This is Launch
Launch at the University of Michigan-Flint is part of University Outreach and focuses on entrepreneurship, the new economy and small business support to promote a more vibrant local community.
The Launch Pad, our student business hatchery, helps students start their own businesses while still enrolled at the university or in other local colleges. We provide support such as office space, advice, mentoring and contacts to students who are interested in entrepreneurship. Various work-study positions also are available to students to work in the Launch offices and with Launch Pad student businesses. The Launch Pad is funded by the C. S. Mott Foundation, and the Michigan Initiative for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (MIIE), a UM-led partnership among the state’s 15 public universities. Its mission is to boost the state’s struggling economy by strengthening ties between academia and industry, and the Michigan University Commercialization Initiative (MUCI).
Feet on the Street is the downtown microlending program managed by Launch. This program, funded by the C.S. Mott Foundation, is designed to help Downtown Flint businesses survive and thrive with more foot traffic. Business consultant Clark Tibbits conducts assessments to determine a business’s strengths, weaknesses and current needs. The program includes customized workshops, mentoring, and assistance to help participants qualify for microloans of up to $7,500.
The Entrepreneurial Internship Program (EIP) places student interns with small innovative companies. Students work on all aspects of the business including finance, marketing, sales operations, technology and customer service. The EIP can lead to employment opportunities. It also provides students the insights and confidence to launch their own start-ups such as tech and web businesses here in Michigan. To encourage small businesses to participate, the EIP can provide up to 50 percent of the intern’s payment for the semester. Funding is provided by the Michigan Initiative for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (MIIE) as part of an effort to establish a four-university collaborative pilot program to provide high quality experiential entrepreneurship education and training to mid-Michigan students.
For more information about these and other programs available to students and businesses in downtown Flint, contact Joel Rash, Launch Manager, at 810-424-5454 or joelrash@umflint.edu.
Joel Rash, Manager
University Outreach, University of Michigan-Flint
432 N. Saginaw St., Suite 207 / Flint MI 48502
joelrash@umflint.edu / www.umflint.edu/launch
810 424-5454 Phone / 810 424-5459 Fax
Global Innovation Tournament
Packet
Global Innovation Tournament History
In celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week, Stanford University’s Technology Ventures Program (STVP) hosts a Global Innovation Tournament each November where students compete in a fast-paced competition that encourages students to work in teams, challenge assumptions, seize opportunities and be creative. While Stanford hosts the main event, students across the globe participate in this competition at local host institutions. The challenge for student teams is to take an object of very little value and create as much value as possible from it in the 3 day span of the event. Students define value as they wish, as monetary or social, and are evaluated based on implementing their plan, gaining results, creativity and problem solving. Each team creates a video advertising or describing a product; the videos are submitted to Stanford and posted on You Tube. A panel of judges selects winners in a variety of different categories such as Impact, Humor and Creativity as well as Overall Best. Institutions also compete at the local level, judging the entries from their own event alone.
More information about GIT and videos created by past winners of the tournament can be found at http://eweek.stanford.edu/git2009/ .
What Will It Cost?
The event is completely FREE to participating teams. While there is no registration fee for the event, teams are responsible for any travel expenses involved in participation.
What Happens at GIT?
The tournament’s events will take place on Lawrence Technological University’s campus. The majority of your team members should be present for each of these activities:
Global Innovation Tournament Kickoff
Friday, November 6, 2009 5:00 p.m.
This event will kick off the tournament and get teams motivated to innovate. We will gather to meet the teams and learn what the task will be for this year’s GIT. Don’t forget to bring your team banner for the role call!
Innovate!
Between events, student teams will work together to finish the GIT challenge, to take an object of very little value and create as much value possible and then make a 3-minute video advertising or describing their products.
Global Innovation Tournament Video Showcase and Awards
Sunday, November 8th 2:00 p.m.
This event will conclude the tournament with a miniature film festival to view all of the 3-minute videos the students have made to feature their products. Judges will be present at this event and awards will be given to the teams who win each category.
What Are the Rules?
- Students may assemble teams with as many people as they wish
- Teams will take an object of very little value and create as much value as possible in the 4 day span of the tournament. The object will be unveiled at the Kickoff event
- It is up to the teams to define value in their own terms (social, artistic, financial, etc)
- You can use as many units of the chosen object as you like
- Teams will produce a video advertising or describing the product that must be 3 minutes or less in length
- Teams must have access to a device capable of shooting a 3-minute video. Participants will not be judged on video quality.
How Do I Sign Up?
To sign up for the event, visit Lawrence Tech’s Leadership Programs web site at http://www.ltu.edu/leadership/git.asp
If you have questions about participating, need more information, or are interested in hosting a Michigan Regional tournament, please contact Katie Hayes at 248-204-2415 or klewis@ltu.edu.
