Six Entrepreneurial Teams Selected for East Lansing Conquer Accelerator Summer 2023 Cohort
The Michigan State University Research Foundation has launched the eighth season of its Conquer Accelerator program, designed to offer support, mentorship, and funding to help entrepreneurs scale their startup business.
The Michigan State University Research Foundation has launched the eighth season of its 10-week Conquer Accelerator program. The summer 2023 East Lansing cohort includes six exceptional startup teams, selected for their innovative ideas, high-tech solutions, and rapid growth potential:
DeepView is reinventing smart cameras for factory visual inspections, using deep learning technology to inspect factory parts with superior accuracy compared to human inspection workers.
Loopy is a sustainable home and housewares line that offers customers products that enable them to live their best lives sustainably.
Protein Pints is an MSU student team that has created a high-protein and delicious premium ice cream that can be consumed daily.
Stocked is a unique “pre-arrival” delivery company specializing in grocery delivery to vacation rentals before customers arrive.
TRS is a person-centered comprehensive digital healthcare app focused on addressing the social determinants of health for returning citizens after incarceration, aiming to reduce recidivism and improve health outcomes.
UniServices connects college students with residents and small businesses to get various jobs done.
Since its inception in 2015, the Conquer Accelerator program has helped launch 40 startups, with five achieving successful exits. These companies have collectively secured over $31 million in additional funding, with approximately 80 percent of them still operating today.
The Conquer Accelerator program provides comprehensive support and resources to the selected startups. Each team receives an initial investment of $20,000 from Red Cedar Ventures and access to a collaborative workspace. They also benefit from mentorship provided by more than 40 entrepreneurs and business leaders within their respective industries. The program covers various topics, including fundraising, technology, and longevity. Teams also receive assistance in achieving tailored, goal-driven benchmarks.
Upon completing the program, Conquer Accelerator teams become part of the Red Cedar Ventures portfolio, making them eligible for continued one-on-one membership, ongoing support, and additional investment opportunities. The program helps cohort teams transition from the startup phase to the scaling-up and growth phases.
Companies interested in joining the next Conquer Accelerator cohort should demonstrate the following attributes:
Products or services that solve specific problems for customer groups
Capital-efficient businesses operating at less than $1M in external funding
Proven ability to scale sales
Simple revenue model: transactions, subscriptions, affiliates
Functional prototype or prior product success
Measurable traction: engaged users, revenue, attractive unit economics
Cross-functional teams with three or more members
To learn more about the program, participating teams, or to apply for the next cohort, visit www.msufoundation.org/conquer-accelerator.
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About the Michigan State University Research Foundation
The Michigan State University Research Foundation (MSU Research Foundation) was established in 1973 as an independent nonprofit committed to the commercialization of cutting-edge technologies invented by MSU faculty, staff, and students. Today, the MSU Research Foundation is focused on enhancing research, encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship, and facilitating economic growth at MSU and across the state through its subsidiary organizations—Spartan Innovations, Red Cedar Ventures, and Michigan Rise Pre-Seed Fund III—and its Research Parks. Learn more at www.msufoundation.org.
About Conquer Accelerator
Since 2016, the Conquer Accelerator program has launched 40 startups through the Michigan State University Research Foundation. From medical devices to AI-assisted language learning, the Conquer Accelerator program accepts committed entrepreneurs ready to take their startups to the next level. Connecting business and industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and university experts—not to mention angel and venture investors—Conquer alums have access to a powerful network. Learn more at www.msufoundation.org/conquer-accelerator.