LANSING, Mich. (Jan. 21, 2026) — Two Michigan State University student-led ventures, BRCĒ and CocoMar, earned top honors at the internationally recognized Queen’s Entrepreneurs’ Competition in Toronto, reinforcing strength of the Lansing region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and the growing national and global impact of MSU founders.
BRCĒ, a material-tech startup that is developing an ecosystem of athletic performance gear and safety accessories to support athletes in performance and recovery captured first place, and $20,000. While CocoMar, a premium ready-to-drink protein smoothie brand that blends real fruits with coconut water secured third place and a $5,000 award. The QEC draws top student-led ventures from around the world, making the achievement of two regional teams placing especially notable.
“This is the kind of story you love to hear,” said Jillian Winn, director of the Lansing Regional SmartZone. “Two student-led companies from the Lansing region placing in the top 15 and being invited to the Queen’s Entrepreneurs’ Competition is impressive on its own.
“These student teams are shining examples of how taking full advantage of the support ecosystem of MSU and the Lansing region to accelerate business growth. The founders are the ones putting in the hard work—staying dedicated and never giving up—but they are not alone. As MSU students, they’ve worked with the MSU Burgess Institute and Michigan State University, and they’ve also received support from, the Lansing Regional SmartZone, the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP), the MSU Research Foundation, and other regional partners. We work together to support these entrepreneurs, so they are prepared to not just show up, but stand out.”
Both companies have been supported by the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, which provides students with education, mentorship, funding opportunities, and a community designed to help founders turn ideas into scalable ventures.
“BRCĒ and CocoMar are strong examples of how a coordinated ecosystem can elevate student founders,” said Laurel Ofstein, senior director of the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. “Burgess provides the foundation—early education, mentorship, and a sense of belonging—so students are ready to take advantage of opportunities across the region”
BRCE and CocoMar also alumni of the Conquer Accelerator program through the MSU Research Foundation, gaining additional support to refine and scale their businesses.
“The Burgess Institute gives student founders a strong foundation, and the Conquer Accelerator is designed to build on that momentum,” said Tom Stewart, Director of Venture Programming at the MSU Research Foundation. “By the time teams reach us, we’re able to work alongside them to stress-test assumptions, sharpen business models, and prepare them for the expectations of real companies. That progression matters, and it’s rewarding to see teams like BRCĒ and CocoMar carrying that preparation onto a global stage.”
Having two ventures from the same region place at a competition of this caliber highlights not only the quality of the individual teams, but also the collaborative support network behind them—from university programs to regional partners committed to advancing entrepreneurship in Michigan.
