by Crista Deneau
Entrepreneurship is more than just an idea—it’s a mindset, a culture, and an ecosystem that thrives in dynamic environments. The University of Michigan’s Center for Entrepreneurship (CFE) recently organized an immersive experience, taking 25 students to the heart of startup innovation in San Francisco. The annual Weather Underground Startup Trek (WUST), designed for students in the Entrepreneurial Leadership Program and Perot Jain TechLab programs, offers participants an unparalleled opportunity to explore the Bay Area’s vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The trek immersed students in the fast-paced world of startups, featuring visits to cutting-edge companies, interactive workshops, and exclusive networking opportunities with U-M alumni. With a mix of undergraduate and graduate students representing diverse academic disciplines across six U-M schools and 16 different majors, the experience fostered cross-disciplinary collaboration and hands-on learning.
A highlight of the trek was a fireside chat and workshop led by U-M alum and Entrepreneurial Leadership Program supporter Pete Giordano. Focused on interpersonal skills and relationship-building, the session equipped students with practical networking strategies and the confidence to make impactful first impressions. This engaging session set the stage for a week of high-impact learning, allowing students to make the most of their interactions with startup founders, investors, and tech leaders.
Students visited a variety of trailblazing companies pushing the boundaries of innovation. At Endovascular Engineering, they explored advanced biomedical solutions designed to improve minimally invasive endovascular procedures. A stop at Heirloom Carbon Technologies introduced them to the future of sustainability and climate tech, where they learned about direct air capture technology aimed at reducing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. At Electric Fish, a startup in CFE’s Perot Jain TechLab Electrification program, students participated in a hands-on innovation challenge, developing creative solutions to real-world energy storage and EV charging challenges in urban and underserved areas.
Another standout visit was to Trucks Venture Capital and Schox Patent Group, where U-M alum and founder Jeff Schox shared his journey from engineer to leading patent attorney and venture investor. He provided invaluable insights into the role of intellectual property (IP) strategy in startup success, helping students understand the critical intersection of innovation and legal protection.
The trek also included an exclusive visit to IndustrialNext, a company revolutionizing advanced manufacturing with cutting-edge robotics, AI, and automation. Co-founded by U-M alum Lukas Schox, who was a student at U-M when the Center for Entrepreneurship was founded, his journey served as an inspiration to students, showcasing how an entrepreneurial mindset can transform ideas into game-changing ventures.
Beyond company visits, the trek emphasized the power of U-M’s entrepreneurial community. More than 20 Michigan alumni participated in two exclusive networking dinners, one in San Francisco and another at Stanford. These gatherings allowed students to hear firsthand from alumni who have navigated their own startup journeys, forming relationships that have led to successful ventures such as CoPilot, a startup founded by U-M alumni Adarsh Madan and Div Sharma, who first met at a CFE program.
For the students, WUST wasn’t just a trip—it was a transformative experience that deepened their understanding of entrepreneurship, exposed them to cutting-edge innovation, and connected them with a network of industry leaders. Whether they were inspired by biomedical breakthroughs at Endovascular Engineering, climate change solutions at Heirloom, or disruptive energy storage technology at Electric Fish, each stop on the trek expanded their vision of what’s possible in the startup world.
The Weather Underground Startup Trek is one of CFE’s flagship opportunities, providing students with firsthand exposure to the entrepreneurial mindset, the fast-paced startup environment, and the University of Michigan’s extensive alumni network. As CFE continues its mission to cultivate the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders, immersive experiences like WUST are proving to be invaluable catalysts in bridging the gap between classroom learning and real-world innovation.
Go Blue, and go build the future!