New U-M interdisciplinary clinic assists Detroit entrepreneurs

Two weeks ago, 22 students from the Law School, the Ross School of Business, and the Stamps School of Art & Design plus 10 faculty members from those same schools gathered in an unremarkable Ross classroom for what is the beginning of a remarkable experience: the launch of a new interdisciplinary clinic at the University of Michigan known as the Detroit Neighborhood Entrepreneurs Project (DNEP).
DNEP is a cross-school engaged learning experience that brings together law students, business students, art and design students, and engineering/computer science students into interdisciplinary teams to provide advice and services to selected Detroit entrepreneurs. According to …

Ross accounting students offer free office hours on Fridays, expand Detroit Neighborhood Entrepreneurs Project

Solid financials are the backbone of any small business, but getting a business’ books in order is no small task. Since March 9, accounting students from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, working under faculty supervision, have been filling a need by offering free office hours for small businesses on Friday afternoons. Detroit entrepreneurs can sign up for free one hour appointments at the UM-Detroit Center, and get advice and assistance on topics ranging from chart of account and inventory setup to analysis of various revenue streams.
Dan Savakus, Ross School of Business Master of Accounting Student, said, “Meeting …

Image of Ross's BA670 class: +Impact Studio Designing Equitable Enterprises

U-M students create new how-to guides and equitable business models for green energy businesses to help Detroit entrepreneurs take advantage of new federal funding

“The Inflation Reduction Act sounds really boring,” says Michigan Ross professor Jerry Davis, “but it’s actually a big stack of money for green energy businesses. If you read through it, it’s easy to think of dozens of ways that this could benefit a city like Detroit.”
Davis and his colleague, Cat Johnson, of Michigan Ross’ Business+Impact designed a class to do just that. The class, BA670: +Impact Studio Designing Equitable Enterprises, teaches teams of grad students from all majors how to use equity-centered design thinking to develop businesses that improve communities. This year’s focus is on the green energy transition in …