Fuel JumpStart is here
Got an early-stage venture or just testing out an idea? Fuel Jumpstart gives U-M student founders a $500 microgrant + light advising to help you take your first real step—building, testing, and figuring out if your idea solves a real need.
It’s designed to give you confidence, evidence, and momentum so when you’re ready, you can crush your full Fuel application.
Please scroll down and read FAQ before applying.
HOW IT WORKS
Fuel Jumpstart Details
- Grant: $500 (non-dilutive)
- Availability: 40 awards per academic year (totaling $20,000)
- Who Can Apply: U-M Ann Arbor undergrad or grad students (individuals or teams). Must be 6+ months from graduation so you have time to use what you learn and apply to Fuel later
- Stage: Idea phase — you’ve got a concept in mind but haven’t done customer discovery or built a prototype
- Use Funds For: customer interviews, market research, early concept testing, lightweight prototyping
- Not Allowed: paying yourself, consultants, influencers, or legal services
fuel Jumpstart SCHEDULE
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis during the academic year. Student applicants can expect to hear back from the judges’ panel within approximately two weeks; please allow more time over university breaks.
If your application is complete and shows strong potential, you’ll be invited to a brief interview to discuss your idea before any funding is awarded.
Before you apply, please review the FAQs below.
fuel JumpStart faq
WHO CAN APPLY FOR FUEL JumpStart
Jumpstart is designed for students who are more than 6 months from graduation, ensuring they have time to act on learnings and apply to Fuel in a future term.
When Can i APPLY FOR FUEL JumpStart
Applications are open during the academic year, and you’ll hear back within about two weeks of submitting.
my venture is still just an idea. should I apply to fuel JumpStart
Yes, Fuel Jumpstart is the right place for early-stage ideas.
What expenses does Fuel Jumpstart support?
Fuel Jumpstart provides financial awards to support the growth of University of Michigan student ventures, helping teams reach their next milestone within a 12-week period. Funds can be used for:
- Prototype Development: Costs for developing a prototype or MVP.
- Equipment Purchase: Essential tools, materials, or software.
- Customer Discovery: Travel and conference fees for meeting potential customers.
- Professional Subscriptions: Services or tools needed for venture advancement.
Funding will generally not cover:
- Payments to People: Fuel funds are not intended for salary, fees or incentives
- Legal Services: IP protection or incorporation, unless crucial for the milestone.
- Interns or External Coders: Direct payments to these individuals will be scrutinized.
- General Professional Services: Fuel funds are not intended to pay developers or contractors. If a student team requires such services, we encourage them to recruit team members who possess the necessary expertise
- Domain and Email Services: Website domain registration, Google Workspace, or similar services will not be approved.
Why would my fuel Jumpstart application not advance?
Unapproved Expenses: Applications with unapproved budget items will be returned before review. See “What Expenses Does Fuel Jumpstart Support” in the FAQ.
Need for Clarity: Judges may request more information for applications they find unclear. Ensure your explanation is understandable, even if the technology is complex. Consider explaining your idea as you would to a family member, making comparisons and highlighting its unique value.
who are the fuel Jumpstart judges?
Fuel judges include CFE staff and the Fuel administrators.
how is funding awarded
Fuel Jumpstart awards are allocated to a student team member with sufficient space in their U-M financial account. Recipients must consider potential tax implications. Note that CFE cannot award funds directly to a student’s company. Alternatively, CFE can directly purchase equipment or resources for the winning team.
Who is my fuel Jumpstart contact
Please contact Alison Smith with your questions: alisone@umich.edu
Need more answers? Schedule a virtual meeting with Alison Smith