NSLC · University of Michigan · Summer 2026

Business & Entrepreneurship
Lecture Series

Professor Danny Ellis — founder & former CEO of SkySpecs. Three interactive lectures that take student teams from blank page to a judged business pitch, plus every breakout worksheet and resource in one place.

The lecturesIdea → Edge → Engine

LECTURE 01

The Leap — Introduction to Entrepreneurship

Mindset & traits · motivations · the 7-element business plan · where ideas come from · industry analysis · market research.

Open deck → LECTURE 02

The Edge — Setting Your Idea Apart

Competition · SWOT · competitive advantage · unique value proposition · target market · marketing plan & key metrics.

Open deck → LECTURE 03

The Engine — Completing Your Plan

Unit of sale · startup / fixed / variable expenses · contribution margin · break-even point · funding your startup.

Open deck →

Everything elseSupporting content

✏️

Exercises & Breakouts

All six breakout worksheets as a digital workbook — teams type answers right on the page, saved locally.

Open workbook → 🎬

Media Library

The shot list: every image, video, and chart slot in the decks, plus folders to drop files into.

Open library → 📚

Resources

Vocabulary, the judging rubric, presentation craft, research tools, and the full program schedule.

Open resources →

Program arcWhere the lectures land

Lecture 1→ TA: Idea Gen + AI→ Breakout 1: Idea & Research→ Lecture 2→ Breakout 2: SWOT→ TA: Presentations→ Breakout 3: UVP & Target→ TA: Social Media→ Breakout 4: Marketing→ Lecture 3→ Breakouts 5–6: Finance→ 🏆 Pitch Competition