Updated: Friday, November 20th, 2009

The Samuel Zell and Robert H. Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurship at the University of Michigan's business school has announced its student-run venture capital investment program has achieved a $2 million return.

Between the years 2000 and 2005, approximately 100 students worked on a $350,000 investment in HandyLab, a company that was founded by two of the university's chemical engineering doctoral students, that was made using the $3.5 million Wolverine Venture Fund.

HandyLab is the third investment in the 11-year history of the fund to offer a return. To date, business students at the school have made 18 investments and currently manage active portfolios for 13 companies.

Adam Orlov, who was the fund's student chair when the investment in HandyLab was made, said the experience taught him "valuable skills, such as sourcing deals, conducting due diligence, valuing opportunities and gauging what investors are looking for."

Orlov formed Hill Partners in 2002 and is currently a managing member of Anthem Capital.

Associates, bachelors and masters programs in business can help students and professionals launch successful business careers.

PayScale.com, a research company, says that average salaries for holders of MBA degrees ranged from $73,510 to $171,583 in 2008, depending on the field, position and years of experience.

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