EMU Today

YPSILANTI — Eastern Michigan University’s Center for Entrepreneurship offers strong entrepreneurship education and curriculum programs while enriching innovative cultures in the EMU community. The Center recently concluded the Executive Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Venture Challenge, an eight-week certificate program, resulting in two venture challenge winners Paul Reiss and Jonathan Marceau. Reiss won the $25K prize and Marceau won $5K.

The Executive Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Venture Challenge exposes participants to academics, industry experts, mentors, professional coaches, and startup investors. On Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, 12 participants graduated from the Fall 2023 cohort.

Reiss is the co-founder and CEO of Protein Pints, a protein-packed ice cream with the same macronutrients as a protein shake or bar. He is pursuing higher education by studying entrepreneurship at Michigan State University and running his company. With the $25K prize, he hopes to transition from making the ice cream himself at local shops to begin working with a co-manufacturer to accelerate the brand's growth and fulfill the demand for more products in stores.

“I feel extremely grateful to have won,” said Reiss. “It shows how far we have come in the past year since starting Protein Pints. I recognize that winning $25K is a big responsibility. We have a lot of work to do and are just getting started.”

Marceau is the founder of Synapse Creations and was invited by Chowdhury to participate in the venture challenge. Marceau states the event was an excellent opportunity to learn and grow as an entrepreneur in preparation for developing his web application, Spelling Safari: an elementary classroom tool that individualizes spelling instruction and learning for students while saving teachers time and energy. He plans to use the $5K prize to fund the development of Spelling Safari’s beta version, which is set to release in the summer of 2024. The prize money will also help market this product to investors and the public.

“Don’t wait for the right moment to start working on your idea,” said Marceau. On advice for future entrepreneurs, Marceau said to take the leap now. “Find events and opportunities to grow your network and keep doing the next best thing.”

To learn more about EMU’s CFE, visit the webpage. To get involved in the Executive Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Venture Challenge, visit the website or contact Sanjib Chowdhury at sanjib.chowdhury@emich.edu. 

About Eastern Michigan University
Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves more than 14,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and its graduate school. National publications regularly recognize EMU for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. Visit the University’s rankings and points of pride websites to learn more. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website. To stay up to date on University news, activities and announcements, visit EMU Today.