At the conclusion of Entrepalooza 2014, Michigan students from a variety of disciplines sat down to Lunch and Learn with the event speakers, who included successful start-up company founders, corporate entrepreneurship professionals and members of the U-M faculty. The impromptu one-on-one conversations followed a morning of keynote remarks, panel discussions and informal networking that provided inspiration and direction for many of the aspiring entrepreneurs.
Here are a few of their comments about the University’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and the resources available through the Zell Lurie Institute, Ross and the Center for Entrepreneurship:
“I’m attending Entrepalooza to learn more about entrepreneurship and innovation. There are lots of ways to apply the ideas and frameworks of entrepreneurship to innovation within a larger organization. I’m considering whether to do that in my current position at VivaKi, a digital advertising programmatic trading desk for Publicis Groupe, or to pursue my own start-up venture.” ─ Justin Mayer, Weekend MBA ’15
“I recently interned with a large strategic consulting firm and loved it. I wanted to know more about the benefits of being entrepreneurial within a large corporation, which is where I’m headed. Someday I may want to start a company.” ─ Gabriel Craft, MBA ’15
“I had a good engineering job in Peru. However, I didn’t feel I was doing what I wanted and I had a desire to change my life. I’d like to start a company while I’m in school at Ross. I hope to meet the right person with a new idea for a start-up venture where I could apply my experience.” ─ Walter Roman, MBA ’16
“I wanted to hear the advice, perspectives and stories of entrepreneurs, so I could learn from their experience and mistakes. I’ve run my own business, a tennis lesson service in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, since I was 12 years old. I’m looking to expand it or do something else.” ─ Alexander (“A.J.”) Goldstein, LSA ’17
“I’m interested in entrepreneurship and would like to start my own company or join a start-up. I’m here at Entrepalooza to hear the entrepreneurs’ stories and to meet people. Previously, I worked for a technology start-up in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and enjoyed the day-to-day challenges, autonomy and opportunity to make an impact.” ─ Gustavo Martucci, MBA ’16
“I came to Entrepalooza hoping to learn more about entrepreneurship, because I want to start a business as a BBA student. I also wanted to meet people in the Ann Arbor entrepreneurial community.” ─ Joshua Boike, BBA ‘’17