At Michigan State University, entrepreneurship is not just an idea, it is a pathway. This year, that pathway became more accessible for 11 student founders through scholarships awarded by the Spartan Founders Club, a community of alumni and individuals committed to investing in the next generation of Spartan entrepreneurs.
At its core, the Spartan Founders Club is about access. Built by the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the community connects students with the funding, mentorship, and belief needed to move ideas forward. It is more than a donor network; it brings together alumni and supporters who are committed to backing students through experience and time. Together, that support ensures student founders are not building alone.
“Receiving this scholarship is something I’m extremely grateful for, knowing that the Spartan Founder’s Club and the Burgess Institute see and believe in the vision I’m building,” said scholarship recipient, Abram Gingrass. “Their support is a lot more than financial, as it represents strong trust, and a direct investment in my growth as an entrepreneur, I don’t take that lightly, and this support strengthens my momentum and commitment to build with excellence and faith.”
The recipients of this year’s scholarships reflect the breadth of entrepreneurship at MSU. Spanning majors, backgrounds, and venture stages, they represent a growing ecosystem of builders, innovators, creators, and founders. The 11 scholars are:
- Rohan Banerjee
- Year: Senior
- Colleges: College of Natural Science
- Name of Venture: Fibonacci
- Lucas Campbell
- Year: Junior
- Colleges: College of Communications Arts and Sciences
- Name of Venture: showmy.build
- Kyli Corder
- Year: Senior
- Colleges: College of Communications Arts and Sciences
- Name of Venture: Ekos
- Abram Gingrass
- Year: Sophomore
- Colleges: Eli Broad College of Business
- Name of Venture: Voltz
- Angela Leach
- Year: Graduate (MBA)
- Colleges: Eli Broad College of Business
- Name of Venture: Memory Sketch
- Kaylie Livingston
- Year: Freshman
- Colleges: College of Communication Arts and Sciences
- Name of Venture: ParPack
- Robert Sarle
- Year: Freshman
- Colleges: Eli Broad College of Business
- Name of Venture: KJA Night Vision
- Shreshta Sinha
- Year: Senior
- Colleges: Lyman Briggs College
- Name of Venture: Tavini Labs
- Jake Veri
- Year: Senior
- Colleges: Eli Broad College of Business
- Name of Venture: Rapid Recharge
- Owen Youngblood
- Year: Sophomore
- Colleges: Eli Broad College of Business
- Name of Venture: Fairway Fantasy
- Emmanuel Zephyrin Ephrem Butsana
- Year: Senior
- Colleges: College of Engineering
- Name of Venture: PowerShade
“The Spartan Founder's Club scholarship came at exactly the right moment for Ekos, as we’re prototyping and building the foundation intentionally. Developing this venture inside the MSU ecosystem has been personal, and this support feels like real belief in what I’ve been working toward, said Kylie Corder, scholarship recipient. “The capital helps us execute faster, but the community has strengthened me as a founder in ways that go beyond funding.”
For some, this scholarship marks the starting point the moment an idea begins to take shape beyond the classroom. For others, it provides the resources to refine products, reach new customers, or take the next step towards growth. Together, these scholars and founders illustrate a passion for innovation – one that evolves as students gain confidence, support, and momentum. For many student founders, financial barriers can slow progress. These scholarships help ease that pressure, allowing students to invest more fully into their ideas and in themselves.
“It’s been such a confidence boost knowing that others believe in ParPack and in me as an entrepreneur," shared Kaylie Livingston, scholarship recipient.
Beyond funding, the Spartan Founders Club reinforces a culture of connection. By engaging with students directly, members provide insight, encouragement, and perspective drawn from their own experiences. These exchanges transform the scholarships into something larger – an ongoing relationship between those who have built and those just beginning.
“Inspired by a passion for solving big problems, these gritty student founders have chosen to prioritize their entrepreneurial ambitions over the more typical college student journey," shared Karun Naga, SFC member. “They embody the spirit of Spartan entrepreneurship and we congratulate the Burgess Institute for their support and recognition of these exceptional individuals.”
As these 11 scholars continue to grow their ventures, their paths are likely to take different shapes. Some will scale rapidly, others will continue to optimize their ideas, while others will pivot. The most common threads across successful entrepreneurs are failure which presents the richest opportunity for growth, and a foundation rooted in access and community. The SFC is committed to helping student founders embrace and leverage both of these critical ingredients.
The generosity of the Spartan Founders Club does more than fund scholarships – it opens doors that might otherwise remain closed. It gives students the confidence to take risks and signals the commitment to the future of Spartan entrepreneurship and to the students bold enough to build it.
More information about the Spartan Founders Club is available via the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation: https://entrepreneurship.msu.edu/spartan-founders-club.