The Center for Entrepreneurship is full of anticipation as we welcome the 2026 cohort of our esteemed Entrepreneurial Leadership Program (ELP). This year-long program, a unique blend of academic learning, practical training, and focused coaching, aims to shape students into the entrepreneurial leaders of tomorrow.
This year, the core message and driving force behind our curriculum is experimentation. We are challenging our 2026 cohort to test the hypotheses associated with their ventures rigorously. Their ultimate goal? To effectively bring technology-driven products and services to the market that actively improve the human condition.
Our instructors, Grace Hsia Haberl and Mitch Rohde, enrich the ELP curriculum with their expertise and guidance. Grace draws on her U-M engineering background and her experience as the award-winning co-founder and CEO of the medical device startup Warmilu. At the same time, Mitch leverages his U-M engineering degrees and his success as the co-founder of Quantum Signal AI, a robotics and artificial intelligence company acquired by Ford Motor Co., to provide students with real-world insights into technology commercialization and venture creation.
To support this year’s ambitious theme of experimentation, we are thrilled to continue our Coaching Connection program. Connecting each student with an experienced entrepreneurial coach provides the personalized guidance and real-world insights necessary to navigate the market. This key facet of our program, enriched by regular interactions and evaluations, has proven instrumental in guiding our students toward achieving their mission-driven objectives.
2026 Cohort Themes & Innovations
This year’s cohort showcases a powerful narrative of technological and social innovation. These students are tackling interconnected global challenges with a shared focus on accessibility and efficiency. We are seeing a strong push to democratize systems through FinTech solutions for underserved micro-entrepreneurs and AI-driven tools that personalize health management and continuing education.
The cohort is also embracing complex hard tech challenges. Founders are experimenting with robotics, computer vision, and IoT to improve safety and productivity in industrial environments like construction and logistics. Others are laying the groundwork for our digital future by building foundational cybersecurity tools, while a vital contingent focuses on the physical environment by pioneering sustainable mobility and decarbonization. Together, these ventures represent a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to improving how we live and work.
Meet the 2026 ELP Student Cohort
This year’s cohort brings an incredibly diverse set of passions and technical skills to the table, representing multiple disciplines across the university.
- Adam Kuca (Engineering) – Exploring foundational software infrastructure and practical, collaborative AI systems.
- Akhila Joshi (Information) – Focusing on EdTech and HealthTech, particularly AI-enabled adaptive learning tools for continuing education.
- Alexander Arnold (Engineering) – Working on the decarbonization of hard-to-abate sectors, sustainable mobility, and waste-to-value pathways.
- Angelo Hawa (Engineering) – Building systems for automation and intelligent manufacturing, robotics, and healthcare efficiency.
- Ashmit Aggarwal (Business) – Pursuing a venture focused on pricing transparency across the service sector, beginning with HVAC.
- Hsuan-Po Liu (Engineering) – Developing data security and privacy protection software for the beyond-5G and 6G era.
- Ishaan Malhotra (Engineering) – Solving workflow friction and data opacity in Fintech and automated control systems (IoT/Robotics).
- Ivana Vera Sanchez (Engineering) – Developing Savia Capital, a fintech venture providing alternative credit scoring and microcredits to small businesses.
- Jack Lado (Engineering) – Designing B2B platforms that leverage observational insights to solve operational inefficiencies and logistics challenges.
- Jacob Chen (Engineering) – Developing cybersecurity developer tools, software infrastructure, and high-performance computing solutions.
- Jessica Bae (Literature, Science, and the Arts) – Strategizing around credit investing and access to capital for small-to-mid-sized, founder-led businesses.
- Kelsey Lin (Information) – Bridging social gaps for underrepresented groups through tech-driven solutions in EdTech and FinTech.
- Kelvin Chang (Information) – Building Tinu AI, an AI-assisted tool to capture institutional knowledge and reduce workflow loss in high-churn environments.
- Kornvik Tanpipat (Rackham) – Improving safety and productivity in construction and industrial environments through computer vision and robotics.
- Lucero Toral Dominguez (Literature, Science, and the Arts) – Building Chatita, an AI-powered diabetes companion platform to support holistic chronic disease management.
- Michael Ettlinger (Environment and Sustainability) – Launching a biophilic design company that merges environmental sustainability and human health in the built environment.
- Nadia Hallaj (Engineering) – Commercializing deep-tech, lab-based sustainability solutions, specifically focusing on bio-derived materials and recyclable packaging.
- Nicholas Litsas (Engineering) – Developing a medical device venture to non-invasively diagnose jaundice by analyzing pigmentation in the sclera.
- Sruthi Pereddy (Engineering) – Building a venture providing audio-reactive lighting setups for entertainment venues, with broad interests in energy and space tech.
- Suchir Nagisetty (Literature, Science, and the Arts) – Exploring data-driven entrepreneurial solutions and policy improvements within heavily regulated industries like healthcare and energy.
- Val Amiel Vestil (Environment and Sustainability) – Scaling AYEJ, an established media nonprofit focused on environmental journalism and storytelling, into a sustainable, venture-like operating model.
Introducing our 2026 Coaches
The ELP prepares students for entrepreneurial careers through a structured curriculum, immersive ecosystem experiences, networking with alumni and leaders, and a hands-on capstone project. Because personalized guidance is a cornerstone of student development, the program features the ELP Entrepreneurial Coaching Connection. This initiative pairs students with seasoned professionals who have strong venture leadership experience, providing them with targeted support to achieve their near-term career goals. We are incredibly grateful to our roster of experienced industry leaders, founders, and investors who are stepping up to coach this year’s cohort.
- Kurt Riegger (Managing Director/CEO TKM Ventures and OcuSciences) – Over 35 years in executive management, founding, and venture capital, investing in early-stage tech.
- Dan Ross (CEO and Co-Founder CareJourney) – Serial entrepreneur and technology executive with experience spanning business intelligence, analytics platforms, and digital health startups.
- David Bloom (Executive Director, Pointe Ventures) – Serial entrepreneur, angel investor, and professor specializing in venture relations and due diligence.
- Alan Steremberg (Advisor/Former Founder) – Co-founder of Weather Underground with extensive experience in consumer product development and software.
- Bill Maxbauer (Senior Banker, Bank of Ann Arbor) – Decades of commercial banking and underwriting experience supporting middle-market clients.
- Kristie Brablec (Managing Partner/Owner Zingerman Food Tours) – Operations and service leader with deep expertise in culinary ventures and global business management.
- Ron Storm (Founder GreyCliff Industries) – Defense contractor experienced in rapidly developing impactful military and civilian solutions.
- Mike Flanagan (VP/Group Manager Ann Arbor Spark) – Investment fund lead and angel group manager supporting regional startup ecosystems.
- Sam Haberl (Head of Product Gambit) – Expertise in product strategy, execution, and scaling.
- Carolyn Yarina (Principal/Strategy Advisor Verdigris Group and Revex Technologies) – Strategic advisory and leadership in highly regulated and technical industries.
- James Goebel (Fractional CTO) – Software and organizational design leader focused on building high-performing teams and collaborative engineering cultures at Menlo Innovations.
- Jeff Bargmann (Founder/Builder) – Two-time exited founder, product engineer, and angel investor with experience spanning consumer apps, healthcare technology, and startups acquired by Flickr and GameStop.
- Joe Sipher (Founder/CEO Doodle Buddy Labs and HealthScout) – Multi-time founder with expertise spanning mobile applications to consumer health tech.
- John MacIlwaine (CEO Highnote) – Executive leadership experience guiding high-growth platforms and technology ventures in FinTech.
- Kristin Toth (Founder/CEO & CFE Lecturer Ulu Partners) – Founder of Ulu Partners and an expert lecturer at the Center for Entrepreneurship.
- Mark Matossian (Founder/CEO Lonestar Data Holdings and Efficient Frontier | SPACE) – Space technology leader with expertise spanning satellite constellations, space communications, and large-scale technical programs across Silicon Valley and the commercial space sector.
- Matt Gibson (Senior VP & Senior Financial Advisor) – Biotech entrepreneur, founder of the Entrepreneurs Leadership Program. Extensive wealth management and financial advisory experience at Merrill Lynch.
- Michael Stubbs (Head of Global Operations & Advisor CODEX and FiscalNote) – Technology and govtech leader with experience spanning policy data platforms, AI-driven analytics, and global regulatory intelligence.
- Michelle Brechtelsbauer (VP Newlab) – Energy policy and technology leader advancing nuclear innovation, climate solutions, and science policy across government, think tanks, and industry.
- Nancy Xiao (Product Lead Meta) – Product/biz leader experienced with building and scaling global XFN teams and complex products.
- Roger Van Duinen (Investment Committee Member, Cove Fund) – Experienced Co-Founder and Board Member with a demonstrated history of leadership in multiple industries.
- Shirish Nadkarni (Board Member, Advisor & Author TiE Seattle and Bloomz) – Serial entrepreneur and a pioneer in e-mail technology and online education.
We can’t wait to see how these ambitious students and their dedicated coaches collaborate to turn bold hypotheses into reality in 2026!