Every spring, the Zell Lurie Institute sponsors a select group of student entrepreneurs to travel to Silicon Valley for a week-long immersive experience. Students attend sessions and events hosted by some of Silicon Valley’s leading founders, CEOs, executives, and investors, all of whom hail from the University of Michigan and are eager to meet the next generation of Michigan talent.
This program is generously funded by Mike Jung, Matt Garratt, Jennifer Temple, and Andrew Kahn.
Christina Zerka, U-M Senior studying Neuroscience, Biopsychology, and Cognition with a minor in Entrepreneurship, reflects on her time at the 2023 Silicon Valley Experience.
Silicon Valley, where the impossible becomes the everyday, the groundbreaking becomes the standard, and where a simple idea can launch a revolution. Imagine this: in a place where garage startups transformed into tech behemoths, where venture capitalists bet on dreams and turned them into billion-dollar realities, where the spirit of innovation fills the very air you breathe, we embarked on an electrifying journey to find out how the peak of capitalism operates.
Our days were packed with visits to a plethora of startups and venture capital firms. Brace yourself, for the list is nothing short of awe-inspiring: Founders Circle Capital, Norwest Venture Partners, Scale, Stepstone, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Omers Ventures, Better Ventures, Twilio USVP, PagerDuty, Ripple, Basis Set Ventures, and the list goes on. What’s even more astonishing is that all of these top-level executives and founders were University of Michigan alum. Go Blue, indeed! It’s as if the Wolverines have taken over Silicon Valley and the results are nothing short of mind-blowing.
Our tour took us to iconic locations such as South Park and Sand Hill Road, where we engaged in lengthy conversations with luminaries from the tech world. We delved into their career paths, backgrounds, current trends, and their invaluable insights. My journal, which started empty, was nearly filled to the brim by the second day. It’s safe to say that in those three intense days, I absorbed more knowledge than I did in an entire semester. It was organized chaos and I mean that in the best way possible.
But it wasn’t all about business. Despite our jam-packed schedule that began at the crack of dawn and continued until late in the evening, our group still managed to explore the vibrant city of San Francisco, its people, and its food. The bonds we formed as a cohort during these off-hours were as essential to our journey as the official meetings themselves.
The culture in San Francisco is unlike any other. It’s a place where innovation is not just encouraged but expected. It’s a place where people from all corners of the world converge to build, create and disrupt. The spirit of taking risks and pushing boundaries is in the very air you breathe. It’s a rush, a feeling that you can’t experience anywhere else in the country.
During our visit, we also got a glimpse of the shifting landscape in the venture capital world. The legendary SVB (Silicon Valley Bank) collapse was a hot topic of discussion. It served as a stark reminder that even the giants of the industry were not immune to the winds of change. Venture capital was undergoing a transition, with sky-high valuations coming down to more grounded levels. It was a reminder that the startup ecosystem is ever-evolving and adaptability is key to success.
Silicon Valley, for all its grandeur, is a surprisingly small world. This interconnectedness created a unique camaraderie and sense of community that permeated every meeting and conversation. The spirit there was just different; it made you want to build, create, and take risks.
What truly made this experience unforgettable was the realization that all the U of M alumni and speakers essentially knew each other. Silicon Valley, for all its grandeur, is a surprisingly small world. This interconnectedness created a unique camaraderie and sense of community that permeated every meeting and conversation. The spirit there was just different; it made you want to build, create, and take risks. It ignited a curiosity that knows no bounds.
As I bid farewell to this captivating journey, we’ve witnessed how a simple idea can spark a revolution, how bonds and community can shape destinies, and how adaptability and curiosity are the currency of success.
So, here’s to the exciting future ahead, where we harness the power of our experiences, where innovation becomes second nature, and where the Wolverines continue to leave their indelible mark on this ever-evolving landscape. The adventure is far from over; it’s only just begun. I advise those entrepreneurial at heart to stay curious, keep building, and embrace the thrilling spirit of Silicon Valley. I will be forever grateful for this experience.
The Silicon Valley Experience is open to rising U-M juniors and seniors and returning grad students. Students from all U-M Ann Arbor colleges and schools are welcome to apply. Learn more about the Silicon Valley Experience.