real Estate by Matthew Tucker, CEO (MBA 2004)
Create a real estate investment and development corporation committed to improving and restoring urban and university properties in Southeastern Michigan in order to provide high quality, high value residential housing.

Xoran by Alex Virgilio and Mark Wenger (MBA 2002) and Manish Singhal (MBA 2004)
Xoran Technologies offers a miniaturized alternative to current CAT scan technology that allows scanning technology benefits to be available on demand in doctor and dentist offices instead of specialized labs and clinics.