How much lasting impact can a group of 420+ MBAs have in a matter of days? A whole lot!
The Michigan Ross MBA Class of 2019 participated in Impact Challenge in August 2017. The students worked alongside Detroit food entrepreneurs to co-create comprehensive marketing, financial, and operational strategies and assets for each business, keeping in mind triple bottom line practices. To conclude the challenge, MBAs presented their ideas on stage and during a community showcase that featured the businesses, student work, Detroit food, and music.
It’s been six months since the challenge. We checked back in with the Detroit business owners who participated to see how they are doing. Prepare to be inspired below!
For more background about the challenge and how the business owners experienced it, visit this post created by FoodLab Detroit.
Gabriel Hall
Ederique Goudia
Worked with MBA Section 4
Impact Challenge Winner
What’s new with Gabriel Hall?
Since Impact Challenge, we have hosted a number of events, including recently:
- Mardi Gras Day (February 13) at Brix Wine & Charcuterie Bar (directly across the street from the future site of Gabriel Hall!)
- A sold-out dinner for 30 (February 24)
- A cooking class with Keep Growing Detroit and their Urban Garden Education program (April 2)
We also plan to host pop-ups every other month until opening.
Did you implement any changes to your organization as a result of the business and marketing plan given to you by your MBA team?
My business partner and I review recommendations made by our team at least once a quarter with a goal of implementing each and every one of them.
One that we plan to implement is changing our business model from full service (servers would take orders at the table) to a partial service model (customers would place an order at the counter, seat themselves, and an expediter would take food to the table). In doing so, we would employ less staff allowing us to pay above minimum wage all while remaining profitable.
Also, we would implement the use of a delivery service to provide Detroiters who are unable to come to our location the option of enjoying our fare in the comfort of their home or office.
What did you learn from Impact Challenge that has helped you the most or stuck with you?
Having a triple bottom line business is not as unattainable as it may seem… All of the recommendations provided by the students were feasible and would be fairly easy to implement.
Flaky Bakes
Lateshia Dowell
Worked with MBA Section 2
What’s new with Flaky Bakes?
In September, we were featured on a national TV show, Steve Harvey’s Funderdome, and won over the studio audience to win $20,000. We’re in the process of scouting locations for a storefront and commercial kitchen. We also have sourced a commercial kitchen to rent in the meantime.
Did you implement any changes to your organization as a result of the business and marketing plan given to you by your MBA team?
I haven’t implemented the spreadsheet created by my team to help me with expenses once I’m in a commercial kitchen, but I will soon.
What did you learn from Impact Challenge that has helped you the most or stuck with you?
I learned that it’s okay to allow others to help me and I don’t have to be a one-woman show.
Mama Suebee’s Kitchen
Susie Starkey-Washington
Worked with MBA Section 1
What’s new with Mama Suebee’s Kitchen?
We have been asked by Jane Bates, the owner and chef of Green House Soups and Chili, for a standing order of our carrot supreme to put on her menu.
What did you learn from Impact Challenge that has helped you the most or stuck with you?
What helped Mama Suebee’s Kitchen and really stuck with us was how to move our business to the next level. How to let consumers know about Mama Suebee’s Kitchen with print and digital materials. And most of all, how to do a proper pitch for our business.
Did you implement any changes to your organization as a result of the business and marketing plan given to you by your MBA team?
We now try to utilize the triple bottom line by supporting local farmers for fresh organic produce. We also have learned how to communicate with the community about vegan and vegetarian foods.
We have been utilizing the tools we were given: our website, Facebook, and Instagram. We have had several orders placed through them.
GenesisHOPE
Jeanine Hatcher
Worked with MBA Section 5
Describe your favorite moment from Impact Challenge 2017:
Working with the various teams (marketing, finance, business plan) to craft the deliverables. It was like having a large think tank devoted to the development of my business—motivating!!
Did you implement any changes to your organization as a result of the business and marketing plan given to you by your MBA team?
Following the challenge, I worked directly with Maria Natalia Da Silva, MBA1, on executing the marketing plan the students created.
nakee & co
Evan Weber
Worked with MBA Section 4
What’s new with nakee & co?
- We are launching a new website within the next coming months.
- We are launching Nakee Butter iQ jars within the next 45 days.
- We will be exporting to Canada and possible China within the next six months.
- We are working with a group of six senior undergrad students at Michigan Ross for their capstone class this semester.
Describe your favorite moment from Impact Challenge 2017:
The enthusiasm that the MBA students shared with me was incredible.
The last day where we got to demonstrate our product to those invited on campus in the common area was super memorable. The energy our team displayed was by far something I will remember for many years to come.
Did you implement any changes to your organization as a result of the business and marketing plan given to you by your MBA team?
We plan to implement a working Nakee Ambassadorship program that the team and I spoke of in great detail.
Bandhu Gardens
Emily Staugaitis
Worked with MBA Section 3
What did you learn from Impact Challenge that has helped you the most or stuck with you?
The thing that has stuck with me is how much the students really got on board with the project and the mission of our work and really worked to come up with creative plans and ways to address our unique challenges.
Did you implement any changes to your organization as a result of the business and marketing plan given to you by your MBA team?
When I can, I plan to shift some of our business activities to those with higher profit margins.
PizzaPlex L3C
Nathan Hannon
Worked with MBA Section 1
What’s new with Pizza Plex?
We’ve attained our VPN (Vera Pizza Napoletana) certification making us the first pizzeria in Detroit to serve authentic Neapolitan pizza.
Describe your favorite moment from Impact Challenge 2017:
Having the students out to PizzaPlex was a fun moment, gave them a chance to see inside our startup and really get a feel for what we were trying to create.
Did you implement any changes to your organization as a result of the business and marketing plan given to you by your MBA team?
We’ve used some flyer layouts and website assistance.
Radical Plants, LLC
Melissa Heath
Worked with MBA Section 2
What’s new with Radical Plants?
We are now in three stores! One of which is a chain of 14 so the potential for increased sales is well within reach. One of our retailers is Arbor Farms Market on Stadium in Ann Arbor and we will be spending many Saturdays this year at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market!
What did you learn from Impact Challenge that has helped you the most or stuck with you?
More important than what I learned was the validation that the numbers and marketing plans provided—real growth and success is truly possible.
Did you implement any changes to your organization as a result of the business and marketing plan given to you by your MBA team?
Many of the plans were based on being a little further down the road financially. We are on our way! Soon we will be considering our own kitchen and looking at those numbers that we crunched at Ross.
Simple Supplemental Foods LLC
James Atto
Worked with MBA Section 3
What’s new with Simple Supplemental Foods?
We have since launched two new formats for our Roasted Lentils product. We are now selling Single Serving Snack packs, as well as bulk size bags for food service, and already have a handful of new customers for each new format (including U-M campus c-stores)!
Describe your favorite moment from Impact Challenge 2017:
It was probably the moment that I met our team. I walked into a room, not knowing what was going on, and the reception, the noise, the energy and enthusiasm in the room, and all of these bright students going crazy for my company and product was a pretty amazing feeling.
What did you learn from Impact Challenge that has helped you the most or stuck with you?
Honestly, I learned about what sort of employees I would want to hire when the time comes. The team I worked with was 100% magnificent in their energy, diligence, work ethic, and performance.
Us Food Market
Raphael Wright
Worked with MBA Section 2
What’s new with Us Food Market?
- ‘ve secured an operating manager with over 40 years of grocery experience.
- have come to terms with a group of small investors who will match my GoFundMe campaign funds at $41,000, bringing my funding efforts to $82,000.
- A negative turn in my journey is the constant issues with securing a space:
- Originally, I had a space in my home neighborhood but negotiations fell apart after the building was sold.
- During the Impact Challenge, I was in the process of closing on a space. However, after the challenge, my team discovered a pile of legality issues associated with the space, so we determined it would be best to abandon the property at least until legality issues are resolved with the city and the property owner(s).
- Now, we have been working to move into the space at 11908 Conner Street which is across the street from the Coleman Young City Airport. The space has passed all building opinion inspections, and the building owner and I are close to finalizing a lease with an option to buy later.
Describe your favorite moment from Impact Challenge 2017:
One word: TEAMWORK! I experienced a true team effort with this section along with a strong effort for the section to bond personally outside of the challenge. We had much fun after those long, stressful days. The effort to be a close-knit team and family is my favorite memory.
Did you implement any changes to your organization as a result of the business and marketing plan given to you by your MBA team?
I created a social media account for the upcoming store and per the recommendation of my section, I’ve pursued marketing opportunities in media (radio interviews, podcast interviews, live events and demos, and pop-up events).
Guerrilla Food
Meiko Krishok
Worked with MBA Section 5
Describe your favorite moment from Impact Challenge 2017:
Getting to meet the whole group and getting bombarded with question after question; answering, explaining and clarifying; answering more questions. Also, getting to have one on one conversations about family food memories, specific plants and herbs, and favorite dishes.
What did you learn from Impact Challenge that has helped you the most or stuck with you?
The importance of clear, concise branding that people can understand. Also that the clearer (and more detailed) your vision is, the easier it is to create a roadmap to get there.
Did you implement any changes to your organization as a result of the business and marketing plan given to you by your MBA team?
When we reopen in the spring, we’ll be open two nights/week. We’ve also rewritten our business plan and are beginning plans for a brick and mortar location.
Wow, that’s a lot of impact! Cheers to the MBA Class of 2019 for making a difference for Detroit entrepreneurs.