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U-M Ross Business + Tech
U-M Ross Business + Tech
U-M Ross Business + Tech

What we’re exploring

Find out more about the most pressing topics impacting businesses today.

See all that we’re exploring

UNCOVER INSIGHTS AND UNLEASH INNOVATION WITH DATA ANALYTICS.

Comprehending large data sets, evaluating data with a critical eye, and utilizing data to make informed decisions are ALL skills that are essential to thrive in the tech industry. Every January, Business+Tech hosts the Data Download and Datathon Competition, in partnership with tech consulting firms PwC and Deloitte, for participants to practice analyzing a real-world problem.


 

Data Download | Late January 2026

5 workshops geared toward advancing your data analytics skills through a +tech lens. These sessions help prepare students to excel in the Datathon Competition and win the $3,000 grand prize. Session topics include: Storytelling with Data, PowerExcel, Tableau Bootcamp, and more. 

Datathon Competition | Early February 2026

During this virtual and in-person week-long hack-a-thon style competition, interdisciplinary student teams use data as the primary basis for developing creative solutions to a real-world problem. Once the problem statement and data set are released at the kickoff, teams of 5-6 students have a week to 

                               

 

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Top Reasons to Join

Network with leading data analytics companies

Engage with leaders in data analytics from PwC and Deloitte through virtual office hours and coffee chats.

Develop tech and data analytics skills

Apply key data analytics skills such as SQL, Excel, and storytelling while working on a real-world tech problem. Past themes have been on carbon emissions, the flight industry, and U-M football ticketing.

Compete for cash and prizes

Persuade a panel of judges to invest in your recommendation; the 1st place team will receive $3,000, 2nd place $2,000, and 3rd place $1,000.

Common Questions

Can I register with a team?
Do I need a team to register?
Do I need prior data analytics knowledge to participate?
Can I participate in the Datathon workshops if I am not registered for the competition?
When is the dataset and prompt released?

2025 Winners

Dataset Theme: Immigration Data

First Place

Team Meta Data

  • Makayla Beardsley, Business Analytics
  • Nolan Birkeland, Business Analytics
  • Julia Spilkin, Business Analytics
  • Rebecca Glicksman, Business Analytics
  • Brett Wolff, Business Analytics

Second Place

Team Schedule A Data

  • Thomas Sundberg, Chemical Engineering
  • Ben Laubach, Chemical Engineering
  • Shawn Lu, Chemical Engineering
  • Alex Lee, Material Science and Engineering
  • Sajib Barua, Chemical Engineering
  • Melody Zhang, Chemical Engineering

Third Place

Team Rossreggresion Analytics

  • Heejung Jung, MBA
  • Shivangi Srivastava, MBA
  • Michael Vu, MBA
  • Charlie Rosenthal, MBA
  • Sergio Ramos Salinas, MBA
  • Jinny Kim, MBA

2024 Winners

Dataset Theme: Carbon Emissions

First Place

Team Byte Club

  • Makayla Beardsley, Data Science
  • Nolan Birkeland, Computer Science
  • Atul Gera, Computer Science
  • NaveenJohn Premkumar, Computer Science
  • Julia Spilkin, Data Science
  • Alan Tommy, Computer Science

Second Place

Team Repair

  • Richard Shu, Supply Chain Management
  • Viktor Solansky, MBA
  • Amy Sun

Third Place

Team TwinData Titans

  • Manisa Mondal, MBA
  • Lasya Priya Gulibhi, MBA
  • Sneha Priya Kannan, MBA
  • Lakshmi Priya Kannan, MBA
  • Reden Tanago, MBA
  • Tishir Chhaparia, MBA

2023 Winners

Dataset Theme: Flight and Airlines

First Place

Team Hakuna MaData

  • Mora Guyot, BA
  • Lauren Kendrick, BA
  • Brian Wheeler, BA and Computer Science
  • Max Xie, BA
  • Adona Yu, BA

Second Place

Team The Plan Truth Seekers

  • Nikhil Baldwa, MBA
  • Stephen Hartono, MBA
  • Vinayak Mishra, MBA
  • Akshit Sehgal, MBA
  • Aarohee Vaidya, MBA

 

Third Place

Team First Class

  • Alyssa Fletcher, BA
  • Dylan Mandelblatt, BA
  • Ryan O’Connor, Computer Science
  • Avi Bhattacharya, Computer Science

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