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New Ross MBA Students Innovate Detroit with #RossLeaders

9/5/2012 --

View the story "New Ross MBA Students Innovate Detroit with #RossLeaders " on StorifyNew Ross MBA Students Innovate Detroit with #RossLeaders More than 500 new Full-time MBA students were tasked with adding economic and social value to Detroit in just seven days time -- here the journey is recounted in their words and pictures.Storified by Ross School of Bus. · Wed, Sep 05 2012 05:55:51

More than 500 new Ross Full-time MBA students were faced with a first task that wasn't going to be easy. In a challenge designed to welcome students to the school and impart lessons from the Ross Leadership Initiative (RLI), they were given seven days to create a new for-profit business to add social and economic value to the city of Detroit.

First, Scott DeRue, co-director of RLI, set the challenge:

"You have 7 days to develop a new for-profit venture that creates economic and social value in Detroit" #rossleaders http://pic.twitter.com/XYVidcMERoss School of Bus.Read more about the challenge specifics here:Michigan in the News-Stephen M. Ross School of BusinessIncoming Ross MBA Students Look to Innovate Detroit 8/24/2012 -- Foundation session orientation program will take 500 Full-time MBA stude...The week-long challenge took place in several steps. Step one: Explore Detroit and get to know the future market.
On the Ross MBA #ToDoList - Today: Explore Detroit with @DhiveDetroit. Monday: Innovate Detroit with #RossLeaders. http://bit.ly/NKZvXBRoss School of Bus.Section sixers convene in the d:hive lair in Detroit. #rossleaders @ D:hive Welcome Center http://instagr.am/p/OwgcrrGQUC/FAB 6.7#TriptheMitten in front of a map of Michigan in the Guardian Building on the D:Hive tour. #rossleaders @RossLeaders http://pic.twitter.com/cqgpUdxBSam ChenLearning trips are delicious #rossleaders #tripthemitten @ Bert's BBQ http://instagr.am/p/Ow1KXKxYui/Max JosephThe students then split into 48 teams, which were assigned to one of six sections focusing on a different economic sector of the city.
Concentrating on either food and hunger, transportation, the arts, education, job training, or housing, the students were sent back into Detroit. Working with one of six non-profit organizations (including Forgotten Harvest, The Detroit Institute of Arts, The Jalen Rose Leadership Academy, SEMCOG, Habitat for Humanity Detroit, and Focus: HOPE), the students observed the social and economic issues surrounding their specific sector.Today, Ross MBA students Innovate Detroit w/ @ForgottnHarvest, @DiaDetroit, @JRLAdetroit, @SEMCOG, @habitatdetroit, @Focus_HOPE #RossLeadersRoss School of Bus.The DIA is excited to work w/ @MichiganRoss MBAs this week to find ways to continue growing the arts in Michigan! Follow along #RossLeaders.Detroit Inst of ArtsOur #rossleaders working with @ForgottnHarvest are getting marching orders for a rainy Monday. http://pic.twitter.com/38cOKfuNRoss School of Bus.We�re proud to be working with @MichiganRoss MBA students this week to innovate transportation in Michigan � follow along with #RossLeadersSEMCOGSection 5 hears from a @habitatdetroit home recipient. Incredible story! #rossleaders! http://instagr.am/p/O1lXTNBFK6/Brian Flanagan#RossLeaders team #DetroitRossCity gathering wisdom from young people and @DetroitYouth thanks to @Focus_HOPE http://pic.twitter.com/Kd4r7LVjPhilip GinsbergAt the food pantry, you can't tell the volunteer from the client. #Hunger is hidden. #RossLeaders @MichiganRossMorgen WolfInspired by the parents students and teachers at JRLA #RossLeaders #EducationEnginealoka penmetchaTeam #WolverineAccess @ BackAlleyBikeShop. Seeing Detroit 1sthand is helping turn fuzzy ideas into reality #RossLeaders http://pic.twitter.com/O1X4XzHSSimon Halpern@michiganross love what I see #rossleaders. Building context, compassion, & awareness in biz students is critical #goblueDevin JohnsonSection 5 has some great ideas on revitalizing the Arts & Culture scene in Detroit #rossleadersNapoleon JacksonBack to Ross. Need to identify our biz model and start the pitch. Time waits for nobody. #rossleaders @MichiganRossL. XiongThe next day, back in Ann Arbor, the students continued to formulate their new business venture ideas. Later on, the teams heard from Detroit Venture Partners and Ross Professor Erik Gordon about the best way to pitch their fleshed-out ideas.Our #rossleaders have recovered from yesterday and are set to hear from @DVPtweets this AM about "how to pitch" their new venture ideas.Ross School of Bus."I'm an entrepreneur I eat risk for breakfast!" -Prof Erik Gordon @Rossleaders #RLI #TriptheMitten #rossleadersJennifer Hsu#TriptheMitten is learning to pitch venture ideas with the Detroit Venture Partners. The meanest VC is the one who ignores you. #rossleadersSam ChenThings not to say to a VC: If we only capture 1% of the market #RossLeadersmohit kantStill continuing to polish their business plans, the 48 teams prepared to go head-to-head in a pitch competition on Wednesday afternoon. The outcome would narrow the field to six finalists.microCHICKENfinance #rossleaders hard at work http://pic.twitter.com/Eejr21YFLydia MitchellFrom #RossLeaders Alex on developing the pitch: "We used a lot of the techniques taught to us by the people at Gravity Tank."Ross School of Bus.Working reasonably hard for the pitch practice. Go section 5.5. #rossleaders @MichiganRoss http://lockerz.com/s/239259349L. XiongOne team from each of the six sectors (housing, art, food and hunger, transportation, education and job training) moved on to the final round.The finalists had less than 24 hours to refine their pitch and iron out any last-minute details before presenting to a panel of judges on Thursday morning. For at least one team, that meant an all-nighter.#TriptheMitten is representing #Section3 at #rossleaders final pitch tomorrow. D:Cut Bikes, Engineered in Detroit, Enjoyed by Everyone.Sam Chen#TriptheMitten pitch dry run #rossleaders #RLI http://pic.twitter.com/PbMnQiukJilly Badanes#TriptheMitten hard at work getting ready for the final pitch tomorrow. First all nighter? #rossleaders http://pic.twitter.com/T2t5PhnNAren TurpeningOn Thursday morning, the students reconvened in Blau Auditorium to hear the six finalists pitch their ideas. The judges' table included a representative from Detroit Venture Partners, a Ross professor, two second-year Ross MBA students, and Dean Alison Davis-Blake.
Each of the six teams were given five minutes to present their fully developed business plan to the judges as if they were asking for funding from a venture capital firm. The judges scored the presenters based on several criteria, including how sustainable the potential business could be, the projections of growth, and the likely return on the initial investment.Getting ready to watch the final start-up pitches to revitalize Detroit. Let's go section two! #rossleadersMiss AdventureDCutBikes wants to improve transportation in Detroit by creating a bike for bike program supporting youth in need. #rossleadersMiss Adventure@payloaD_Detroit wants to make eco-friendly, fashion-forward messenger bags. Made in Detroit, by Detroit! #rossleaders http://pic.twitter.com/grs6zMMaMiss AdventureMobile Grocery Store will bring fresh and healthy food to the neighborhood of Brightmoor in Detroit. #rossleadersMiss AdventureDetroit's hAPPening wants to create a virtual ticketing platform and keep track of all local cultural events in a single place. #rossleadersMiss AdventureAt the culmination of @RossLeaders social venture startup competition. Grocery store food truck gets my vote. #rossleadersBryan Rahija"The mobile grocery" aims to bring healthy food to people rather than try 2 get people food #rossleaders @michiganross http://pic.twitter.com/11KQrLYrBluRenaissanceAfter a keynote address from Bob Safian, the editor of Fast Company magazine, the winner was announced:And the winner is...Mobile Grocery Store! Congrats to all the teams for the amazing opportunities you've created this week! #rossleadersMiss AdventureRoss Impact Challenge Winner - Team dEATroit!Ross School of BusinessGongrats to #RossLeaders winning team, Section 1, dEATroit - bringing fresh, nutritious groceries to areas that don't have convenient accessRoss School of Bus.Congrats Section 1! So proud of team 1.5, their mobile grocery idea, our entire section, & our class! #rossleaders http://pic.twitter.com/eyIW9wl8Jocelyn KalmusMembers of the winning team were awarded a chance to explore ways to turn their venture idea into reality with the help of Detroit Venture Partners. The group also won a group dinner at Vinology, a wine bar and restaurant in Downtown Ann Arbor.I can't wait to try new things and take more risks. I loved the ending to RLI. Keep learning @rsafian #rossleaders.Bobby McCartyThis week was a-maize-ing! #rossleaders @RossLeadersPurwadianto MulyoWe've collected all (ok, most) of your #rossleaders photos in one, nice convenient spot on our FB page. Right here: http://on.fb.me/O9UfZxRoss School of Bus.

For more information, contact:
Christopher Ankney, 734-647-3646, ankney@umich.edu

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