U-M Biz School VC fund invests in Flint-based BeholzTech

The business school students at the University of Michigan might be learning how the venture capital game works but they’re not playing with fake money.

The Frankel Commercialization Fund, a student-managed venture capital seed fund, has invested $71,000 into BeholzTech, a Flint-based start-up that specializes in development of new plastics. Think of as a school project only with much bigger implications.

“We are really pleased to have been able to partner with the Frankel Fund,” says Lars Beholz, a visiting associate professor of chemistry at Kettering University founded BeholzTech. “The money provided will be absolutely critical to enable BeholzTech to produce sample products with which to begin discussions with potential customers and future investors.”

BeholzTech’s technology effectively coats polyolefin plastics, which are used to make thousands of everyday products. The coating makes them easier to modify and adhere to other materials, plus it is cheaper and safer to do it this way than the traditional method.

The seed money will develop prototypes, identify customers, develop a marketing plan and recruit personnel.

The Frankel Fund, established in 2005, seeks opportunities to help jumpstart new companies in Michigan with venture capital. Investments are focused on early-stage companies, and are often known as “seed” or “pre-seed” investments. The fund, which organized into student teams, is believed to be the only student venture capital fund of its kind.

Source: University of Michigan
Writer: Jon Zemke