Applebaum Dare to Dream Report, 2018-2019 Academic Year

2018-2019 ACADEMIC YEAR

DARE TO DREAM PROGRAM REPORT

EUGENE APPLEBAUM FAMILY FOUNDATION

BRINGING

DREAMS

TO LIFE

A

spiring entrepreneurs from colleges and schools across the University of Michigan are bringing their startup dreams to life with the help of the Eugene Applebaum Family Foundation and its Dare to Dream grant program. Offered through the Ross School of Business’ Zell Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies, Dare to Dream supports the ideas and ambitions of graduate and undergraduate students and student teams, helping them move through a structured process of business creation by offering business development workshops and awarding grants of $500 up to $5,000. Through this process, which starts with a nascent business idea and moves through formulating and assessing business feasibility to planning and launching a viable business, students get the skills and experience they need to successfully navigate the cycle of new venture creation and, if they choose, launch their entrepreneurial careers.

Dare to Dream grants are divided into three phases, and students may enter their business into the program at any phase: 1. SHAPING GRANT ($500): The Mayleben Venture Shaping grant phase takes students through the process of constructing a viable business, which is defined as a differentiated and sustainable venture that holds commercial promise and can be launched. Once the business construct is completed, teams may apply for a Dare to Dream Assessment grant to evaluate the feasibility of their business.

2. ASSESSMENT GRANT ($1,500): The Eugene Applebaum Dare to Dream Assessment grants are for students with a proposed business that is selling a unique product or service with a clear market need. In this phase, teams assess the feasibility of their proposed business. If students determine that the business merits investing further resources, and they commit to launching the venture, they are encouraged to pursue an Integration grant to create a full business plan.

3. INTEGRATION GRANT (up to $5,000): With support from the Eugene Applebaum Dare to Dream Integration grants, student teams write a business plan and create an investor pitch.

This report describes the student-run ventures awarded Dare to Dream grants during the 2018-2019 academic year, divided by term and grant phase. It also shares the stories of three ventures that received Integration grants as told by their founders. We hope you’ll enjoy reading how the Dare to Dream program brought their dreams to life and, through the list of award recipients, continues to inspire the dreams of dozens of others.

2018-2019 DARE TO DREAM Grant-supported Ventures

Jasmine Johnson, founder of Barb n Jewels Cosmetics

FALL 2018 - PHASE 1: Mayleben Venture Shaping Grants ($500) • Bakesy NYC is an online marketplace connecting buyers and sellers of cooked or baked food. Marissa Katz (MBA ‘20).

• Barb n Jewels Cosmetics is a cosmetics line that serves as a small pillar in obtaining social justice for women of color in the cosmetics industry while providing customers with 40–50 shade ranges of quality and affordable foundation. Jasmine Johnson (BBA ‘21).

• Bini makes it easy for people to make plans and spend time together. Brooke Burton (MBA ‘20).

• CalmNest seeks to make self-care convenient by offering a peaceful, relaxing escape from the hectic and tired lives that students live by providing nap pods, massage chairs, secure storage lockers, and other amenities for purchase in half-hour increments.

Alyssa Abbate (BA ‘19), Jenni Kim (BS ‘19).

• Grand Arbor Therapeutics manufactures an over-the-counter, petroleum-based, topical healing ointment with pain medication intended for use by patients with minor wounds. Brent Folsom (MD/ MBA ‘20), Andrew Shuler (MD ‘19).

• Han Dental Solutions offers a self-cleaning dental mirror with turbine technology that aims to help dental providers maintain uninterrupted direct vision, thereby increasing procedure efficiency and reducing stress factors and contamination risk. Jae Young Han (DDS/MBA ‘20).

• J.T.LU creates comfortable loungewear for students and young professionals. Tracey Jeremy (BBA ‘21).

• KutzKlub is a subscription-based platform that connects people with barbers in a transparent manner, allowing for the service to be brought directly to the consumer in the most efficient way possible. Timothy Sweeny (BA ‘21).

• LeisureLuxe provides consumers with access to a range of services available at different spas through its monthly subscription service delivered via a mobile application and website. Jing Liang (MBA ‘20).

• LingoGram is an app that uses small gaps of free time and nearby native speakers to help users learn a language effectively. Nithin Vejendla (BA ‘19).

• Mariposa offers convertible swimwear that can be adjusted between a one-piece and two-piece swimsuit in real time using seamless and easy connections, creating both value and aesthetic choice for the discerning female buyer. Rachel Skolnick (MBA ‘20).

• Moolah is a better solution for cross-border transfer.

It uses blockchain to allow users to transfer money to loved ones faster, cheaper, and more securely through a mobile application. Paryn Assavanop (MBA/MSI ‘19).

• Potluck enhances loyalty and improves rewards by providing common loyalty points through a mobile app used for making purchases and tracking loyalty points at participating restaurants and other retailers.

David Botos (BBA ‘22), Nathan Ashta (BS ‘22).

• Project X is an inviting and accessible marketplace for sports and entertainment partnerships, serving as a vehicle for industry stakeholders to educate potential buyers, share objectives between buyers and sellers, and connect the right people together to execute a partnership. Angad Banga (MBA ‘20).

• Viewz is a platform that cuts through the clutter and polarization of today’s political climate, providing users with easy-to-understand, fact-based political analysis from all sides of the spectrum. Garrett Wilson (BBA ‘21).

PHASE 2: Eugene Applebaum Assessment Grants ($1,500) • BusyBox is a monthly subscription box that delivers a personalized selection of quality safe sex supplies and educational tools right to the customer’s front door. Alison Elgass (BS ‘19), Sarah Mason (BA ‘19), Monica Smolinski (BS ‘19), Kayla Carter (MPH ‘18).

• Microscope is a product-review app that gives consumers quick and reliable information in-store on the effectiveness of cosmetics and the health impacts of ingredients. Gabriella Vozza (MBA ‘19).

• Our Little Bud is a platform for parents to learn, track milestones, and purchase recommended

products tailored to each child’s developmental stages from 0–36 months. Nadia Putri (MBA ‘19).

• Rootcraft makes vegetable consumption more convenient with a line of ready-to-eat, functional plant-powered meals and sides for the active plant eater. Steffan Bankier (MBA ‘19), Melissa Robinson (MPH ‘19), Gaurav Dhir (MBA ‘19).

• Stokes&Skill provides under-employed individuals with soft and technical skills that will prepare them for jobs of the future. Courtney Stokes (MBA ‘19).

PHASE 3: Eugene Applebaum Integration Grants (Up to $5,000) • BSchool Travel provides adventure travel packages for students across several of the top MBA universities.

Dale Jarosz (MBA ‘19), Dhruv Dhawan (MBA ‘19).

• Dear Black Women is an affirmation movement and social network, both offline and online, for Black women. Florence Noel (MBA/MSI ‘19).

• MONTA is a collection of 100% natural and vegan aromatherapy, body goods, and skincare. Gabrielle de Coster (BBA ‘20).

IN HER OWN WORDS

Holly Meyers, MBA ‘19 Founder of Holly Keith Lingerie

I started the first phase of Dare to Dream unsure if I really had what it took to become an entrepreneur, even though I knew I had a great idea. Before I realized what was happening, I ended up with a viable plan for Holly Keith Lingerie, product samples in hand, and a support network ready to help along the way to launching my business. Being a part of the Dare to Dream program breaks business formation down step by step, and through this process, enabled me to acquire the confidence needed to pursue entrepreneurship full time.

Holly Keith Lingerie is focused on providing luxury lingerie to larger cup sized women through a new sizing system. As a luxury business producing one of the most difficult and intricate apparel products, creating our prototypes would not have been possible without the funding provided by the Applebaum family. Acquiring materials for production, partnering with an ethical lingerie factory, and traveling for further education in the lingerie industry were all made possible from the capital received through the Dare to Dream programming.

I cannot thank the Dare to Dream programs and the Applebaum family enough for how much closer they helped Holly Keith Lingerie progress from dream to reality.”

BusyBox team members from both Fall 2018 (Assessment Phase) and Winter 2019 (Integration Phase)

WINTER 2019 PHASE 1: Mayleben Venture Shaping Grants ($500) • 1stGen Wealth is a comprehensive online financial literacy platform, concierge service, and daily newsletter dedicated to empowering first-generation MBA students to manage their finances with confidence and cultivate their net worth. Nathalie Flores (MBA ‘19).

• Community Solar Billing Services takes the hassle out of community solar billing and account management. Charlie Grant (MBA ‘19), Doug Noe (MS/MBA ‘21).

• Fulle is an online and app-based platform for freelance chefs. Adithya Sanjay (BBA/BSE ‘22).

• GreeneZt provides a one-stop, cohesive brand that ensures new and expectant parents with conscious consumption concerns have everything they need to confidently welcome their baby and navigate the transitions of life as a family. Juan Turner (MS/ MBA ‘20).

• hEARt Listens is a socially engaged business that offers two complementary products: a training program that instructs students in emotional support skills and qualifies them as “hEARt Supporters” and a peer support chat platform upon which these Supporters can anonymously connect with students seeking an empathetic ear. Aria Thakore (BSE ‘20), Aastha Dharia (BS ‘20), Swathi Sampath (BS ‘20), Sheily Shah (BS ‘20).

• Host Your Voice empowers nonprofits and social enterprises to scale their impact independently, affordably, and effectively (unlike traditional marketing agencies) through an online bootcamp, ad grants, and intelligent ad targeting tools. Varun Madan (BBA/BA ‘21), Ankit Patel (BBA/BSI ‘21), Amulya Parmar (BBA/BS ‘21).

• Lock-pipe is a device that prevents flooding from pipe breakage by using a temperature and flow

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sensor connected to an app. Janavi Krishnan (BBA ‘22).

Mashed Banana Ice Cream produces simple and delicious chocolate banana ice cream because consumers shouldn’t have to choose between healthy, real food and dessert. Mimi Conley (MBA ‘20).

Nochi is a studio creating educational games in the form of young adult romance visual novel entertainment. Natalie Fang (MBA ‘20), Addison Genenbacher (MBA ‘20).

PuriCup is a convenient and discreet menstrual cup sterilizer. Alexandra Lillig (BE ‘20), Lara Vanderbilt (BE ‘21), Naman Shah (BE ‘19), Nina Serr (BS ‘20).

Rachel Teeter offers an annual ritual workbook to be that guide, that path forward, in a structureless adult world called life. Rachel Teeter (MBA ‘20).

Salud is a wedding planning subscription platform to help users plan like a pro while keeping pennies in their pockets. Shivani Kothari (MBA ‘21), Haley Hoffman (MBA ‘19), Anne Goering (MBA ‘20).

Seeing Me Accessories is a personalized statement accessories brand that encourages conversation and respect for our diverse identities.

Layla Jawad (BS ‘22).

Skope produces high-end, exclusive shoes and apparel for the esports community. Connor Boike (BBA ‘20), Fabio Cesar (BBA ‘20).

Third.space is a tech platform that empowers coffee shops to increase turnover by enabling consumers to reserve space for a limited purchase of food and drink. Marissa Katz (MBA ‘20), Matthew Corley (MBA ‘20), Lauren Manchester (MBA ‘20).

Ultar is a discrete ledger-based (blockchain) system to store student records and sensitive information.

Ronit Tiwary (CSE ‘22), Samuel Brause (CSE ‘22).

PHASE 2: Eugene Applebaum Assessment Grants ($1,500)

IN HIS OWN WORDS Dale Jarosz, MBA ‘19 Co-Founder of Bschool Travel

• Eastern Bazaar is designing chic decorations and stationery to help Muslim families celebrate holidays and other life events throughout the year. Farah Ahmed (MBA ‘20).

• FlashPlays is an in-game predictions platform where NFL fans can have an interactive football viewing experience by making eight predictions during commercial breaks of a primetime NFL game to win free cash prizes. Parth Valecha (BBA ‘20), Aishik Lala (BMS ‘20).

The Dare to Dream program has significantly helped Dhruv [Dhawan, MBA ‘19] and I launch and grow Bschool Travel into the company that it is today. The rigor of the three-phased program enabled us to learn key elements of the lean startup methodology and apply it to our business. Through customer discovery and feasibility studies, we learned to be agile and pivot the business to find a unique product fit. With the aid of the Dare to Dream grants, as well as the structured curriculum, we were able to generate over $500,000 in revenue as a student-run business.

Dhruv and I are beyond grateful for the opportunity to be part of the Dare to Dream program. We cannot thank the Applebaum family and the Zell Lurie Institute enough for their support throughout our journey. As a result of all the support, Dhruv and I are able to continue working on Bschool Travel full time after MBA graduation!”

The hEARt Listens team

The team from Host Your Voice

PHASE 3: Eugene Applebaum Integration Grants (Up to 5,000) • FoodFinder is a nonprofit that uses its platform to help food insecure families learn about free food assistance programs nearby. Jack Griffin (BBA ‘19).

• Holly Keith Lingerie is a luxury lingerie brand focusing on larger cup sized women through an innovative sizing system. Holly Meyers (MBA ‘19).

• BusyBox is a monthly subscription box service that ships quality sexual health supplies and educational resources directly to consumers. The team also received an Assessment grant in Fall 2018. Alison Elgass (BS ‘19), Sarah Mason (BA ‘19), Monica Smolinski (BS ‘19), Kayla Carter (MPH ‘18).

IN HIS OWN WORDS

Jack Griffin, BBA ‘19 Founder of FoodFinder

Dare to Dream was among one of the first funding support programs that FoodFinder— my nonprofit organization whose website and mobile app connect hungry families to food pantries—received at Michigan, and it has remained among the most impactful. When I first received my Assessment grant in early 2018, I was the busiest I’d ever been working on FoodFinder. Even then, I was unsure of my future with my venture. Then, in early 2019, receiving my Integration grant helped give me even greater confidence when I knew without a doubt that I would further my passion as a full-time founder for the first time in the six years since FoodFinder’s inception.

I will use the Integration grant for online awareness of our services over the summer as well as additional product development, both of which will help us aid hungry families better than we ever have before. My goal is to serve 100,000 food insecure families in the next 12 months, and Dare to Dream is helping me do just that.

I am eternally grateful for the Applebaum family’s generosity and desire to help young entrepreneurs such as myself. It truly means the world to me.”

Florence Noel, founder of Dear Black Women

Development & Alumni Relations Stephen M. Ross School of Business University of Michigan 701 Tappan St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1234 michiganross.umich.edu