The Samuel Zell and Robert H. Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor has partnered with the William Davidson Institute and Aparajitha Foundations to launch the Michigan Academy for the Development of Entrepreneurs (MADE).
The non-profit institute will work with entrepreneurship development organizations (EDOs) in developing countries to give individuals operating businesses the resources and best practices they need to succeed.
Rather than rely on conceptual or theoretical framework, MADE collects the practical lessons learned from partner organizations worldwide and networks created from years of U-M consulting projects in economies including: Vietnam, Kosovo, and Morocco. MADE is currently focused on India, but is also building on past work conducted by Zell, with plans for expansion.
“Whether they’re in Silicon Valley or Africa, entrepreneurs bring the energy and vitality that every economy needs to succeed, and the Zell Lurie Institute is committed to supporting them wherever they may be — but what works for a startup in one part of the world doesn’t necessarily work for others,” says Stewart Thornhill, executive director of the Zell Lurie Institute.
“We’re looking forward to combining the entrepreneurial know-how of the Zell Lurie Institute with the global business expertise of the William Davidson Institute and the on-the-ground experiences of Aparajitha Foundations to empower local small businesses and economic development around the world.”
MADE will be led by executive director Mike Pape, an entrepreneur who will provide leadership to a team of MBA students through action-based learning. The students won’t just work on projects, but will essentially run MADE alongside Pape, providing continuity from year to year. Pape has co-founded several life sciences companies, including Esperion Therapeutics, which was acquired by Pfizer for $1.3 billion in 2014.
“Mike has been a fixture in the Ann Arbor entrepreneurial ecosystem for years — and his track record of founding and scaling successful startups speaks for itself,” says Thornhill. “When it came time to choose the right person to launch and scale MADE — and guide others through the process of getting their own ventures off the ground — there was no question in our minds that Mike was up to the challenge.”
More information about MADE can be found here.
