Michigan State University – Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Each year, tens of thousands of startups apply to Y Combinator—one of the world’s most competitive accelerators. Among those accepted, a growing number share something powerful in common: they’re Spartans. From AI to EdTech to life sciences, Michigan State University alumni are building companies that compete on the global stage, proving once again that Spartans don’t wait for opportunities. They build them. Read more about the Spartan founders making their mark through Y Combinator ⬇️

For 13 years, the MSU Hatch has been more than a workspace, it has been your starting point. Since 2012, many of you walked through those doors on Grand River Ave. with early ideas, met co-founders, pitched for the first time, pivoted at 2 AM, celebrated milestones, and discovered what it meant to call yourself an entrepreneur. This December, the MSU Hatch will close its doors—but its impact lives in every Spartan entrepreneur who launched something here, and in the stories, companies, friendships, and risks taken because this space existed. As we prepare for our future home inside the Engineering and Digital Innovation (EDI) Center, our team and students will operate from the MSU Union starting in January 2026, ensuring today’s Spartans continue to have what you once did: space, programming, mentorship, and community. The MSU Hatch helped shape you—and you helped define the legacy of Spartan entrepreneurship. We’re proud to continue this work with the same belief, drive, and purpose that began here. If you built something here, we see you, we remember, and we can’t wait to honor what you helped create. 💚

🎨 We're incredibly excited to announce the keynote speaker for our upcoming conference this February 6-7 at Michigan State University – Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Now teaching in London, Steven Sparling, PhD received a PhD in Creative Entrepreneurship and is an accredited coach on brand storytelling, effective pitching, and impactful sales conversations for founders and creative professionals. If you’re an educator in the arts or the entrepreneurial space, we'd love for you to attend, hear Steven’s insights from 30 years of freelancing and thriving in a creative career and learn how Student-Made can help you turn these insights into actionable programming for creative, business-minded students. 🙋 Register for SCALE Conference 2026: https://lnkd.in/eUs776Gn 🔖 Read Steven’s Thriving Creative Blog: https://lnkd.in/eEtuir9e

Three Spartan-led startups, Skin Studio 211, Re-Route Wellness, and E-Z Lift Dishwasher are in the running to pitch at Start Garden’s 5x5 Night this October. Hosted monthly in Grand Rapids, 5x5 Night gives entrepreneurs five minutes and five slides to share their ideas—one walks away with $5,000 to move their venture forward.

At Michigan State University, entrepreneurship is more than ideas. It is about taking action, solving real problems, and building ventures that make a difference.  With the support of generous alums and donors, the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation invests early in Spartans who exemplify creativity, resilience, and the determination to turn bold ideas into real-world impact. This year, we are proud to recognize fourteen student recipients across ten scholarships and look forward to honoring them at Venture Summit: Rivalry & Resilience on Friday, October 24, 2025. Congratulations to this year's scholars!

For Mark and Marcia Hooper, entrepreneurship isn’t just a career—it’s a mindset grounded in integrity, hard work, and service. Now, the '76 Michigan State University - Eli Broad College of Business graduates are paying it forward by investing in the next generation of Spartan entrepreneurs through the newly established $5,000 annual Mark and Marcia Hooper Entrepreneurship Scholarship, supporting students engaged with the Burgess Institute. Discover why the Hoopers believe in building a legacy through Spartan entrepreneurs: https://lnkd.in/gvibGRak

Vote BRCĒ for the People's Choice Award in the 2025 Collegiate Inventors Competition®! Voting closes tomorrow, Oct. 15. Cast your vote now at https://lnkd.in/gGcx6fJ6 🗳️👟

The 2025 Spartan Gift Guide is back!  We're highlighting Spartan-owned and Spartan-led business that showcase the innovation and entrepreneurial spirit of our community.  If you're a Spartan founder, maker, creator or innovator— submit your business below to be considered for this year's Spartan Holiday Gift Guide.

We're proud to celebrate three Entrepreneurship & Innovation students representing Michigan State University on the 2025 Homecoming Court. Om Y. Nair, Delaney Jones, and Jogi Katende are recognized for their leadership, service, academic achievement, and Spartan spirit. These students embody the entrepreneurial mindset, creativity, and drive to create meaningful change that define our community. Please join us in congratulating Om, Delaney, and Jogi on this well-deserved honor!