The Conquer Finance and Insurance Accelerator Opens for Application

Ben Maxim

The Conquer Finance and Insurance Accelerator, a partnership between Michigan State University Research Foundation, MSU Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU), and the Eli Broad College of Business’s Insurance & Risk Management Program, announced that it is opening applications for its third cohort.
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The Conquer Finance and Insurance Accelerator is a highly selective 10-week program that provides mentorship, education, and industry insights for startups looking to get to their next stage in development. Only five startups are chosen to participate in each cohort, with the opportunity to engage with other founders and to receive mentorship from experts from all three supporting institutions. Selected teams will also receive investment support from MSU Research Foundation’s venture investment subsidiary, Red Cedar Ventures upon successful program completion. Last year’s cohort includes Crux Analytics, Housetable, Ribbon Financial, Sawport, and Salus Financial.

“The Conquer accelerator came at a pivotal time for Crux and became a cornerstone of our growth over the past six months. The program’s greatest benefit was providing unfiltered access to stakeholders across the entire organization, including people we wouldn’t normally interact with. These conversations gave us a broader perspective on how our value proposition resonated across different business lines, which directly shaped our growth strategy,” said Jacob Crux, Co-founder and CEO at Crux Analytics. “Through the accelerator, we discovered and validated specific needs that continue to guide our product development. In just 10 weeks, the program delivered insights that might have taken us a year or more to uncover independently, setting us on a much stronger path toward our goals.”

“Conquer Accelerator was a game-changer for our startup — connecting us with Credit Union leaders both at MSUFCU and throughout Michigan, expert mentors, and a supportive community that pushed us to reach new heights,” said Saeid Kain, co-founder and CEO at Ribbon Financial. “I highly recommend it to any founder ready to take their business to the next level.”

“As we launch the third cohort of the Conquer Finance and Insurance Accelerator, we’re proud to continue building on the strong foundation of innovation and collaboration between MSU, MSUFCU, and Spartan Innovations,” said Ben Maxim, Chief Technology Officer at MSUFCU. “This program reflects our deep commitment to empowering entrepreneurs and advancing the future of finance and insurance through the strength of Michigan’s thriving startup ecosystem.”

The Conquer Finance and Insurance Accelerator begins in January 2026 for its third cohort and is accepting applications starting in September. The program will follow a hybrid format, with its initial week held in East Lansing, Michigan, providing participants with access to the rich resources and networks of the region.

For more information about the Conquer Finance and Insurance Accelerator and details on how to apply, visit msufoundation.org/conquer-accelerator.

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