Mich. Business Challenge Awards Student Startups

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) -- University of Michigan-based business plan and grant competitions have awarded more than $110,000 to student startup ventures.

The top winner in the Michigan Business Challenge announced this week was Focus, a digital personal trainer integrated into a wristwatch-like device. Business students Grant Hughes and Cavan Canavan won $20,000, and Hughes says they plan to "build our concept into a viable company."

Other winners included a digital ticketing system for college and university athletic programs and a nonprofit working to improve health care in rural India.

Grants also were given through the Applebaum Dare to Dream and Mayleben Family Venture Shaping competitions.

The Ann Arbor-based university established its first business plan competition in 1984. It became known as the Michigan Business Challenge in 2005.