The eleventh-annual New Venture Challenge out of Central Michigan University’s Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship brought student innovators to Mount Pleasant, vying for more than $60,000 in prizes and services.
Dean Johnson, dean of the Michigan Tech College of Business (COB), has selected Elham (Ellie) Asgari, assistant professor of management and entrepreneurship, as the featured instructor this week in the Deans’ Teaching Showcase.
Asgari will be recognized at an end-of-term luncheon with other spring showcase members and is a candidate for the next CTL Instructional Award Series.
Asgari is being recognized for innovative in-class teaching methods including a crowdfunding campaign where students gauge interest for their start-ups while simultaneously attracting resources; using customer discovery to help students assess start-up potential; connecting students with MTEC SmartZone mentors; advising students in writing SBIR/STTR proposals to attract funding; and working one-to-one with students preparing them for regional and global investment pitches.
“Dr. Asgari brings the role of Gates Professorship in Entrepreneurship and Innovation to life in and out of the classroom. The above-and-beyond effort mentoring students preparing for dozens of pitch competitions is apparent in the results—students earning top awards and prize dollars,” said Johnson.
“The above-and-beyond effort mentoring students preparing for dozens of pitch competitions is apparent in the results—students earning top awards and prize dollars.”
From e-pitch opportunities to on-campus traditions like the Bob Mark Business Model Competition to Central Michigan University’s New Venture Competition, Asgari’s work supporting entrepreneurially minded students has resulted in renewed motivation among students, helping them make positive impacts in the campus community and around the world.
Asgari offers the Social Impact Award as part of the Bob Mark event, recognizing students’ societal impacts. In addition, a portion of Asgari’s professorship funding is directed toward sponsoring the New Venture Competition awards, bringing goodwill and collaboration to the University.
Mentoring students in I-Corps workshops and guiding them in applying for I-Corps National Science Foundation grants is also a priority for Asgari. The process assesses market potential of new technological developments and has been successfully awarded to an MTU student.
New to campus is the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization (CEO), a student organization which Asgari serves as an advisor and supports students to attend the CEO Global Conference, where one Husky made it to the top 25 of 600 applicants. In 2022, Asgari also helped launch and execute COB’s Summer Youth Program—”Be Your Own Boss.”
For her impact with hands-on entrepreneurial education at Michigan Tech and beyond, the College of Business is honored to recognize Elham Asgari in the Deans’ Teaching Showcase.
About the College of Business
The Michigan Tech College of Business offers undergraduate majors in accounting, business analytics, construction management, economics, engineering management, finance, management, management information systems, and marketing, as well as a general business option. Graduate degrees include the TechMBA®, a Master of Engineering Management, a Master of Science in Accounting, and a Master of Science in Applied Natural Resource Economics.
By Eugene Brown Agyei (Husky Innovate), Shannon Rinkinen (COB)
On Jan. 19, eleven Michigan Technological University students across disciplines pitched their business models to a panel of judges comprised of faculty and business professionals. In it’s sixteenth year, the business pitch competition is a tribute to the late College of Business Professor of Practice Bob Mark and helps nurture Michigan Tech’s entrepreneurial spirit. The tradition is a highlight of Innovation Week activities.
In the end, Bayle Golden (master’s in engineering management) emerged as the top award winner with SafeROW, a startup focused on solving child abductions. Golden also earned the Social Impact Award, sponsored by Elham Asgari, assistant professor of management and entrepreneurship in the College of Business.
Presenting Tall and Small Designs, an innovation for finding the right clothing fit, was Jordan Craven (management information systems), who earned second prize as well as Audience Favorite and Breakout Innovation Award, sponsored by the MTEC SmartZone and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
Third prize went to Asia Motta (engineering management) with the Droplet, a device to keep houseplants alive.
Ideas spanning health, education, and sustainable power generation were also pitched by Huskies.
Business Model Awards
Presented by the College of Business with thanks to sponsors Rick and Jo Berquist, and Dan and Jane Green for sponsoring the Audience Favorite award.
- First Prize—Bayle Golden with SafeROW ($2,000)
- Second Prize—Jordan Craven with Tall and Small Designs ($1,000)
- Third Prize—Asia Motta with The Droplet ($500)
- Honorable Mention—Rehab (Ruby) Alhajjar with The Water Solution ($250)
- Audience Favorite—Jordan Craven with Tall and Small Designs ($250)
Social Impact Award
Sponsored and presented by Gates Professor Elham Asgari, College of Business.
- Winner—Bayle Golden with SafeROW ($1,000)
Breakout Innovation Award
Presented by Patrick Visser, chief commercial officer, MTEC SmartZone.
Sponsored by MTEC SmartZone and Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
- Winner—Jordan Craven with Tall and Small Designs ($1,000)
Special Thanks
Special thanks to those who dedicated time and resources to make the competition a success.
Sponsors:
- Dean Johnson, dean, College of Business
- Elham Asgari, Gates Professor, College of Business
- Rick and Jo Berquist
- Dan and Jane Green
- MTEC SmartZone and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Judges:
- Jay Meldrum, executive director, Keweenaw Research Center; MTU liaison to the Grand Traverse Area
- Eric Roberts, MTU alumnus; executive director, 20Fathoms
- Elham Asgari, Gates Professor, College of Business
- Dan Green, MTU alumnus and entrepreneur; principal, BlackFin Group
- Adrienne Minerick, professor of chemical engineering; affiliated professor of biomedical engineering; president, American Society for Engineering Education
- Patrick Visser, chief commercialization officer, MTEC SmartZone
- Michael Cleveland, P.E. and MTU alumnus; mentor in residence at Michigan Tech
- Lawrence W. Staley, MTU alumnus; director of engineering (retired 2019), Parker Hannifin Corporation
Visit the Husky Innovate Events page for upcoming opportunities.
About the College of Business
The Michigan Tech College of Business offers undergraduate majors in accounting, business analytics, construction management, economics, engineering management, finance, management, management information systems, and marketing, as well as a general business option. Graduate degrees include the TechMBA®, a Master of Engineering Management, a Master of Science in Accounting, and a Master of Science in Applied Natural Resource Economics.
By Jessie Stapleton, Shannon Rinkinen
On Friday, November 11, four Huskies representing three teams pitched their business ideas at Michigan State University during the Michigan Collegiate Startup Challenge (MCSC), competing for more than $12,000 in cash prizes. MCSC is Michigan’s university-level business model competition specifically designed for student entrepreneurs across the state. The second-annual MCSC, sponsored by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, fosters entrepreneurship by encouraging commercialization of ideas.
Twenty semifinalists representing nine schools pitched their ideas, including the following Michigan Tech teams:
- Jordan Craven (management information systems), Tall and Small Designs
- Anastasia (Asia) Motta (engineering management) and Zane Smalley (software engineering), The Droplet
- Rourke Sylvain (biomedical engineering), Integrated Molecular Innovations
Craven took first place, winning $5,000, for Tall and Small Designs, a retailer software service providing form-fitting mockups of online clothing products for consumers. Sylvain, of Integrated Molecular Innovations, an electrochemical biosensor for at-home detection of T4 thyroid levels, earned fourth place, netting $1,000.
Students spent the first portion of the day pitching their ideas to judges. Ten startups were selected to move to the finalist showcase round.
Hosted by Michigan State, the pitch competition was a collaboration between Central Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University, Ferris State University, Kendall College of Art and Design, Grand Valley State University, Michigan State University, Michigan Technological University, Mid-Michigan College, Northern Michigan University, and Wayne State University.
About the College of Business
The Michigan Tech College of Business offers undergraduate majors in accounting, business analytics, construction management, economics, engineering management, finance, management, management information systems, and marketing, as well as a general business option. Graduate degrees include the TechMBA®, a Master of Engineering Management, a Master of Science in Accounting, and a Master of Science in Applied Natural Resource Economics.
Congratulations to Idea Pitch Competition winners representing the Michigan Tech College of Business (COB): In first place—Anastasia (Asia) Motta with The Droplet; in third place—Alex Bos with The SELF Couch; and the audience-favorite—Noel Kamdem-Tegue with Black Earth Rising, a food truck.