Zillion Solutions Competition
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Welcome to Zillion Solutions! Where everyone is a problem-solver!

Zillion Solutions is a campus-wide competition where graduate, undergraduate students of all majors (including undecided students), dual-enrolled and Genesee County high school students make a short video or PowerPoint describing their unique idea for a new product or service that will solve a problem.

Entering takes little time; investing a few minutes now can win you up to $2,850! Either submit 5 or fewer slides or a video (two-minutes or less).

The Hagerman Center will never pursue your idea! Our goal is to help you launch it!

Why Participate?

  • 50+ prizes ranging from $100 to $2,000!
  • Add a great line to your resume
  • Network and meet other entrepreneurs in the UM-Flint/Flint community
  • Receive 1:1 help with your idea from our team!
  • Spark your interest in entrepreneurship and pursue your passion project!

Important Dates

  • Final Submission deadline: Thursday, February 27, 2025
  • Zillion Solutions Award Ceremony: Thursday, April 3, 2025 @ 5:30-7:30 pm, Riverfront Conference Center. RSVP: go.umflint.edu/zsceremony.

Thank you to the C.S. Mott Foundation for sponsoring Zillion Solutions!
For more information, visit go.umflint.edu/zillionsolutions or contact hagermancenter@umich.edu. 

General Rules & Information:

  • You can submit either
    • A quick 2 minute or less video or,
    • a short five slide or fewer PowerPoint, the PowerPoint does not need to include voice over.
  • Each team must include one or more students enrolled at UM-Flint during Spring 2024, Summer 2024, Fall 2024, or Winter 2025 semesters. No limit on group size or interdisciplinary collaborations. 
  • UM-Flint students and high schoolers (but not others) may be on more than one team.  However, if a student is on more than one team that makes it to the finals, s/he will have to choose one team with which to continue the competition.
  • The solution must be a product or service. The exact product or service can’t already exist. It can, however,
    • be a minor modification to an existing product or service, if the modification more effectively solves a problem.
    • be unique within a specific geographic area (e.g., Flint) where it is currently unavailable, even if it already exists in other areas.

Judging Criteria:

  • The solution clearly solves a problem
  • Provides a clear benefit over current competition/alternative and is creative
  • Creative approach to an idea

Submission Format & Guidelines:

  • The selfie video must be less than two minutes or the slide deck must be five or fewer slides. Submitters who used slides and made it to the semifinals will need to replace the PowerPoint with a video. Videos should use an MP4 format.
  • The suggested video/slide structure is below and on the Submission Template. Just follow along!
  • Introduce yourself: name(s), category (e.g., School of Management, College of Arts, Sciences and Education, etc.), class rank, (e.g., Freshman, Senior, Master’s Student, etc.), and existing solutions that are similar to your idea.
  • Explain your solution! What is the problem you are trying to solve, and how will your solution, idea, or innovation solve it? 
  • What are your goals?