A longtime business leader, investor, and champion of Northern Michigan entrepreneurship, Steve Lang has committed his career to building companies, supporting founders, and strengthening the ecosystems that help them grow. Through his recent gift to the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, he’s opening those same doors for the next generation of Spartans.
Throughout his career, Lang has been a builder of systems — not just businesses. He launched into a career that spanned the energy industry, HR leadership, and eventually the financial services sector. He helped found and lead Forethought Financial Services before later serving as Chair and Chief Executive of Homesteaders Life Company, one of the nation’s leading preneed funding organizations. Today, he leads Lang Consulting, serves on the boards of Homesteaders Life Company and GSTB Holdings, and plays a pivotal role with the Northern Michigan Angels, where he mentors and supports early-stage companies across the region.
Lang’s multi-year gift directly funds immersive the learning experiences for student founders, including the Institute’s recent trip to Traverse City — a four-day experience that placed students inside one of the state’s most dynamic startup hubs. For years, the Burgess Institute has taken students to Traverse City because of its uniquely diverse entrepreneurial ecosystem, which spans food and beverage, MedTech, agriculture, and even the growing space and satellite industry. This mix offers student founders exposure to a broad range of innovative sector s and Spartan-led ventures, helping them understand how different industries intersect and thrive in northern Michigan.
“I grew up in East Lansing and completed my undergraduate and graduate degrees at MSU,” said Lang. “I have always wanted to give back and my partnership with the Burgess Institute allows me to connect students with the Traverse City community and see the benefits to both the students and the community. The students bring an infectious energy to the visit.”
The itinerary developed in collaboration with MSU’s University Advancement team and northern Michigan partners. Highlights included a breakfast with Casy Cowell, co-founder and longtime CEO of U.S. Robotics, and a fireside chat with Mike and Denise Busley, co-founders of Grand Traverse Pie Company. Students also engaged with Spartan alumni and leaders shaping northern Michigan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem including, Norman Lee, VP at Atlas Space Operations, Craig Wesley, executive director at 20 Fathoms, Chris Fredrickson, co-founder of Traverse City Whiskey Co., Nikki Rothwell and Dan Young, co-founders of Tandem Ciders, Jeff Ryanbrandt, CEO of MediCool Technologies, Nate Crane, owner of Rare Bird Brewpub, Chad Munger, co-founder of Mammoth Distilling, as well members of the Northern Michigan Angels investment group.
“One of the most impactful parts of the trip was visiting beverage manufacturers and seeing firsthand how established companies operate,” Fatima Taha, co-founder of CocoMar, and clean ingredient protein drink shared. “As CocoMar moves deeper into retail and into full-scale production, observing these systems up close was invaluable. It gave me a real understanding of manufacturing workflows, quality control, and what it actually takes to bring a CPG product to market. The trip concluded with private pitch sessions to the Northern Michigan Angels, providing a safe, supportive space for students to share their ideas with experienced investors and receive valuable feedback. This inaugural showcase, held during MSU vs. U of M rivalry week, drew a packed room of entrepreneurs, alumni, and community leaders united by a shared vision for statewide innovation.
Through this investment Lang isn’t just influencing individual journeys, he’s helping build a statewide culture rooted in innovation, generosity, and collaboration. His belief in experiential learning reinforces what the Burgess Institute champions every day — that Spartans grow by stepping into real environments, tackling real challenges, and learning directly from the people driving Michigan’s entrepreneurial future.
“There are many ways to contribute to MSU. What makes my support of the Burgess Institute special is that I can actually witness the impact my funding has by personally participating in the student visits to Traverse City and watching the interaction the students have with the entrepreneurial ecosystem of the Community,” said Lang.
For many Spartans, these experiences become transformative. Students return with an understanding of how companies operate, what leadership looks like in different industries, and where their own skills and passions might take them next.
Through experiences like these, the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation continues to prepare students to think creatively, act boldly, and build what’s next. Lang’s support is creating lasting pathways for Spartans to thrive—both in Michigan and beyond.