The founders of an information site and aggregating Webapplication are the $25,000 winners of Michigan State UniversityFederal Credit Union's startUP Challenge.

Phil Threadgould and Andy Bentz, the founders of CrowdLanding,received the prize to expand their business, the $2.3 billionMSUFCU in East Lansing, Mich., announced Wednesday.

“We are ecstatic to have won the startUP Challenge. The $25,000 prize provides CrowdLanding withthe opportunity to further develop our website and strengthen ourbusiness much more quickly than anticipated,” Threadgould said.

Threadgould and Bentz were selected as the startUP Challengewinners from 35 local entrepreneurs. Entrants submittedapplications, business plans and video pitches, with five finalistspresenting their business ideas to the startUP Challenge selectioncommittee of Greater Lansing business professionals, according tothe credit union.

The startUP Challenge provided the opportunity for entrepreneurs to start their businesses in the Michigancounties of Ingham, Clinton and Eaton.

“We are proud to provide resources to support small businessesand our local community. We hope the startUP Challenge and MSUFCU'snew startUP Loan Fund will attract more businesses to the area tohelp grow the local economy,” said Patrick McPharlin, president/CEOof the credit union.

In addition to the startUP Challenge, Michigan State University FCU also recently introduced thestartUP Loan Fund. Entrepreneurs in the tri-county area may nowapply for loans up to $15,000 to aid in the development of theirbusinesses. The credit union said the loan fund has $250,000 tolend to local entrepreneurs.