Record number of undergraduate patent applications filed at WMU

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—It's one thing to develop a concept for a class project; it's another to refine and pitch the idea to actual investors and have a patent pending—all before graduating college. 

Sixteen Western Michigan University undergraduate students pulled off this feat in the 2024-25 academic year. It's a school record, and Dr. Remzi Seker, vice president for research and innovation, says this is just the beginning.

"We're taking Experience-Driven Learning to the next level at Western, going beyond the classroom and giving students opportunities to really develop their ideas, learn how to create business plans and find investors to turn those concepts into real-world products," he says. "It's rare for undergraduates at any institution to get the opportunity to patent their ideas, and here at Western, we have multiple students who can now add that to their resume. It's incredible."

All 16 undergraduate students were part of the inaugural class of the Richmond Institute of Design and Innovation (RID+I) Venture Studio, a course that challenges junior-level product design students to turn their ideas into market-ready products. 

"Through the strategic efforts of excellent faculty, RID+I is working on activating the word ‘innovation’ and building a strong foundation with programs where students have the skillsets to make real products that they design and develop," says Philip Repp, director of the Richmond Institute.

Throughout the course, students take a deep dive into the world of entrepreneurship, learning about intellectual property, patent preparation and venture investment while conducting market research and getting opportunities to partner with industry professionals.

"It was just this beautiful marriage of being able to combine real-world academic exposure to something that provides value, not only to the student but the University and the community at large," says Michael Seeley, B.S.'08, adjunct instructor of product design.

"I remember the moment in class when Seeley announced, 'You guys are all set. All you need to do is file this paperwork and you will have patent pending status.' I got goosebumps," says Jacob Meyer, a product design student from Marshall, Michigan. "Knowing my idea is officially my own and I've developed something to the point where it's impressive enough to be patentable, that was huge."

Winning designs

The Venture Studio experience culminated in a pitch night where students presented their ideas to a panel of industry professionals as well as a room full of entrepreneurs, community leaders and potential investors. 

"The bar was definitely a lot higher than normal—much more stressful—but it was also quite empowering to feel like as students we actually have the capabilities to make a product that people want to invest in," says Anna Reinhardt, a product design student from Bay City, Michigan.

Seeley says pitch night was a powerful demonstration of student innovation, community support and venture-building potential. "The energy in the room was electric, and the crowd—diverse, cross-sector and deeply engaged—was a testament to the growing ecosystem around design-led entrepreneurship here in Kalamazoo."

Liminal Group, a venture studio and entrepreneurial development hub founded by Seeley, co-sponsored the event, offering the top three students cash awards as well as service grants for consulting services to move their products forward.

• First place: Anna Reinhardt, Omni 

  A moveable storage basket tailored for independent wheelchair users, Omni's unique configuration makes daily tasks easier for consumers with mobility challenges.

• Second place: Jacob Meyer, Lampure

  A home integrated air purifier, Lampure combines form and function by incorporating a purifier in a working lamp.

• Third place: Mallaigh Phelan, Revolo

  An allergen detection device, Revolo is an innovative electronic product that uses lateral flow test strips to quickly and effectively test food for proteins that could cause allergic reactions.

"It's so helpful in not only building your portfolio but also building your connections for potential future investors and collaborators," Meyer says. "At the pitch competition, I received a few phone numbers from individuals who may be interested in helping develop it further."

Other inventions receiving patent filings include everything from a wall-mounted home energy tracker to a text translation system to cleaning devices and an overhead cabinet fire suppression system.

"I didn't expect myself to be at this stage at this point in my college career. Knowing the full process now and also knowing that I am capable of designing for and filing for a patent, it was so worth it," Meyer says. "I'll be using what I've learned here for the rest of my life.”

Having a patent-pending product positions Western students on the leading edge in a crowded pool of candidates entering the workforce after graduation.

"It absolutely gives me an upper hand. It's something that a company will see and say, 'Wow, she was able to pursue this and she had a very successful outcome.'," says Mallaigh Phelan, a product design student from St. Joseph, Michigan. "I grew a lot over the course of this project. It was the most robust project I've ever done and gave me a lot of confidence in myself and my abilities as a designer."

The Venture Studio accounts for nearly half of the 29 invention disclosures filed by the Office of Research and Innovation in fiscal year 2025. The office hopes to continue to grow its technology transfer and commercialization efforts, expanding opportunities to even more students across a variety of majors on campus.

"These students acquire a unique set of skills," says David Johnson, director of technology and innovation advancement. "Many students go through college without a good understanding of how to protect intellectual property and their ideas. We want Western to be different and for it to be a place for innovators."

Seeley sees a growing collaboration between Western and Liminal Group providing a vital bridge between students, aspiring entrepreneurs and industry.

"Southwest Michigan has a fantastic ecosystem for developing hardware and hard goods with surrounding global enterprises and companies like Whirlpool, Newell brands, MillerKnoll, Haworth, Steelcase, Stryker, everything. Western is an R2 research school, so we have the resources to not only help students get the experience they need to succeed but also help the community, entrepreneurs and startup venture builders at the same time."

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