FUEL CONSUMER IT

To apply for Fuel Consumer IT funding, you must be a current faculty or staff member at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor with a significant role in the startup, such as a co-founder, officer, leader, or someone working full-time on the venture.

Students with ventures should consider the primary Fuel Program for funding student ventures. Click to be directed to our Fuel page.

Fuel applications are due BY NOON on the due date, which falls on a Tuesday. The program runs four times during the eight-month academic year. The exact dates for the academic year are provided here.

Applicants should avoid including sensitive intellectual property in their application or presentation. This means not sharing technical details like materials processing, programming code, active contract negotiations, or any trade secrets. Only include information you’re comfortable sharing publicly.

Submitted materials will be shared with U-M staff and a select group of external professionals for assessment. If you have concerns or questions about intellectual property, contact Alison Smith at alisone@umich.edu before applying.

Ensure that your submitted budget prioritizes funding that directly supports achieving your venture’s next commercialization milestone. 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.

Judges will closely evaluate these expenses to determine their relevance and alignment with the venture’s next critical step.

• Legal Services: IP protection or incorporation, unless crucial for the milestone.
• General Professional Services: Services not directly tied to the immediate milestone.

A rubric ensures clarity in evaluation Fuel Consumer IT applications for both applicants and judges.

Applicants should carefully review the rubric document to understand the assessment criteria.

Unapproved Expenses: Applications with unapproved budget items will be returned before review. See “What Expenses Does Fuel Consumer IT 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.

Judges will use a rubric to determine which teams meet the established criteria to advance to the next stage in Fuel Consumer IT. Teams are evaluated individually against the rubric, not compared to one another. If the majority of judges agree that a team should advance to presentations; the team will receive an invitation.

The judges’ panel for Fuel Consumer IT will consist of 5 dedicated individuals, including entrepreneurial staff, directors, and experienced entrepreneurs from the U-M external network. For pitch presentations, judges can participate in person or remotely.

Judges will use the same rubric to evaluate which teams meet the funding criteria. Teams are assessed individually against a set cut-off point. After presentations, judges may ask follow-up questions and discuss the appropriate funding amount. If the majority agrees a team deserves funding, a notification will be sent to that team.

Teams with U-M-employed students, staff, or faculty must receive Regental conflict of interest approval before Fuel funds can be disbursed. This process may take several months. Funds are awarded directly to the incorporated business after approval.

Please contact Alison Smith with your questions: alisone@umich.edu

Need more answers? Schedule a virtual meeting with Alison Smith