Second Challenge

The second edition of the Hydrogen Grand Challenge once again asked University of Michigan students to develop innovative business cases for Michigan-centered, regional deployment of hydrogen technology in key sectors such as transportation and industrial applications.

Competition Structure

Teams competed for a share of the $10,000 prize pool, with the first-place team receiving $5,000, the first runner-up awarded $3,000, and the second runner-up receiving $2,000.

The second challenge consisted of two phases:

1. Workshop Training Phase (January–March 2025): Participants engaged in workshops, accessed expert resources, and received mentorship to refine their ideas and develop a strong business case.
2. Final Pitch (April 10, 2025, 3pm) Samuel T. Dana Building, Room 2315: Teams will presented their business cases to a panel of judges, simulating a real-world pitch for venture capital funding. Winners were selected based on the strength of their idea, technical analysis, and go-to-market strategy.

Workshop Schedule

• Preview Event: H2 Edge Introduction To Hydrogen And Competition Announcement
  (January 7, 4:30–7:30pm, Phoenix 2000A)
• Workshop #1: Prize Competition Kickoff (January 15, Lane Hall 2239 OR January 16, Phoenix 2000A)
• Workshop #2: Understanding a Problem (January 30, Lane Hall 2239)
• Workshop #3: Identifying Viable Opportunities (February 12, Phoenix 2000A)
• Workshop #4: Presenting Your Draft Business Case (February 27, Lane Hall 2239)
• Workshop #5: Team Report Out (March 12, Phoenix 2000A)

Meet the Experts

Throughout the competition, students had access to a network of esteemed faculty, industry leaders, and subject matter experts who provided guidance and feedback.

Lead Instructor:

• Tim Slusser, City of Detroit, Office of Mobility Innovation

Team Mentors:

• Yugo Ashida, MI-Hydrogen
• David Ingram, Fortescue
• Theodore Krause, Argonne National Laboratory
• Vinay N D Krishnamurthy, Bosch
• Levi Larsen, Idaho National Laboratory
• Joe Mercurio, General Motors
• Thomas McKenney, Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, University of Michigan
• Sam Patel, Consumers Energy
• Vismita Sonagra, Bosch
• Joe Trzaska, Combustion Researcher, University of Michigan
• Tim Wallington, School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan
• Elizabeth Worsham, Idaho National Laboratory

Subject Matter Experts

• Richard Greeley, Innovation Partnerships, University of Michigan (Emerging Technologies)
• Matthew Collette, Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, University of Michigan (Marine Design)
• Tim Miller, Consumers Energy (Hydrogen combustion and energy)
• Krystal York, ERPI (hydrogen technology, material science, power systems, environmental justice and community engagement in low-carbon fuels)
• Devon Washington, Consumers Energy (Electrolyzers)
• Matt Thorington, Bosch (Hydrogen Stacks and Systems, PEM Fuel Cells and Electrolyzers, Leadership)

Teams

Hydrogen Hounds

Madison Mendoza, Aerospace Engineering

Thomas Ignaczak, Chemical Engineering

Mentor: Joe Trzaska, Combustion Researcher, University of Michigan

HydroBlue

Benjamin Moisan, Electrical Engineering 

Jeet Parminder, MBA

Mentor: Vismita Sonagra, Bosch

Hydrocore

Bella Wash, Industrial and Operations Engineering

Andres Ramirez, Industrial and Operations Engineering

Chris Zhang, Data Science

Mentor: David Ingram, Fortescue

The Hydrogen Company 

Ian Cox, Aerospace Engineering 

Bode Cooper, Computer Science

Austin Barber, Mechanical Engineering 

Tyler Langley , Mechanical engineering 

Mentor: Tim Wallington, School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan

HydroPlow

Jeffrey Dunn, Mechanical Engineering

Arnau Porta-Sans, Aerospace Engineering

Melissa Maldonado, Chemistry

Victoria Villa, Aerospace Engineering

Audrey Flynn, Audrey Flynn

Mentor: Joe Mercurio, General Motors

Habitat Hydrogen

Nick VandenBrink, Nuclear Engineering

Alex Kanar, Environmental Engineering

Aiden Lee, Industrial and Operations Engineering

Mentor: Levi Larsen, Idaho National Laboratory

GoBlueH2

Michael Ettlinger, Energy Systems Engineering + Environment & Sustainability (Sustainable Systems)

Kevin Losee, Environment & Sustainability (Sustainable Systems)

Brett Johnson, Program in the Environment + Economics

Mentor: Theodore Krause, Argonne National Laboratory

H2 Nexus Freight

Chen-Hao Kao, MS Environment and Sustainability (Sustainable Systems), MS Chemical Engineering

Anagha Menon, MS Environment and Sustainability (Sustainable Systems)

Nathaniel Hodgson, MS Environment and Sustainability (Sustainable Systems), MS Energy Systems Engineering

Aditya Swarnkar, MS Environment and Sustainability (Sustainable Systems), MS Mechanical Engineering

Mentor: Elizabeth Worsham, Idaho National Laboratory

H2 Innovators 

Meghana Shankar, Mechanical Engineering 

Eesha Atluri, Computer Science

Mentor: Thomas McKenney, Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, University of Michigan

H2Lift

Vijay Nannapuraju, Computer Engineering

Samarth Punjala, Business

Mentor: Yugo Ashida, MI-Hydrogen