“Bet on yourself. Any idea, no matter how small, can truly change the trajectory of your Michigan experience.”
If you’ve ever stood at the crossroads of tech and creativity, wondering where you fit in, Julia Huth’s story is for you. Not long ago, Julia arrived at Michigan unsure about her major, torn between her love for computer science and a drive to explore business and creativity. What she found through the Center for Entrepreneurship (CFE) was a launchpad for discovering her own “niche where I thrive,” bringing together the best parts of being a Michigan student.
Getting Involved with Entrepreneurship
When Julia started at Michigan, she found herself torn while selecting a major.
“I knew I loved technology and computer science, but I also knew that I had a strong interest in some more creative or business-oriented pathways,” she recalls. After settling on a computer science major, she took the introductory Entrepreneurship Minor course, ES 212, and an elective, ENTR 409: Intro to Venture Capital.
“I absolutely loved them,” she says. “I had finally found courses that combined so many of the technical skills in my toolkit with the more people-facing aspects of business and entrepreneurship that I was missing in my computer science courses. While in those courses, I learned about the CFE and the different programs that are offered for budding student entrepreneurs at Michigan, and I officially declared my entrepreneurship minor.”
Leveling Up Her Mindset — and Her Impact
For Julia, being an entrepreneur isn’t just about launching startups. It’s a mindset she’s seen modeled by everyone from CFE professors to nonprofit leaders:
“Having an ‘entrepreneurial mindset’ means being willing to take risks and do things the hard way,” she explains. “Almost every professor, guest speaker, or entrepreneur I’ve interacted with has said just how hard it is be an entrepreneur simply because of how quickly obstacles need to be overcome when building out an idea. It’s also about being willing to walk through the unknown and take the path less traveled, and embracing it. Most importantly, though, I think having an entrepreneurial mindset extends beyond entrepreneurship; it’s about approaching any challenge with curiosity, creativity, persistence, resilience, and adaptability.”
She also draws inspiration and her work ethic from nonprofit peers: “I’ve had a lot of experience working with two nonprofits, The Riley’s Way Foundation and the Henrik Lundqvist Foundation. Over the years, I’ve seen many of my peers launch incredibly impactful and meaningful projects and organizations, and what always stands out to me is just how resilient and hardworking they are. I draw a lot of my inspiration for my work ethic and mindset from those peers, who have continued to show me how dedication and persistence can make ideas happen.”
From the Classroom to Competition
Julia’s favorite Michigan entrepreneurial memory is all about testing new ideas and pitching her passion.
“Last semester, I took ENTR 407: EHour and the corresponding discussion section ENTR 417 with Christine Gordon, which has honestly been one of my favorite classes of all time. What’s special about ENTR 417 is that it allows students like me to ask unscripted questions to the EHour entrepreneurs, ranging from tech startups to nonprofit founders. It was fascinating, and I definitely spent that class trying to absorb as much as I could from the different founders.”
At the same time, Julia was also competing in the +Tech Innovation Jam, a program sponsored by CFE, in the EdTech track.
“In a couple of weeks, my teammates and I developed a wireframe and pitch deck for a music practice app, ‘MotiMuse,’ designed to be licensed out to learning management systems for teacher use and personal use models for parents to ensure that younger students are actually practicing their instruments.”
Her team placed first in the EdTech track and were runners-up in the entire competition, securing some funding to put to use in the build stage.
“I spent a lot of time figuring out how to articulate my passion for our idea and really show our audience why it mattered to us, along with the ways it could make an impact. Having the chance to pitch and defend our business model and product concept was a tremendous experience and has definitely left me feeling more empowered to pursue entrepreneurship as a career. During the Tech Jam and even now, a lot of the lessons I learned from the entrepreneurs in Entr 417 have stuck with me, and regardless of what venture or career I pursue next, they’ve without a doubt ignited my curiosity for all things entrepreneurial!”
What’s Next for Julia?
As Julia continues to find her way at the University of Michigan, she plans to keep learning, building, and utilizing the opportunities available to her in the U-M entrepreneurial ecosystem.
“This past semester really opened my eyes to the genuine depth and breadth of the resources available to students in the Michigan entrepreneurial ecosystem. I’ve spent a lot of time researching and identifying the best classes and programs to deepen my skills, and I’m most excited to put those experiences into action.”
This semester, she plans to start building out MotiMuse with her team.
“I’m excited to explore the different incubators, grants, and accelerators across campus, specifically FUEL, Learning Levers, and the Michigan Business Challenge.”
It’s not all serious business, though. When she’s not studying or working on MotiMuse, she’s making the most of her time in Ann Arbor.
“I also just love being a Michigan student. I’m really excited to see what the next few semesters hold for me outside the classroom, and enjoying Michigan sports! I’m at pretty much every single football and hockey game – go blue!”
Julia’s Advice to Future CFE Students
“Bet on yourself. Any idea, no matter how small, can truly change the trajectory of your Michigan experience. If I hadn’t taken an entrepreneurship course on a whim, I would’ve never found this niche where I thrive. The entrepreneurship minor is unique because it complements every major and program at Michigan. Take an ENTR class—who knows what you’ll discover!”
Looking to the Future
When asked about her future career plans, Julia says she’s still exploring her options, but knows one thing for sure.
“I’m certain that I want to end up in the venture space. Whether that’s working for a VC or an inside startup, through my on-campus experiences with entrepreneurship, I’ve learned that I shine the brightest in hands-on, fast-moving environments where I’m building toward a clear goal. My entrepreneurship minor has shown me how my technical skills, combined with strategy, storytelling, and problem-solving, can directly translate into creating and scaling new ideas, and that realization has fundamentally reshaped the direction I see my career taking.”
Ready to Bet on Yourself?
Julia’s journey is a perfect example of what happens when you step beyond your comfort zone and say yes to possibility. From exploring courses on a whim to building out tech-powered ideas, every little step opened new doors for collaboration, inspiration, and impact. It didn’t matter that Julia was “torn” at first; what mattered was being open to trying something new.
If you’ve ever wondered where your passions might intersect, let Julia’s experience be your invitation. The Center for Entrepreneurship welcomes every student to start somewhere, explore boldly, and discover that your unique combination of skills is exactly what Michigan needs.