Impact Design Lab
The Impact Design Lab is the organizing structure for two
co-curricular student experiences: The Applebaum Impact Design Fellowship and the Founders Program. Both are supported by the Applebaum Innovator-in-Residence.
Applebaum Impact Design Fellowship
Applebaum Impact Design Fellows are part of an interdisciplinary cohort working to support the Impact Studio Founders Program & prototype studio concepts. Fellows act as temporary co-founders who roll-up their sleeves to help impact-driven creators and innovators bring impactful ideas to life that build a sustainable and just world for all! Using business knowledge, design tools, and research fellows work with +Impact Studio coaches to help founders to accomplish great things. Come build with us!
Who This Is For
If you’re a current U-M student from any degree program who has a strong entrepreneurial spirit, enthusiasm for interdisciplinary collaboration, follow-through and a desire to engage with ambiguity, a commitment to impact, and willingness to help take ideas from concept, to prototype, to scale–we want you!
As a fellow, you would comprise a diverse cohort of people who can operate as design or business generalists and have education or experience in one or more of the following areas:
Prototype & Design: prototyping, product/service development, user research, UI/UX, web development
Branding, Marketing & PR: brand strategy, marketing & PR planning, content creation, sales strategy
Financials: build financial startup model, financial forecasting and projections, fundraising
Go-to-Market & Operations Financials: create GTM strategy, build & implement operational plans and procedures
Business Model Development: Impact business model creation, customer discovery, market assessment
Impact: social impact research & measurement
-
You will be matched with 1 to 2 founders based on needs and the interest/experience of the fellows. As a thought and action partner, you will:
Maintain big picture understanding and provide a summary of venture status
Join Founders in their team meetings and contribute to the growth of their idea, providing advice and using a set of studio tools and other resources
Actively analyze venture needs and identify project/activity needs such as:
Learn to use tools such as the impact business model canvas
Design a user/stakeholder research plan and facilitate data synthesis
Research, develop, test, and evaluate prototypes
Provide thought partnership on brand development and go to market strategy
Develop and refine financial models, forecasts, and funding strategies
Lead or support other duties for the program such as content creation for social media
You may be re-deployed to help other founders in the studio on specific projects based on fellow interest and founder needs.
-
As a fellow you will engage with the studio community through:
Weekly Meetings with +Impact Studio Coaches & Fellows: Meet with other fellows and coaches to share updates, brainstorm, ask for help, and receive support.
Weekly Breakfasts & Friday Morning Coworking Sessions: You will meet with your assigned founders to work on projects. You will also participate in community standups to hear what other founders are working on and provide advice/feedback.
Working Meetings with Matched Founders: As needed, you will meet outside of the coworking sessions with founders to work on specific projects or milestones.
Venture Work: You’ll keep track of venture status and needs and identify and complete value-add projects for the founders you’re working with.
Throughout the semester, there may be other meetings/events that the +Impact Studio coaches will ask you to attend.
Hours & Compensation
For fellow-related work inside and outside the Studio, you should expect to work 10 hours per week for 13 weeks starting January 19, 2024. You will be paid an hourly rate of $22. There is a possible extension through winter term.
Application Details:
Applications for the Winter semester have concluded.
Dates of the program: January 19 - April 19, 2024
Click to See Fall '23 Applebaum Impact Design Fellows
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Founders Program
The Impact Studio Founders Program helps impact-driven creators and innovators bring impactful ideas to life that build a sustainable and just world for all! Using business knowledge, design tools, and research expertise, our experienced and interdisciplinary coaches and fellows roll up their sleeves and work alongside founders to accomplish great things. Come build with us!
Who This is For
If you’re a current U-M student from any degree program who is in the early stages of your impact-driven idea, and you’re serious and committed to taking steps to launch your idea within a community of innovators, this is the place for you!
What You’ll Get
|
A Homebase You’ll join a community and build friendships with other high octane, impact design founders and fellows during our weekly coworking sessions. |
Expert Coaching Experienced social entrepreneurs, social impact leaders, & Ross faculty and staff will help mentor you or your team during office hours. Meet the team. |
Temp Cofounder An Applebaum +Impact Design Fellow will be matched to your team to work alongside you and direct you to appropriate resources. |
|
Project Funding You can receive up to $1K for expenses related to prototyping or testing your idea. |
Access to Tools & Perks You or your team will have access to the +Impact Studio space, food & coffee, and other design/startup tools and resources. |
Networking You may access experts and U-M alumni who can give you specific advice or open new doors for you and events to help you expand your network. |
-
As a founder you become part of our collaborative design community. You’ll work together with Applebaum Impact Design Fellows, one another, coaches, and experts to turn your ideas into working prototypes and take steps to bring them to life. On a given week, you will join a weekly coworking session in the +Impact Studio to advance your idea by doing activities such as:
designing an impact business model
analyzing and making sense of user research
interviewing stakeholders
creating a marketing plan
developing and testing a working prototype
receiving coaching and guidance on strategy to build your venture
synthesizing feedback received from experts on campus and beyond
For venture-related work inside and outside the Studio, you should expect 6-8 hours per week of time committed to your venture. You do not need prior entrepreneurial experience. You do need a can-do and coachable attitude, an open mind, and a willingness to work with others.
Testimonial:
“The Impact Studio was the most transformative part of my MBA experience. It allowed me to tap into parts of my passion that I had not yet nurtured. The continued guidance, along with the programmatic elements, have helped me walk away with the confidence and community to guide me forward in this journey of entrepreneurship”
- Impact Design Founder, Joi James, MBA ‘23
Details:
Dates of the program: September 21 - December 15, 2023
Application Information:
Applications for the Fall ‘23 semester have concluded.
Evaluation: Ideas will be evaluated on depth of impact: To what extent are your enterprise’s mission, purpose, and model explicitly focused on impact?
-
Winter Term Highlights
Weekly Breakfast & Friday Morning Coworking Sessions
Enjoy free breakfast as a community
Meet as a community to give and receive feedback
Meet with your temporary cofounder and studio coaches to advance your idea.
Meeting with Your Temporary Cofounder
As needed, meet outside of the coworking sessions with your temp cofounder to work on specific projects or milestones.
Office Hours with Coaches & Experts
Receive advice tailored to your specific work from in-house coaches
Meet with experts within the Impact Studio network on relevant topics for your idea.
Coffee Connect
Attend periodic networking events with other innovators and entrepreneurs across campus.
Idea Showcase Day
Share your idea with local entrepreneurs, funders, and alumni for feedback.
Click to See Fall '23 Applebaum Impact Design Founders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Applebaum Innovator-in-Residence
Applebaum Innovator-in-Residence Moses Lee, along with our studio faculty and staff, provide coaching for our Fellows, Founders, and Interns. Moses (BBA’02, MA’03) is an experienced educator and social entrepreneur who is passionate about working with students to discover and take action on their passions. In 2011, Lee founded Seelio, an educational service and technology company that partners with universities to prepare students for their careers. Previously, Lee directed TechArb, the U of M student startup accelerator, where he coached and mentored students across all disciplines.
Studio Community Coworking
The Community Coworking Fridays are aimed at being an incubator of innovative ideas and projects related to social impact — from framing issues to ideation and prototyping of business ventures. Each week, student founders meet in the Impact Studio to work on their ventures; collaborate on ideas; consult with fellows, faculty, staff, and special guests; and support one another.
Meet the student ventures in the +Impact Studio in 2024:
-
This venture is represented by Founder Nikhil Devaraj (BBA '27) and Fellow, AudreyFok (MBA '25). The Future of Educationist Tutoring is a 501(c)(3) non profit that provides free mentorship and tutoring to students around the world, while simultaneously providing volunteering opportunities to tutors around the world. By democratizing mentorships and volunteering through every new match and decreasing the education and wealth gap in Asian countries, Educationist Training establishes a new type of cross-cultural bond between tutors and students.
-
Founder Faye Xiao(BBA, LSA ComputerScience ‘25), with Fellow Francesca Colombo (MBA ‘25), is looking to combat climate change by providing a sustainable shopping marketplace and quality climate education to help consumers switch to more responsible consumption. LivePlannetZero supports eco-conscious brands, offers cashback rewards, and even provides a unique Eco-Score to help users make more informed choices. Through affiliate marketing and tiered pricing models, we are trying to create a self-sustaining business model that allows us to generate income while promoting eco-conscious behavior.
-
CityView, founded by Mahzad Khoshlessan (PhD Robotics, Engineering '25) and supported by Fellow Danielle Hamer (MPP ‘24), seeks to help metro planning organizations and statewide Department of Transportation departments with planning using an innovative decision intelligence tool to build an accessible, walkable, equitable future for residents and lead to enhanced quality of life. Primarily, CityView seeks to do this by solving funding allocation and budget planning problems. The goal is to provide clear insights into the economic feasibility, risks, and positive impacts of their investment choices.
-
Co-founded by Maya Ambady (MBA '25) and Brianna Ross (MBA '25) and supported by Fellow Tiara Julien(MSI ‘25), Project H.E.A.L.’s mission is to empower low-income BIWOC (Black, Indigenous Women of Color) to make informed healthcare decisions and advocate for themselves in the medical arena. Less privileged and historically underserved BIWOC are often unfamiliar with the medical system, intimidated by medical jargon, and less likely to self-advocate. Project H.E.A.L. is a platform-based app or model designed to facilitate patient-provider communication.
-
Founder Rui Wang (BBA '27) and Fellow Yashvi Patel (MBA '25) are working together to accelerate the transition to green energy by enabling local businesses to access solar power while empowering individual impact investors. MySolarWealth is a crowdfunding site that helps retail investors find stable ESG investments, specifically with solar energy solutions. Thus allowing them to make informed investments, that help the world while minimizing risk. They can choose which small/medium size business in Portugal, that they wish to invest in. It creates a platform to match investors who are interested in investing in solar energy with small and medium size businesses that need that help