M West Challenge

West Michigan's Student Entrepreneurship Competition

Welcome to the 2023 MWest Challenge, a student venture competition designed to create cross collaboration between students that span across several universities from West Michigan. Through MWest, entrepreneurially minded students are able to develop and grow new ventures based on their own ideas. MWest involves eight West Michigan colleges and universities, representing 75,000 students from: Grand Valley State University, Kendall College of Art and Design, Davenport University, Aquinas College, Calvin College, Cornerstone University, Grand Rapids Community College, Kuyper College, and Hope College.

Previous Winners

2020 Award Winners

Innovation Showcase (Group A)

First Place ($1500): Redemption Loom

Second Place ($1000): InVenue

Third Place ($500): EazyNet

Innovation Showcase (Group B)

First Place ($1500): Stow

Second Place ($1000): Piggy Bank

Third Place ($500): Carmeleom

Finalist Pitch Winners

First Place ($4000): uRiff

Second Place ($2500): Mythos Dice

Third Place ($1000): Renewal Co.

2019 Award Winners

Innovation Showcase (Group A)

First Place ($1500): Hearty Acres LLC

Second Place ($750): Student Headline

Innovation Showcase (Group B)

First Place ($1500): Forgive Everyone Co.

Second Place ($750): CoLease

Finalist Pitch Awards

First Place ($4000): Camper Medication

Second Place ($2500): Considered Furniture

Third Place ($1000): Blockstyle

2018 Award Winners

Red Bull X Start Garden Incubator:

Aisle 5

FitMe

Honey Batcher

Innovation Showcase and Idea Pitch Competition:

People’s Choice Award ($500):  Hammer & Nail

2nd place ($1,000):  Guerillaz Firm (Boomstick Jacks)

1st place ($1,500):  FitMe

Final Competition:

People’s Choice ($500):  Guardian

2nd place ($2,500):  Dishruptive

1st place ($5000):  Honey Batcher

2017 Award Winners

  • Stir It Up
    Northwestern Mutual Master Track Grand Prize: $5,000


  • Orindi
    Northwestern Mutual Master Track Second Place: $2,000


  • Locker Lifestyle
    Northwestern Mutual Early Stage Grand Prize: $5,000/ People’s Choice Award: $2,500


  • Improved Smoke Detector
    Northwestern Mutual Early Stage Second Place: $2,000/ Varnum Legal Services Award: $2,500


  • 934 Bagworks
    Amway Spirit of Entrepreneurship: $3,000


  • Solace
    Spectrum Health Innovation: $2,000


  • Rose’s Place
    People’s Choice Awards: $1,500


  • Fern Bridal
    People’s Choice Awards: $1,000


  • Sun Fuel Lighting
    Varnum Legal Services Award: $2,500/ Impact Award- Final Round: $750


  • Tilt
    Impact Award- Final Round: $750


  • Tabletop Entertainment
    Impact Award- Final Round: $750


  • Snap'n New Edge
    Impact Award- Final Round: $750


  • Lux Design
    Impact Award- Final Round: $750


  • Lunch Pail
    Impact Award- Final Round: $750


  • Eco friendly INK
    Impact Award- Final Round: $750


  • Second Nature Tiny Homes
    Impact Award- Final Round: $750


  • Lost now Found
    Impact Award - First Round: $500


  • The Music Community Center
    Impact Award - First Round: $500


  • Poop and Cook
    Impact Award - First Round: $500


  • Spera Foods
    Impact Award - First Round: $500


  • HeirMail
    Impact Award - First Round: $500


  • Wholesome Eats LLC.
    Impact Award - First Round: $500


  • LUME SHIELD
    Impact Award - First Round: $500


  • A Helping Hand
    Impact Award - First Round: $500


  • Ice Breaker App
    Impact Award - First Round: $500


  • FEALS
    Impact Award - First Round: $500

2016 Award Winners

  • Bootstrap Innovations
    Northwestern Mutual Grand Prize - Masterclass: $6,500


  • Lüp
    Northwestern Mutual Grand Prize - Early Stage: $6,500


  • EZ Pump
    Spectrum Health Care Innovation: $5,000


  • Fathom
    Amway Spirit of Entrepreneurship: $3,000


  • Edicolore
    Second Place - Early Stage: $3,000


  • Safekeyy
    Third Place - Early Stage: $2,000


  • LoadMate Wheelchair Loader
    Impact Award: $1,000


  • Morpheus Scheduling Software
    Impact Award: $1,000


  • UNA
    Impact Award: $1,000


  • Simply Conquer
    Impact Award: $1,000


  • Ice Cream Boat
    Impact Award: $1,000


  • Old Flame
    Impact Award: $1,000


  • Orindi Ventures
    Impact Award: $1,000


  • The Mat
    Impact Award: $1,000


  • Lockdown G-Rapids
    Impact Award: $1,000


  • The Shop Supermarket
    Impact Award: $1,000


  • Tech-ulance
    Impact Award: $1,000


  • Young At Heart Home Care
    Impact Award: $1,000


  • BioMarks Studio
    Impact Award: $1,000


  • Jewelry Subscription Box
    Impact Award: $1,000

2015 Award Winners

  • Airway Innovations
    Grand Prize-Masterclass: $6,500


  • Safety Sit
    Spectrum Health 2nd Place: $2,500


  • Re Fresh
    Grand Prize: $6,500


  • FitFrames
    2nd Place Winner: $2,500

  • Green Pumps
    1st Place Pitch: $2,000


  • Vandergen
    2nd Place Pitch: $1,000


  • Jitney
    Spirit of Entrepreneurship: $1,000


  • The Entreprenartist Movement
    Lifestyle Award: $2,000

  • Elevated Perspective
    GR Current Technology Award: $2,500


  • Levitronics
    Innovation by Design Award: $2,000


2014 Award Winners

  • Fluition
    First Place: $15,000


  • Soletics
    Second Place: $10,000


  • OneBowl
    Third Place: $4,000


  • Refutea
    Social Venture Award: $3,000

  • TakeItOnline
    Technology Award: $3,000


  • Green Apple Energy
    Sustainability Award: $3,000


  • Schewpps Pets
    Life Style Award: $2,000


  • Refutea
    1st Place Pitch: $2,000

  • TakeItOnline
    2nd Place Pitch: $1,500


  • PRESH
    3rd Place Pitch: $1,000


  • Tizzy
    People's Choice Award: $500