LEAD
COVER STORY: Winners of MPowered's 1000 Pitches
By Nicole Bowling and Allison Goldstein
Photographs by: Anja Kreibaum and Marissa Mcclain
February 8, 2010
David Sheng is getting his hands wet in the world of entrepreneurship with his water condenser pitch. Winner in the Social Entrepreneurship category, Sheng proposed a concept that is inexpensive and requires no power. Estimating a collection of one to four liters per day, the condenser can provide safe, drinkable water wherever it is needed most.
LM: How did you come up with this idea?
DS: It was a team effort. We were assigned a project in our engineering class: to find a way to distill, purify, or bring water to those who can't afford it. We stumbled upon some research papers on the subject. We based our design on a high school girl's refrigerator proposal, but instead of a refrigerator, we made it into an open container so the air can flow through. Then, it just collects water as the day goes by.
LM: How does growing up outside of Michigan affect your relationship to the state of Michigan and its future?
DS: Well, I can't get used to you guys saying, "pop," but I do still think Michigan has a bright future. I'm an engineer, and I originally came here for the automotive industry, but that tanked. Now I'm looking for Plan B.
LM: How has your experience at the University of Michigan made your pitch possible?
DS: I think the University does a good job of collecting people with different majors. This was a multi-disciplinary project. Michigan has a strong focus on bringing people together to come up with something that just mechanical engineers or just business school students couldn't do alone. The University does a good job of making sure everybody works together.
LM: Who influences you?
DS: My parents came from China and were pretty poor. I've seen where they grew up, and places like this [University] didn't exist. That has been a really big motivator. My dad came a long way-I don't even know how he survived his childhood. I'm blessed to start off with so much opportunity. I've always wanted to do something meaningful, be part of something big and game-changing, something that will make a difference.
LM: How did you come up with this idea?
DS: It was a team effort. We were assigned a project in our engineering class: to find a way to distill, purify, or bring water to those who can't afford it. We stumbled upon some research papers on the subject. We based our design on a high school girl's refrigerator proposal, but instead of a refrigerator, we made it into an open container so the air can flow through. Then, it just collects water as the day goes by.
LM: How does growing up outside of Michigan affect your relationship to the state of Michigan and its future?
DS: Well, I can't get used to you guys saying, "pop," but I do still think Michigan has a bright future. I'm an engineer, and I originally came here for the automotive industry, but that tanked. Now I'm looking for Plan B.
LM: How has your experience at the University of Michigan made your pitch possible?
DS: I think the University does a good job of collecting people with different majors. This was a multi-disciplinary project. Michigan has a strong focus on bringing people together to come up with something that just mechanical engineers or just business school students couldn't do alone. The University does a good job of making sure everybody works together.
LM: Who influences you?
DS: My parents came from China and were pretty poor. I've seen where they grew up, and places like this [University] didn't exist. That has been a really big motivator. My dad came a long way-I don't even know how he survived his childhood. I'm blessed to start off with so much opportunity. I've always wanted to do something meaningful, be part of something big and game-changing, something that will make a difference.