A RESULT of HEAVY LIFTING: “If we’re going to place a bet any where in Michigan, this is a great place to put it — in wild, energetic, creative minds that aren’t constrained by corporate thinking.”

CAN THESE STUDENTS

SAVE MICHIGAN?

Inventions could stimulate economy

By ROBIN ERB

FREE PRESS EDUCATION WRITER  
We’ve all got them— those ideas that we know, just know, would make a fortune if we could get them to a store shelf.

Now, some University of Michigan students are hop ing to tap into that genius. MPowered Entrepreneur ship is challenging students to make their pitches — whether for ideas they’ve mulled for years or an unex pected flash of brilliance.

“It’s ‘Hey, you’re waking up at 3 a.m. with an idea. What is it?’ ” said MPo wered president Lauren Le land, 20, of West Bloom field.

The spiels range from the intriguing (sidewalks that capture kinetic energy from pedestrians) to the sensible (disposable dishrags for dorm rooms) to the silly (a robot clock that pummels you awake).

“Let’s face it: In terms of an economic turnaround in the state of Michigan,  there’s no question it will come from the entrepreneurial sector,” said Rich Sheridan, chief executive of the Ann Arbor-based soft ware company Menlo Innovations, one of the program’s sponsors. “If we’re going to place a bet any where in Michigan, this is a great place to put it — in wild, energetic, creative minds that aren’t constrained by corporate thinking.”