Michigan Ross Students Tackle Real-World Challenges and Share Insights from the +Tech Innovation Jam

Students are asked to identify solutions to business problems and to apply design thinking, artificial intelligence, and other technologies to address them.  

Students form teams that mirror real-world tech groups, taking on roles such as product manager, technical architect, user experience/user interface designer, analyst, and generalist. Faculty mentors and alumni experts guide each team as they design prototypes and pitch ideas to a panel of judges from industry and academia.

We spoke to three Michigan Ross students who shared their experiences and key takeaways from the +Tech Innovation Jam.

Joseph Winkler, MBA ’27

Career interest: Supply chain management, ideally for a tech or industrial company.

How was your experience participating in the +Tech Innovation Jam?

I thoroughly enjoyed participating in the +Tech Innovation Jam. I had the opportunity to collaborate with a highly motivated team of students to develop a concept into a viable business plan. Our team divided up responsibilities in order to ensure an effective division of work and meet tight, continuous deadlines. Although I initially joined the competition on a whim, I completed the experience with a genuine belief that our team’s idea could become a real business.

What kinds of skills did you get to apply?

The Innovation Jam required strong communication and teamwork throughout the project. Additionally, I applied technical and creative skills by experimenting with vibe coding using Replit, developing a wireframe, and contributing to a high-fidelity product mockup.

What was the most challenging part of this event?

Pitching our project to the panel of judges was the most challenging aspect of the event, and unlike any presentation experience I had previously encountered. While the Innovation Jam challenge round felt similar to a traditional class presentation, delivering our slide deck to a large audience and a panel of investors required greater clarity, confidence, and adaptability. This experience was both challenging and highly valuable from a learning perspective.

I was pleasantly surprised by the number of informational and instructional sessions offered by the Innovation Jam staff. I greatly appreciated these sessions, as I entered the Innovation Jam with limited technical and startup experience. Thanks to the training I received, I was able to quickly pick up the basics and become a stronger member of our team.

What was your biggest takeaway, and why would you recommend this event to others?

My biggest takeaway was gaining first-hand insight into both the complexity and excitement of building an app from concept to execution. The experience reinforced how challenging yet rewarding the process can be, especially when working under time constraints. I would strongly recommend the Innovation Jam because it provides an opportunity for exceptionally talented students from Michigan Ross and other schools at the University of Michigan to collaborate in a fast-paced, real-world environment that is both educational and inspiring.
 

Kemi Orisile, MBA ’26

Career interest: Consulting.

How was your experience participating in the +Tech Innovation Jam?

Participating in the +Tech Innovation Jam was a very rewarding experience. I worked as a generalist, which allowed me to contribute across different areas of the project, including ideation, problem framing, and strategy development. This required adaptability and flexibility, and I enjoyed actively supporting key workstreams while adjusting quickly as the project evolved.

What kinds of skills did you get to apply?

The Jam gave me the opportunity to apply problem-solving and teamwork skills in a high-pressure, time-constrained setting. I also strengthened my ability to manage time effectively and adapt quickly as priorities shifted, all while collaborating closely with teammates toward a common objective.

What was the most challenging part of this event?

We were trying to develop an app that would help children on the spectrum communicate more effectively. Because our product addressed a sensitive topic, finding individuals who felt comfortable participating in interviews posed its own set of challenges. This experience highlighted the importance of trust, empathy, and thoughtful communication during the customer discovery process.

What was your biggest takeaway, and why would you recommend this event to others?

My biggest takeaway was the importance of understanding your customer’s needs. Even the most creative ideas fall short if they do not address a clearly defined problem. I would recommend this event to others because it offers a hands-on opportunity to think creatively, build solutions under real constraints, and collaborate with a diverse, multidisciplinary team in a fast-paced and supportive environment.

Wonji Seo, MBA ’27

Career interest: My short-term goal is to work as a product manager in the tech industry, building data- and AI-driven products. In the long term, I aim to become an entrepreneur and build my own company.

How was your experience participating in the +Tech Innovation Jam?

The +Tech Innovation Jam was a highly hands-on and energizing experience. I was involved in the full end-to-end process — from pitching an initial idea and recruiting teammates, to interviewing potential users, identifying core problems, building a product demo, and crafting a compelling storyline for the final pitch. I served as the product manager on the project, initiating the concept and leading the team throughout the sprint.

What kinds of skills did you get to apply?

I got to lead a team of four through defining our problem, researching our user base, and creating a prototype solution. I was responsible for keeping everyone aligned under tight time constraints. I also improved my problem-solving skills by turning insights from user interviews into a clear problem statement and guiding the product’s direction. On top of that, I used rapid prototyping to build working demos and tapped into several AI services to speed up development and make quick improvements to our prototype.

What was the most challenging part of this event? 

The most challenging part was clearly explaining the problem we wished to address. Because our product focused on an AI solution for fashion designers, many of the judges were unfamiliar with the fashion design workflow. This required us to be especially careful and intentional in how we framed the problem, provided context, and communicated the real pain points so they could quickly understand the value of our solution.

What was your biggest takeaway, and why would you recommend this event to others?

My biggest takeaway was that selecting the right, genuinely interesting problem is the key to success because it drives team alignment, user engagement, and a compelling solution. I would recommend this event to anyone looking to break into tech, as it offers valuable hands-on experience in pitching ideas, building under time constraints, and receiving actionable feedback from experienced professionals from various industries.