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University of Michigan's Zell Lurie Institute Awards More Than $40,000 to Dare to Dream Grant Program Recipients

Posted on: Tuesday, 24 October 2006, 09:01 CDT

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Oct. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- The Samuel Zell & Robert H. Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business today announced the winners of the Fall 2006 Eugene Applebaum Dare to Dream Grant Program. Grant recipients were awarded both funding and resources (in the form of advice and counsel) totaling $42,500 based on business concepts and plans submitted to panels of judges, made up of faculty from the Ross School of Business and members of the entrepreneurial and venture capital communities from across the United States.

Dare to Dream focuses on the development and application of entrepreneurial skills nurtured at the Zell Lurie Institute. Students compete with fellow aspiring entrepreneurs by applying for funding and support to help advance their innovative, high-potential business concepts toward launch.

The Dare to Dream Grant Program, founded in 2002, distributes up to $100,000 per academic year to Ross School of Business students and encourages teams to explore the viability of their business ideas or to move their businesses closer to launch. The program benefits not only students, but also the local and university community by stimulating entrepreneurial efforts and starting new businesses. Grants are administered at two funding levels: assessment grants at $1,500 and up to $10,000 for integration grants.

"Unique to the Zell Lurie Institute is our unwavering belief that action- based learning is key to our students' growth and success," said Timothy Faley, Ph.D., managing director of the University of Michigan's Zell Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies. "The Dare to Dream Grant Program embodies this commitment by providing students with the resources, expert counsel and funding to explore commercialization opportunities and design business plans."

The following student teams received grants in October 2006: Integration Grants ($10,000 each) -- Blaze Medical Devices, a developer of blood analysis tools -- VIVACE, a provider of alternative electricity to locations near water currents Assessment Grants ($1,500 each) -- Anniversary Manga, a provider of personalized e-manga highlights of memorable moments to share over the Internet -- Bust Out, a designer of proportioned dress shirts for women -- Caring Counseling, provider of high-quality, low-cost mental health care to people with low income -- Forest Eye Consulting, developers of a suite of cutting edge remote sensing and spatial technologies to build inventory assessments and asset utilization plans for forestland owners -- Health Base, LLC, a network of service centers providing health care services in India -- iX Systems, providers of microchip design and modeling software for high speed digital designers -- ManageMyLogistics.com, an online community for small to midsized businesses to access the same quality logistics services as large firms -- MEMS-Based Microelectrode Arrays for Cochlear Prostheses, a provider of microelectrodes that enable both high-density neural stimulation and sensory feedback in cochlear prostheses -- MEMS-Based Packaging Foundry, offers packaging research services that provide MEMS companies with the processing technology needed to bring MEMS products to market -- MyStyle, styling consultations that leverage a user's personal wardrobe and retail pieces -- Real Kidz Clothing, a clothing store for overweight children and youth -- ReceiptHub Inc., online tool for receipt access and management that leverages point-of-sale data -- Savium Technologies, design and production of low-cost, high- performance electronically scanned array radar systems -- Strengthening the Family, uses monthly publications, nationwide trade shows, and educational programs to help spouses and parents -- Well-House Home and Building Supply, environmentally-friendly building supply center

About the Samuel Zell & Robert H. Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies

Formed in October 1999, the Institute actively engages the nation's most successful entrepreneurs and offers an outstanding faculty comprised of both academic researchers and practitioners in entrepreneurship. The Institute's mission is to focus the capabilities and resources of the top-ranked Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan to provide education, and experience in entrepreneurship; serve as a catalyst for new venture development; and contribute research in the field of entrepreneurship. Members of the Advisory Board include Samuel Zell, Chairman of Equity Group Investments; Michael Hallman, former COO of Microsoft Corporation; and Eugene Applebaum, Founder of Arbor Drugs, Inc. For more information, visit the Institute at http://www.zli.bus.umich.edu/ .

Samuel Zell & Robert H. Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies

CONTACT: Mark Van Hook of Fleishman-Hillard, +1-617-692-0545,mark.vanhook@fleishman.com , or, Mary Nickson of Samuel Zell and Robert H.Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies, +1-734-615-4424,mnickson@umich.edu

Web site: http://www.zli.bus.umich.edu/

Source: PRNewswire

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