Two teams of Spartan Engineer innovators are among the semifinalists in the 2025 Burgess New Venture Challenge (NVC), the premier pitch competition for student venturers at Michigan State University.
Burgess NVC, hosted by the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, enhances the probability of success for undergraduate and graduate student venturers by providing mentoring and guidance, connections to Michigan's entrepreneurial ecosystem and opportunities for engagement and investment.
Semifinalist teams are judged internally and externally on the collective basis of the teams' provided materials, such as their business plan, value proposition, financial model, pitch deck, their needs, and their defined goals for growth for a chance to earn one of five Pitch & Plan Awards, each worth $7,500.
This year’s startups represent eight academic colleges and over a dozen disciplines of study, competing for more than $50,000 in prizes on Thursday, April 3, 2025, from 4-8 p.m. at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center in East Lansing.
The Spartan Engineers who qualified as semifinalists are:
AG3 Labs
Gavin Gardner, a master’s student in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
AG3 Labs design advanced, low-cost drones that leverage AI and cutting-edge innovation to redefine the capabilities of autonomous aerial systems.
BRCĒ
Tanvi Gadamsetti, a senior in computer science and Madhav Aggarwal, a junior in computer science
BRCĒ is a material-tech startup, developing an ecosystem of athletic performance gear and safety accessories to support athletes in performance and recovery and industrial use-cases. They are the inventors of “The World’s first and only shoelaces that never come undone™ due to activity,” engineered with proprietary microscopic inter-lock technology, tailored for various sports, kids, young athletes and industrial work environments. BRCĒ has already been presented in the student category at the prestigious 2025 SXSW Pitch Competition and was featured on WKAR News and in The State News.
“Each year, these startups showcase the incredible talent, resilience, and innovation that defines Michigan State University. The Challenge emphasizes collaboration, venture development, and the power of an entrepreneurial mindset, ensuring that every student walks away with valuable insights, connections, and momentum for their venture,” said Paul Jaques, the Burgess Institute’s managing director of venture creation.
Read more on all 15 student startup teams at the 2025 Burgess New Venture Challenge.
MSU College of Engineering Media and Public Relations page