The Zell Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurship Turns 25: Inspiring Entrepreneurship at U-M and Beyond
For 25 years, the Zell Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurship has helped more than 5,000 students and alums through its co-curricular programming in entrepreneurship and venture capital. ZLI’s mission is to build a better world by inspiring students and alums to embrace an entrepreneurial mindset while providing them with the resources they need.
Entrepreneurship opportunities for students and alums
Executive Director Gregg Latterman and Managing Director Sarika Gupta lead the Zell Lurie team, which consists of 18 individuals who manage and support the institute’s 20+ co-curricular programs and events.
Its largest campus-wide program is the Michigan Business Challenge, a business plan competition where student teams present business ideas, receive real feedback from industry leaders, and have the opportunity to network with their peers across the university. The winning teams take home cash prizes totaling more than $100,000.
ZLI also hosts the Michigan Investment Challenge, a competition in which students take on the role of venture capitalists and evaluate startup investment opportunities. Additionally, there’s the annual Silicon Valley Experience, an immersive, week-long program where students from across the university travel to California’s Silicon Valley for educational sessions and networking with successful CEOs, entrepreneurs, and investors, all of whom are U-M alums.
Collaboration across Michigan Ross and the university
ZLI has important partnerships at Michigan Ross and across the university.
“The University of Michigan entrepreneurship ecosystem is quite large – 15 out of 19 schools and colleges at U-M have their own entrepreneurship and innovation program, and there are more than 30 entrepreneurial student clubs on campus as well,” said Gupta.
At Michigan Ross, ZLI primarily partners with Business+Tech and Business+Impact by co-sponsoring the +Tech Innovation Jam and +Impact Studio events. This allows the team to support budding entrepreneurs and create a pathway for them to get involved in additional entrepreneurship opportunities through ZLI.
Outside of Ross, ZLI meets regularly with entrepreneurship groups across U-M to share best practices and look for opportunities to work together. One such collaboration with the U-M Law School is the Zell Entrepreneurship Clinic. Third-year law students run ZEC under faculty supervision, offering legal services to student-led entrepreneurial groups as well as local startups and small businesses. The program is a great benefit for student teams who can’t afford a lawyer and also benefits law students who may be interested in startup law.
ZLI also recently launched a new partnership with the Center for Entrepreneurship at Michigan Engineering called the Wolverine Entrepreneurs Hub, a place where student and alumni entrepreneurs can share advice, post jobs, and find investment opportunities.
Steve Janssens, director of student and alumni programs, stressed that the ZLI team is always eager to encourage and support aspiring and experienced entrepreneurs.
“We’re based in the Ross School of Business, but we serve all alumni and students across campus,” said Janssens. “If you know an entrepreneur who could benefit from our resources or support, please send them our way. We want people to know they can come to us if they have a business idea and want to talk.”
ZLI turns 25 and looks to the future
This year marks the institute’s 25th anniversary. Having recently moved into its new space in the former Dean’s Suite on the second floor of the Ross building, ZLI hopes to celebrate this milestone by hosting an open house in its new office soon.
Looking forward to the next 25 years, the team is excited to continue building on their connections at U-M and beyond and inspire more students and alums to get involved with entrepreneurship and venture capital opportunities.
