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MPowered · Pre-seed accelerator

MCombinator

Michigan's student-led, one-semester accelerator for U-M founders - structure, mentorship, and micro-grants with zero mandatory equity.

Duration
One semester
Cohort
5 startups
Equity
0% required
Who
All majors & levels
Apply to MCombinator See the curriculum

What founders get.

Real support for student teams - without giving up ownership.

Zero mandatory equity

MCO is strictly founder-friendly. Teams keep what they build.

Micro-grants

$1,000 milestone support for every team, up to $2,000 for the winning team.

Mentorship

Faculty advisors, engineering interns, and volunteer entrepreneurs in the loop.

Give-back pledge

Voluntary 1%-2% SAFE or future donation to help fund future MPowered cohorts.

Build and validate

One semester. Four phases.

From problem evidence to a public pitch - each phase has a clear deliverable.

  1. Weeks 1-2

    Problem & market

    User interviews, market sizing, and competitive mapping to validate the problem.

    Deliverable: Problem deck + evidence
  2. Weeks 2-5

    MVP sprint

    Build fast, test landing pages and waitlists, and put a functional MVP in front of users.

    Deliverable: Functional MVP + early users
  3. Weeks 6-8

    Early traction

    Define the right metrics, understand unit economics, and iterate from real feedback.

    Deliverable: Initial metrics dashboard
  4. Weeks 9-10

    Demo day

    Closed-door mentor feedback, then a public pitch to close the semester.

    Deliverable: Internal demo + public pitch

How the cohort works.

Five teams, one semester, shared standards for moving fast and learning in the open.

  • Speed over perfectionRapid iteration beats delayed polish.
  • Data over opinionHonest feedback and evidence drive decisions.
  • Collaborative growthFounders help each other with the cohort's collective strengths.

Built across campus

Engineering resources meet business methodology.

University of Michigan

Center for Entrepreneurship

Campus-wide innovation resources, faculty guidance, and tools for deep-tech and software ventures.

Ross +Impact Studio

Ross +Impact Studio

Business frameworks, impact-driven design, and operational insight for sustainable ventures.

Program leadership

Led by student builders.

Sophia Figueroa Sophia Figueroa Co-Director of MCombinator Ivana Vera Sanchez Ivana Vera Sanchez MPowered Co-President
Meet the full MPowered team →

Applications

Applications close

September 13, 2026 Cohort announced September 20, 2026 Open the application Complete the official MCombinator application through the linked Google Form.

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