Michigan Collegiate Startup Challenge (MCSC) is the university-level student business model competition for students in the state of Michigan. MCSC fosters entrepreneurship by encouraging university-level students across the state of Michigan to commercialize their ideas and provide them with a forum in which they can develop skills by pitching their ideas and building entrepreneurial ventures. 

Competition Format

Grand Startup Challenge

To conclude the 2022 Michigan Collegiate Startup Challenge, the top ten (10) finalist teams, chosen by our judging panel during the Elevator Pitch Challenge & Showcase, will pitch their idea to a live audience in the Multi-Purpose Room, in the Edward J. Minskoff Pavilion at Michigan State University. The teams competing in the Grand Startup Challenge will have five minutes to pitch to this year’s judging panel, with no Q&A, and will take place in no particular order. 

Eligibility & Guidelines

This is a Michigan-specific competition and any and all current university-level student entrepreneurs across the state of Michigan are welcome to apply and participate, so long as these rules and guidelines are followed:

• Any idea from any industry is accepted.
• Teams are not university specific. Teams can be made up of students representing one or more of the participating universities.
• The company or idea must be majority (over 50%) owned by university-level students.
• This competition is for current dual-enrollment, undergraduate, or graduate level students enrolled at any participating college or university in Michigan.
• Contestants may compete individually or in teams. However, it is highly encouraged that students work in teams. Teams should not exceed 5 members.
• International students can participate. However, they are required to have a US team member on their team..
• The company or idea cannot have over $10,000 in revenue, including third party investment.
• Your entry can just be an idea and a legally formed entity. However, if a legal entity has been formed, the earliest incorporation date cannot be before November 11, 2021.
• If you have competed previously at MCSC and were awarded a prize, you are no longer eligible to submit a team entry form for upcoming MCSC with the same business idea but may submit a team entry form for a different business idea. If you have previously submitted an idea for past MCSC but did not win a prize, you are eligible to re-submit a team entry form.

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