Business & Entrepreneurship at the University of Michigan

From Market Research to Launch Plan

Summer Springboard program located on the campus of the University of Michigan

Request a Catalog Full Program Schedule

Program Highlights

Understand how operations, marketing, sales, and finance come together to drive businesses

Learn how to read financial statements in order to decipher a company’s performance

Develop a sales and marketing plan and pitch your venture to investors and mentors

Hear the tales of survival of a startup business from an entrepreneurial founder

Residential Tuition:
$5,698

Commuter Tuition:
$2,998

July 13, 2025 July 25, 2025

University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI

Testimonials

I came in knowing next to nothing about business and now I feel that I have flourished in business. This program is very beneficial and I feel that I am ready for college.

Nathaniel C.
Business could be a very real career choice for me! I enjoyed the class, and I think my group’s business model has a lot of potential.

Burke P.

Course Overview

Students will learn firsthand from business veterans about starting and running a business. Over the course of the program, they will develop a plan for a new venture and pitch their idea to real world investors. Along the way, meet with leaders from different areas of business and finance.

Excursions – Last summer, students had an incredible opportunity to visit Rocket Mortgage, one of the largest lenders in the U.S.! This exclusive visit gave them an inside look at the vast array of career paths within the company’s dynamic family of businesses. But the excitement didn’t stop there—students also got to hear firsthand from influential business leaders and activists, learning about their impactful efforts to revitalize Michigan.

And in a truly “sweet” experience, students visited the newly opened Molly’s Cupcakes in Michigan, famous for winning the first season of Food Network’s Cupcake Wars. Though the company was founded in 2007, this was their first Michigan location, and it had just opened one week before the student visit. The kitchen was buzzing as founder and CEO Johnny Nicolaides led an exciting behind-the-scenes tour, sharing insights into the company’s creativity, vision, and the secrets behind their booming success!

Meet your instructor

Leigh Weir, MBA, MAED

Business & Entrepreneurship Michigan State

Leigh Weir is a multifaceted business leader, realtor, and seasoned educator with over 20 years of experience. Possessing both an MBA and MAED from the University of Phoenix and a BA in Advertising from Michigan State University, she excels in educating, training, and mentoring, with a focus on management, servant leadership, and intercultural relations.

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Topics you'll explore

Hands-On Learning

Students will examine best practices in Research and Development (R&D), Operations, Marketing, and Finance. Understand the mechanics of scaling a business while maintaining quality.

Students become part of a new company and configure themselves into teams working on various aspects of a business. The program culminates in a shark tank environment with professional investors.

SSB business students presenting their shark tank proposal

Career Exploration

Meet with range of business people, from small business owners, mid-level managers and execs from Goldman Sachs, McKinsey consultant, and CEO.

From creative marketers to hard-nosed financial analysts, there are myriad careers you may not have heard of. Together we will discuss the career options and the academic paths to get there.