Headshot courtesy of Wave RF / Kevin McPoland (@kevvphotography)
What if one quick decision could change everything?
In Fall 2022, U-M Electrical Engineering student Jack Woods had just set foot on campus as a freshman. Fast forward three years, and today he’s the CEO and co-founder of a tech startup that just secured a six-figure investment deal from a prominent venture capital firm in San Francisco.
So, how did Jack go from campus newcomer to full-fledged founder? Here’s his story.
Where It All Began
Let’s rewind to Jack’s very first semester in Ann Arbor. Brand new to campus, Jack was on the hunt for a 1-credit elective to round out his schedule. “I wound up in EHour by complete accident,” Jack recalls. It seemed like the perfect fit. No tests, no homework, and the chance the listen to interesting speakers each week was a plus.
Spoiler alert: EHour turned out to be much more than a schedule-filler. Week after week, Jack listened as founders, inventors, and innovators shared real stories. Their pivots, their failures, their unexpected wins. Something clicked.
“I didn’t think that I’d get much out of the class, but it wound up being pretty eye-opening to hear from so many amazing people.”
Without realizing it, Jack’s entrepreneurial journey had begun.
From Classroom to CEO
As his first year rolled on, Jack dove deeper into his engineering classes. He started Engineering 100, a required first-year course for all students in the College of Engineering. He “got along really well” with his Teaching Assistant, and the two wound up doing a research project for Professor Aaron Ridley that following summer.
“During that project, we realized that some technology that we were using could be repurposed for personal communication in areas underserved by cell service.” Jack explains, “So after completing the project in August 2023, we began working on this idea independently, and this is what would eventually start our company, Wave RF.”
Wave RF is a decentralized communication service that works without cell towers or Wi-Fi. Using Bluetooth technology to create a mesh network, Wave RF keeps people connected in busy areas like music festivals, game days, and on nature trails. In the summer of 2024, Jack and his co-founder, Eric Andrechek, participated in the I-Corps Summer Jumpstart program, a free innovation workshop that helped them validate their idea. In February 2025, the pair scored funding from CFE’s Fuel program to build Wave RF. From there, things have only gone up.
“We just signed a 6-figure investment deal with a venture capital firm in San Francisco, have our own office just outside Ann Arbor, and are getting ready to roll out our first products!”
CFE’s Impact
Reflecting on his journey, Jack credits the Center for Entrepreneurship with making a real difference, not just in business know-how, but in shaping how he leads and connects with others.
“I like to tell people that my job as the CEO of Wave boils down to making two things: decisions and relationships.” He’s quick to highlight that both these skills were sharpened through his CFE experiences. “CFE has given me the education to improve my decision-making, and also allowed me to meet some fantastic people who have been instrumental in our journey.”
Whether through classroom lessons or meeting like-minded innovators, the support, mentorship, and community Jack found through CFE has been a cornerstone of his startup journey—proof that one class can truly open the door to big opportunities.
Advice for Future Founders
For students ready to chart their own paths, Jack offers one big piece of advice. “Be curious! ALWAYS be learning and growing, but also know that you’ll never have ALL the answers, and at some point need to just make a decision and take the leap,” he encourages.
It’s a real, actionable mindset that anyone, regardless of major or background, can embrace. Jack’s journey started by accident, but his willingness to ask questions, take risks, and connect with others made all the difference. His story is proof that you don’t have to have it all figured out to start something extraordinary.
What’s Next for Jack
Looking forward, Jack is keeping things grounded while staying ambitious. “Honestly, (I just want to) graduate… It still seems strange to me that I’ve raised over $100K of investment capital for a business that I run, but I still haven’t finished college.”
That balance of humility and drive is part of his entrepreneurial DNA. Graduation is next on the list, but he’s equally excited about launching Wave RF’s first products and seeing his team’s hard work pay off. “Second only to graduating, I’m ready to roll out our products–I’m excited to share what we’ve been working on!” For Jack, the best is yet to come, both as a Wolverines student and as a founder ready to make an impact.
Want to turn your own big idea into a reality? Explore CFE courses, join EHour, and connect with student founders like Jack. Your journey could start with one simple decision—just like his.