MSU Research Foundation Launches Two Sector-Based Startup Accelerator Cohorts with Support from MSUFCU and Henry Ford Health
Conquer Accelerator programs offer funding, mentorship, and networking to grow finance, insurance, and health tech businesses in Michigan.
EAST LANSING and DETROIT, Mich. (Jan. 28, 2025) — The Michigan State University Research Foundation launched two Conquer Accelerator program cohorts, with a joint orientation held on January 27, 2025. The East-Lansing-based Conquer Finance and Insurance Accelerator, powered by MSUFCU, focuses on advancing innovation in the finance and insurance sectors. The Conquer Detroit Accelerator, in partnership with Henry Ford Health + MSU Health Sciences, targets healthcare and health tech businesses. Both programs will run concurrently through March 2025.
East Lansing Cohort: Finance and Insurance Innovation
The East-Lansing-based Conquer Finance and Insurance Accelerator, powered by MSUFCU, focuses on advancing innovation in the finance and insurance sectors.
Five startups advancing finance or insurance tech solutions were selected for the East Lansing program:
Crux Analytics: A platform offering hyper-local insights to help financial institutions build stronger relationships with small business, enhancing business development, underwriting, and portfolio management.
Housetable: A platform simplifying home improvement financing with advanced underwriting and risk assessment tools.
Ribbon Financial: A platform that simplifies the inheritance process for financial institutions, improving deposit retention and customer experiences during wealth transfers.
Salus Financial Technology: A platform providing emergency microloans based on cash flow data, along with financial wellness tools for individuals without prime credit scores.
Sawport: An AI-powered virtual branch platform that enables financial institutions to provide remote services, with a focus on underserved global and domestic markets.
Detroit Cohort: HealthTech Solutions
The Conquer Detroit Accelerator, in partnership with Henry Ford Health + MSU Health Sciences, targets healthcare and health tech businesses.
Five startups were selected for the Detroit cohort, each addressing key challenges in healthcare and health technology. Each team was paired with an intern from the Conquer Accelerator Diversity in Entrepreneurship (CADE) program:
Cura Collaborative: A caregiver coordination platform that engages family members, offers medical education, and tracks care data to improve communication and enhance patient outcomes. Joining Cura Collaborative is intern Aronor Chisholm, a Michigan State University senior studying Marketing and Entrepreneurship.
DeNovo Fertility: An online platform combining personalized biochemistry insights, education, and community support to help individuals and couples enhance fertility. Joining DeNovo Fertility is intern Ciara Schuster, a Junior at Eastern Michigan University majoring in General Business with a focus on Business Analytics.
EnquAIre: An AI-powered app that supports post-discharge care through increased patient interactions, recovery monitoring, and reduced hospital readmissions. Joining EnquAire is intern Sri Anandan, a Master’s student in Information Technology at Lawrence Technological University specializing in Business Analytics.
Olivatte: A gamified educational app simplifying certification processes for medical professionals, with plans to expand to other certification-reliant industries. Joining Ollivate is intern Ankita Bhosale, a University of Michigan, Dearborn graduate student pursuing a Master of Science.
EliteCare Technologies: A platform that helps outpatient clinics optimize billing for transitional care services through real-time updates on patient hospital admissions and discharges. Joining Elite Care is intern Vikalp Vinod Chaubey, a graduate student at Lawrence Technological University pursuing a Master of Science in Information Technology.
Comprehensive Support for Startups
The Conquer Accelerator program provides startups with a $20,000 investment from Red Cedar Ventures, a venture investment subsidiary of the MSU Research Foundation. Participants also gain access to mentorship from over 40 entrepreneurs and industry leaders, collaborative workspaces. The East Lansing cohort operates out of the MSU Research Foundation offices and MSUFCU’s community space, while the Detroit cohort works from Newlab at Michigan Central.
Program benefits include:
Expert presentations and targeted programming.
Guidance on business development, fundraising, intellectual property, and market strategies.
Goal-driven benchmarks tailored to each team.
"These cohorts represent a wealth of creativity and determination," said Tom Stewart, Director of Venture Programming at the MSU Research Foundation. "We look forward to supporting these entrepreneurs as they develop and scale their innovative solutions."
Continued Support After the Program
Upon completion, cohort teams join the Red Cedar Ventures portfolio, gaining access to ongoing mentorship, additional investment opportunities, and one-on-one coaching as they transition from startup to growth phases.
For more information about the Conquer Accelerator or to apply for the next cohort, visit msufoundation.org/conquer-accelerator.