By Katie Haley
The Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at Michigan State University has invited five student startups to participate in the fifth MOMENTUM Pre-Accelerator cohort.
MOMENTUM is a competitive six-week summer program designed to advance Spartan startups. The program empowers participants to validate their ideas, refine their business models, and instill the entrepreneurial mindset. It provides a $5,000 infusion of capital, industry-specific mentorship, and a tailored growth curriculum to prepare startups for more intensive accelerator programs like Y Combinator, TechStars, and Conquer Accelerator. To participate, current MSU students must apply and be active in the Burgess Institute's Discovery or Launch venture creation programs.
"MOMENTUM is all about turning early ideas into real, tangible progress. We designed this pre-accelerator to give student founders the structure and support they need to take the next step in their entrepreneurial journey," said Paul Jaques, managing director of venture creation at the Burgess Institute. "Our goal is to empower them to push past boundaries and to scale their ventures far beyond MSU."
The 2025 program will kick off on May 5 and run through June 13. This summer, teams will travel to Chicago and Detroit where they will engage with influential alums, hear from accomplished guest speakers, and expand their networks within two of the Midwest's most vibrant innovation ecosystems.
Meet the 2025 MOMENTUM Pre-Accelerator Teams
Integrate Ed, Inc
Jennifer German, College of Osteopathic Medicine
Help the younger generations of digital native medical students more easily learn and retain Anatomy, Physiology, and a splash of Biochemistry.
Next Step Nutrition
Alex Velilla, College of Education and Carter Schuster, Eli Broad College of Business
Post-workout recovery gummy packed with nutrients to help you move to the next level.
Nic-Nix
Samuel Henley, Eli Broad College of Business and Kirin Olsen, Eli Broad College of Business
A smart vape that creates and implements custom taper-down plans to help users quit nicotine.
Metaspace
Joseph Tietz, Communication Arts & Sciences
Metaspace is a gaming platform that connects players together through rich interactive experiences and user-generated content.
TrailEagle Packs
Kevin Burnett, Eli Broad College of Business
TrailEagle Packs specializes in designing and creating next-generation soft goods and textile-based gear with innovative designs.
More information about the MOMENTUM Pre-Accelerator