Ann Arbor SPARK’s Post

Every successful founder knows the importance of mentorship and collaboration. No one can—or should—do it alone. That’s why we launched our Entrepreneur-in-Residence program, to help early-stage founders get access to the mentorship and support they need. From building pitch decks to value props, networking to messaging, consultants in the Entrepreneur-in-Residence program help early-stage founders get across the finish line. To learn more about the program, check out this blog post from Purpose Jobs, which shares insight from Jack P., Spencer Chamberlain MBA, and Brenda Jones, who are all a part of the program. 👇

Big thanks to the sharing of Alex Dang, co-author of the Venture Mindset, Senior Advisor at McKinsey & Company, innovator in both big corporate and startup, and most importantly, a kind mentor! It was a great honor for me to moderate the Q&A and learn from him! Three key elements for his success: 1. Networking. Give without the hope to take, there will always be surprises! 2. Perseverance & resilience. 3. Think of future value rather than present value Another big take-away is to set a goal and experiment with an open mind. Let’s be grateful for what we have for now and do our best to achieve more for tomorrow!

🚀 Mentorship in Motion: Unlocking Startup Potential 🚀 Thrilled to share a special interview with my colleague and friend, Nicholas Campa, who has been both a mentor and a mentee on his professional journey. In this candid conversation, we dive into the pivotal experiences that shaped his career and the lessons learned along the way. 🌟 From Fortune 500 to Startup Success: Nick shares unique insights on making the leap from large corporations to the vibrant startup ecosystem. If you’ve ever wondered about the dynamics of startup life and how it compares to corporate giants, this is for you! 💡 Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, there’s wisdom here that transcends industries. We discuss the power of mentorship, the importance of adaptability, and the courage to embrace new challenges. 🔗 Tune in to gain from Nick’s experiences and learn how to navigate your career path with confidence. #CareerDevelopment #StartupLife #Mentorship #ProfessionalGrowth

Learning to celebrate milestones and small wins. 🥳 When I began my entrepreneurial journey, after retrospection ⬇️ ✅ Got 8 clients my first month ✅ 91% Retention Rate ✅ Winner of Paris Startup Contest ✅ Incubated at Essec Ventures ✅ Got a team of 5 people ✅ Got 300+ beta users ✅ Established relationships with decision makers from biggest healthcare companies ✅ Met with 80+ companies per month Those milestones - I never celebrated them. I needed always more. Better. Faster. When my surroundings used to be so happy for me and ask me to celebrate with them, I would not accept it. For me, this is not to be celebrated. I did not achieve yet what I wanted. What would I have celebrated then? Nothing would have felt enough. Along my journey , I learnt gratitude, self celebration and acknowledging small wins to enjoy the ride. So, I did my website today 🥳

𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟭𝟬𝟮 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 🛣, and the landscape of connections and innovations continues to expand. This week has been filled with inspiring encounters and meaningful exchanges that underscore the vibrancy of our startup ecosystem. 🌟 𝗠𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀: - Jade Walters Walker of The Ninth Semester is exposing the world post grad and helping Gen Z college students position themselves to win their dream roles. - Oshawa Hunt of Hunt and Hire shines a spotlight on Austin’s dynamic business ecosystem, connecting talent to transformative opportunities. - Efraín Méndez of Score.ai (a fellow gener8tor alum) is democratizing the tech field with innovative AI solutions. 🚀 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀: - Engaged with thought leaders at Forum Ventures shoutout to Maggie Bolt and Jonah Midanik. - Participated in Community Led Growth Office Hours with Jeanine Suah, gleaning insights into community-driven growth strategies. 🛠 𝗢𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁: - Initiated dialogues with potential CTO candidates, advancing our leadership team. - Progressed with V2 of our product development, excited about the enhancements we’re making. - Undertook the necessary, though daunting, task of revamping our pitch deck. - Sharpened our sales strategy, integrating new insights into our approach. Each meeting, each event, brings us closer to refining our mission and enhancing our impact. As we look to the week ahead, I’m energized by the potential of these new partnerships and the ongoing evolution of our product. Stay tuned for more updates, and remember, it’s the connections we forge that transform our trajectories. 🌐 𝗣.𝗦. 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿. #StartupLife #Innovation #Networking #TechLeaders #BusinessGrowth #BuildinPublic

The right board can make a significant difference in a startup’s journey. Reflecting back to my early days, I remember how my first board meeting felt like a whirlwind. The insights shared were invaluable, but the real learning came from their diverse perspectives. 🧠💡 Having a mix of skills, experiences, and backgrounds around the table isn’t just nice to have — it’s essential. Each member brought something unique: from strategic foresight to on-the-ground operational wisdom. One lesson that stood out for me was the value of open communication. Nobody should feel intimidated to voice their thoughts. The right culture within your board can pave the way for honesty, creativity, and growth. If you're in the startup phase, consider how your board members can elevate your vision instead of just being a checkbox. What qualities do you think are essential for a startup board? Let’s get the conversation going! 👏🚀 https://lnkd.in/g6mbAK7j

Mentorship is a superpower for founders 🎓 Building a startup is tough, but having the right guidance can unlock new possibilities. At Oversubscribed Capital, we know this firsthand, which is why we provide 1:1 support from mentors at Tier 1 companies like BlackRock, Binance, and more. - Perspective Mentors who’ve walked the path before you can help you see the bigger picture, avoid blind spots, and make informed decisions. At Oversubscribed Capital, our network of industry leaders ensures you’re never navigating challenges alone. - Avoiding Mistakes From hiring pitfalls to scaling too fast, great mentors share hard-won lessons so you can focus on growth. Our team at Oversubscribed Capital connects founders with experts who’ve built Web3 unicorns and navigated every challenge in the book. - Network Access The right mentor doesn’t just give advice—they open doors. From intros to investors to finding key hires, their network becomes yours. Oversubscribed Capital’s mentors come from top-tier companies like BlackRock and Binance, connecting you to game-changing opportunities. - At Oversubscribed Capital, we believe mentorship isn’t optional—it’s essential. That’s why we go beyond capital to provide hands-on support from some of the best minds in Web3 and beyond. Ready to scale with us? Let’s build together.

Free pitch deck audit alert!

Applying for an accelerator program is like stepping into the lion's den when it comes to competition among applicants. So the pressure is on for your application to stand out because these programs offer invaluable resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities to many other start-up businesses as well as your own. And once you're in, making the most of the experience requires strategic planning and active engagement. Here's a quick guide on how to put your best foot forward in securing a spot in an accelerator but also optimise your participation for maximum growth. #accelerator #applicationprocess #growthstrategies #valuemanagement

👥 Why Mentorship is important? I have never visited a business class, but I am still trying to bootstrap a startup? Yes! To build a startup you need different skills: both hard and soft skills. Just google it and you will find a long list. For me the most difficult one is Business Planning and Strategy - don't misunderstand me, I live practically inside my Google Calender. But it is different organising oneself then to defining OKR for a team, having an eye into how (tech-)corporations function from the inside and how to be profitable as a business from the first minute. This time is probably the most difficult one in my life and I love it. Yesterday a friend of mine said to me: "Everyday is like an exam" and I couldn't agree more. The first time I had the opportunity to work with Robert Eichenseer I immediately saw three things (1) Giver, (2) Logic and (3) No BS. Especially the last point is important to me: While we have regular meetings he tells me how it is, without holding back. Telling me where I should invest my time and not lie to him and also myself. I still have to learn a lot regarding Business Planning and Strategy, but with people like Robert the loops are getting smaller, and in the end this is what it is all about - do you agree? Thanks to Robert that I can call you my Mentor and thanks to Reach, Deutschlandstiftung Integration from Bundesministerium des Innern und für Heimat for making this possible.