By Aubrey Haase, Katie Haley
Fifteen startups have been named semifinalists in the 2025 Burgess New Venture Challenge (NVC), the premier pitch competition for student venturers at Michigan State University.
Burgess NVC, hosted by the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, enhances the probability of success for undergraduate and graduate student venturers by providing mentoring and guidance, connections to Michigan's entrepreneurial ecosystem and opportunities for engagement and investment.
“At the Burgess Institute, we believe the best way for students to learn entrepreneurship is by doing,” shared Laurel Ofstein, faculty director of the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. “Burgess NVC is an example of that philosophy in action—giving student venturers from across campus the opportunity to test their ideas, refine their business models, and gain real-world experience. We’re incredibly proud to support them on their entrepreneurial journeys.”
This year, in an exciting reimagined format, Burgess NVC is an innovative, entrepreneurial experience that values collaboration, venture development and the power of the entrepreneurial mindset. At its core, Burgess NVC is a learning experience for early-stage venturers to bring big ideas and bold solutions to a large audience.
Semifinalist teams are judged internally and externally on the collective basis of the teams' provided materials, such as their business plan, value proposition, financial model, pitch deck, their needs, and their defined goals for growth for a chance to earn one of five Pitch & Plan Awards, each worth $7,500. On the day of the Challenge, teams will engage with a panel of ten judges, who will award five standout teams with $2,500 Challenge Awards in categories such as Showcase Pitch, Social Impact, Prototype, Unique Idea, and Best Display. A $1,000 People’s Choice Award will also be given to the team that resonates most with the audience, and all non-winning teams will receive $500 in seed funding.
“Each year, these startups showcase the incredible talent, resilience, and innovation that defines Michigan State University. The Challenge emphasizes collaboration, venture development, and the power of an entrepreneurial mindset, ensuring that every student walks away with valuable insights, connections, and momentum for their venture,” said Paul Jaques, the Burgess Institute’s managing director of venture creation.
This year’s startups represent eight academic colleges and over a dozen disciplines of study, competing for more than $50,000 in prizes on Thursday, April 3, 2025, from 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center in East Lansing, MI.
Meet the 2025 Burgess NVC Semifinalist Teams
AG3 Labs
Gavin Gardner, College of Engineering
AG3 Labs design advanced, low-cost drones that leverage AI and cutting-edge innovation to redefine the capabilities of autonomous aerial systems.
BRCĒ
Tanvi Gadamsetti, College of Engineering
BRCĒ is a material-tech startup, developing an ecosystem of athletic performance gear & safety accessories to support athletes in performance and recovery & industrial use-cases. We are the inventors of “The World’s first & only shoelaces that never come undone™ due to activity”, engineered with proprietary microscopic inter-lock technology, tailored for various sports, kids, young athletes & industrial work environments.
CocoMar
Fatima Taha, Eli Broad College of Business
CocoMar is a premium ready-to-drink protein smoothie brand that blends real fruits with coconut water to deliver delicious, nutrient-packed hydration and complete protein for a healthy, active lifestyle.
Dilemaa
Benjamin Kim, Honors College
A Q&A social media app to share and solve dilemmas.
Heltzer
Shreshta Sinha, Lyman Briggs College
We are a beverage company that creates hydrogen-infused, nootropic drinks designed to enhance mental clarity and energy without caffeine.
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.
J. Margaret
Jillian Whitley, Eli Broad College of Business
Gold filled jewelry that can be worn in water, with designs that are a modern take on classic jewelry pieces.
LetsPark
Jackson Keefe, Eli Broad College of Business
LetsPark connects drivers to available parking spaces by allowing homeowners to lease out their unused spots.
Memory Sketch
Angela Leach, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
A medical device for Alzheimer's disease that enables real-time monitoring of cognitive decline by tracking and analyzing a patient's daily drawings, providing valuable insights into the progression of the disease.
Nic-Nix
Samuel Henley, Eli Broad College of Business
A smart vape that creates and implements custom taper-down plans to help users quit nicotine.
Ricefield
Duy Nguyen, Eli Broad College of Business
An all-in-one social media for college students to share news, receive updates, engage in classes, discuss dramas, and see what’s cooking on campus.
Safety Straw, Inc.
Jack Rushlow, Communication Arts and Sciences
Safety Straw develops straws that change colors when it comes in contact with a date rape drug.
THIRSTYGIRL COSMETICS LLC
Megan Halpin, College of Natural Science
ThirstyGirl is a dual-sided, invertible makeup-sponge that eliminates the root cause of cosmetics sponge mold buildup, the solid inner core, lengthening use to 4-6 months- saving consumers nearly $100 yearly.
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.
TropicalPillow
Lia Moore, Eli Broad College of Business
TropicalPillow is a revolutionary self-cooling chair-attaching pillow engineered to induce relaxation by featuring two-point targeted pressure points, advanced soothing technology, and storage utilities.
The 2025 Burgess New Venture Challenge will take place on Thursday, April 3, 2025, from 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center in East Lansing, MI.