DECEMBER 2021
Happy Holidays!
It feels like yesterday that we were writing the final newsletter of 2020. This. Year. Has. Flown. By.
The semester, and the entire year, was marked by a general theme of ‘adaptation’ and the year is wrapping up in the same manner as the CFE is currently searching for its next Executive Director. After five years on the job, Jonathan Fay will transition to a new role overseeing our NSF I-Corps program which aims to leverage the resources of entrepreneurial research universities across the Midwest to strengthen the region’s innovation ecosystem (in his new role, Jonathan will remain part of the CFE team).
Another adaptation coming in the winter semester is the return of our in-person student trek programs that introduce students to the entrepreneurial ecosystems of the Bay Area and Washington D.C.. While dates for our D.C. trek are still TBD, our Bay Area trek will take place in late-February/early-March; if your company is interested in ‘hosting’ a group of students for an hour-ish-long workshop, tour, panel discussion, etc., send me a note saying as much (we’ll share our COVID-policy for these programs with all who express an interest in hosting our students).
Our launch of the U-M Entrepreneurs Mentoring Network is one adaptation that has proven to have staying power. This AI-powered tool has dramatically enhanced our ability to connect you with our students as they seek mentorship in prepping for their entry-level careers. Here are a few highlights of what was accomplished in 2021:
- Nearly 700 students used the system to send over 2,000 requests for help, mentorship, or the like to the CFE’s network of alum and external partners
- Over 900 alum responded to those students with candid advice, offers to share a call or to meet with the student(s)
- Perhaps most importantly, both audiences found the exchanges to be valuable with an average feedback rating of 8.3/10
While we’re thrilled at how this tool has helped our students, the Network is meant to serve the needs of alum as well. Whether you need insight from an insider on industry trends, to connect with a niche expert on your technology’s next step, or to simply learn about the entrepreneurial movers/shakers in a given region, the Network is open for your use. Give it a try today and submit your question and/or need here.
Thank you for being a vital partner in our efforts to educate the next generation of entrepreneurial Wolverines. Have a safe and happy holiday season, talk to you in the new year!
– Center for Entrepreneurship
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