Max Gorman’s connection to the Center for Entrepreneurship (CFE) began with a friend’s email introduction.
During his sophomore year at Michigan, a senior friend told him about the mentorship he had received from CFE’s Nick Moroz. That conversation encouraged Max to connect with Nick and explore what CFE had to offer.
“He connected me with Nick by email, and I immediately loved the CFE environment. Since then, I’ve connected with both Nick and Mitchell on various occasions, and they have been nothing but supportive and helpful in my various endeavors.”
Since then, Max has continued to develop his skills as a computer science student, software engineer, and entrepreneur while building his company, Sentimo.
Building the confidence to get started
For Max, entrepreneurship starts with believing in what you’re creating and being willing to commit to it.
“To me, having the “entrepreneurial mindset” means being willing to risk your own time and money for a product you are confident in, even if the world is not yet.”
He developed that mindset through conversations with CFE staff and entrepreneurship-focused computer science courses, including EECS 441: Mobile App Development for Entrepreneurs with Professor Elliot Soloway. The course encouraged him to take his work seriously enough to invest his own money in it.
Just as importantly, it helped him think beyond the outcome of any single idea.
“It gave me an understanding that I need to believe I will succeed to do so, and even if a particular endeavor is not successful, I will be successful eventually.”
Finding direction through FUEL
As Max worked on Sentimo, competing for FUEL funding allowed him to get feedback and sharpen his approach.
“Participating in FUEL helped me narrow the scope of Sentimo and focus on the parts of the business that matter most. The feedback I received from the judges was incredibly valuable and helped me think more critically about the product, the customer, and how I want to grow the company.”
That experience wasn’t just about refining the business. Having a clearer direction also helped Max enjoy the work of building it.
“It also made the process of building Sentimo more enjoyable because I came away with a much clearer sense of direction.”
Putting his skills to work
Alongside building Sentimo, Max works as a software engineer in the medical field. He sees both experiences as opportunities to grow technically and create something meaningful.
“I really enjoy creating technology that solves real problems and has a meaningful impact on people, and Sentimo has allowed me to apply what I’ve learned as an engineer to building a product and company of my own.”
At Michigan, he’s also looking forward to connecting with other student tech founders at V1 events and giving presentations in EECS courses. Learning from other entrepreneurs and sharing his own experiences are among the things he’s excited to do next.
“Long term, I hope to keep developing both technically and as an entrepreneur, and I’m excited to see how far I can take Sentimo.”
His advice: Get involved early
Looking back, Max wishes he had found CFE sooner.
“To those interested in CFE, I strongly encourage them to get involved as soon as possible. I went my whole first year of college without getting involved, and I deeply regret it.”
For him, the value has come from supportive mentors, honest feedback, and opportunities to keep moving his ideas forward. His message to students considering their first step is simple:
“I would encourage students to believe in their ideas and to get involved with the CFE (or take ENTR courses) as soon as possible!”
Have an idea you want to explore, or just curious about entrepreneurship? CFE welcomes students from every major. Explore courses, connect with the community, and find your own starting point.