Spartans don’t stop building after graduation. The Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation is where alumni and friends of Michigan State University stay connected to the next generation of founders, creators, and innovators—supporting entrepreneurial education, student ventures, and alumni-led startups through community, access, and belief.
Whether you are an entrepreneur, investor, mentor, or supporter of MSU’s entrepreneurial mission, there is a place for you in this community.
Through the Alumni Venture Support Program, the Burgess Institute helps Spartan alumni founders access what matters most as they build early-stage ventures: networks, talent, and opportunity.
Alumni-owned and alumni-led startups can engage with MSU students, participate in venture-focused programs, and connect with the broader Spartan entrepreneurial ecosystem, creating momentum through relationships, not coursework.
The Spartan Founders Club is the gateway for alumni and friends who want to actively engage with entrepreneurship at MSU. Members connect with founders, students, and fellow Spartans through curated events, mentorship, and experiential opportunities.
Through the Founders Club, members may also participate in the Spartan Angel Network, supporting early-stage, MSU-affiliated startups through mentorship and investment, one of the most visible ways Spartans help Spartans.
Alumni and friends play a vital role in shaping entrepreneurial education at Michigan State. TheBurgess Institute offers clear pathways to engage directly with students and support Spartan founders through real-world, hands-on experiences. Opportunities to get involved include:
These opportunities are designed to meet Spartans where they are, connecting education to experience and ideas to action.