UM-Flint goes on the road for entrepreneurship bootcamp

Innovation is hitting the streets of Grand Blanc. The University of Michigan-Flint's Innovation Incubator kicked off its signature [IN] On the Road Business Bootcamp series, Jan. 22, at Grand Blanc City Hall, bringing high-level business resources directly to the community. The five-session series provides a foundation for 26 aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs to start, grow and expand their businesses. 

The sessions are led by UM-Flint's Office of Economic Development and Community Engagement with insights from the Cline, Cline and Griffin Law Firm, the City of Grand Blanc, 360 Interactive, and UM-Flint's School of Management.

"This isn't your average classroom setting. It is a hands-on incubator designed to remove barriers to entrepreneurship," said Paula Nas, OEDCE director. "Participants receive practical guidance, tools, and community support at absolutely no cost to them."

 Entrepreneurs will dive deep into the essentials of business ownership, including: 

• Business model canvas: Exploring and building a foundational business model.
• Marketing: Strategies to reach customers and build an unforgettable brand.
• Banking and finance: Demystifying the numbers and mastering financial basics.
• Legal landscape: Navigating the requirements of business ownership.
• Perfecting the pitch: Learning how to sell the "big idea" to others.

The bootcamp culminates in a business pitch competition, with a free season of rent in the Grand Chalet Shoppes going to the winner. Located in the city of Grand Blanc, the Shoppes offer a unique small-business park established in 2018 and built by students at Grand Blanc High School.  It serves as a low-cost launchpad for local creators to test their concepts and grow their customer base. 

Christina Irwin, Grand Blanc assistant city manager, said that bringing [IN] On the Road to Grand Blanc is a positive for both the participants and the city as a whole. 

"This event series is an investment in the entrepreneurial spirit that drives our local economy and helps our residents turn their visions into thriving businesses. By empowering entrepreneurs to launch and grow locally, we are reinforcing the small business foundation that sustains our city's economy and enhances the lives of our residents," said Irwin. 

Omar Naguib, a UM-Flint senior cybersecurity major from Grand Blanc, is among the entrepreneurs participating in the program and brings a unique, full-circle connection to the project. While in high school, Naguib helped build the chalets that are now part of the initiative.

"That project showed me what it means to take something learned in the classroom and transfer it to a real-world application," Naguib said. "Seeing the chalets come together over the course of the school year was amazing, and knowing I played a role in their creation is a really special feeling."Naguib chose to enroll in [IN] On the Road because he comes from a family business and hopes to build on that foundation using his background in cybersecurity. Through the program, he aims to help local businesses navigate and adapt to an ever-changing digital landscape.

[IN] On the Road was created in 2017 out of a clear need: local entrepreneurs wanted accessible, community-based entrepreneurship education. Developed by UM-Flint OED, in collaboration with local business owners and UM-Flint faculty, the program brings practical tools directly to the people. By hosting bootcamps in trusted spaces like community centers, places of worship, and libraries, the program meets entrepreneurs where they live. The impact has even rippled into the next generation, with a high school version now fostering early exposure to entrepreneurship and economic opportunity for local youth. 

Nas said she is energized by the breadth of entrepreneurship initiatives led by her team. "Entrepreneurs are essential to the future of our region," Nas said. "It's inspiring to work alongside them as they transform ideas into businesses that fuel economic growth and strengthen communities."

Those interested in learning more about [IN] On the Road and upcoming opportunities should contact Nic Custer, Economic Development and Community Engagement innovation services manager, at ncuster@umich.edu.