Sigma Eta Pi – University of Michigan

In SEPi News: Chicago Trek Winter 2024 During the weekend of April 11th - 13th, a group of SEPi brothers traveled to Chicago for our semesterly Professional Trek, organized by our VPs of Professional Development, Alex Wang and Max Feldman. During this trip, we visited 5 businesses and gained professional advice for working in a startup and for networking experience. The first company we visited was G2, a global software marketplace with the mission of crowdsourcing software, meeting the needs of both a growing customer base and number of software developers and vendors. They are greatly inspired by the PEAK value framework which stands for performance, entrepreneurialism, authenticity, and kindness. After visiting G2, we met with 1871, a non-profit tech innovation hub focused on uplifting tech entrepreneurs in the Chicago area and the Midwest. 1871 discussed their university partnership programs, affording students at select schools resources and expertise to grow their ventures. The brothers also walked through the spaces where founders and early stage entrepreneurs put in the time and work to create and innovate and the spaces where public pitch competitions and events took place to bring the community together. The second day began with Inspire11, a tech consulting firm with a mission to re-invent the way they think about consulting and its workflow. Inspire11 focused greatly on harnessing the power of emerging technologies and AI in efforts to increase productivity and ultimately work towards increased value generation. Founder and CEO, Hans Nelson shared insight on the invaluable nature of constructive feedback culture, innovating and disrupting with purpose, and always being curious and entrepreneurial. Next, we visited a hard tech incubator called mHUB . mHub is a more hardware-centered incubator, also focused on uplifting entrepreneurs and founders in the Chicago area and the broader Midwest. The brothers learned about how they measure success through the economic impact they can facilitate with their resources and services they provide to early stage startups and innovators, providing insight into the way they see the work they do as catalytic and to the benefit of the surrounding community. The last company was Origin Ventures, a digital nature venture capital that focuses on investments in the digital native economy. The brothers were fascinated by Origin’s investment thesis placing attention on the outsized opportunity in the digital native economy and businesses positioned to best take advantage of present and future generations’ familiarity and attachment to technology. Managing partner Jason Heltzer provided more insight into the field of venture capital, from advice on breaking into the field to what makes the great founders and startups excel. This trip to Chicago was yet another amazing trek experience. We thank all the companies for hosting us and providing a personal look into their operations!

In SEPi News: Professional Development x DEI Activity Yesterday, SEPi members came together during our regular chapter time to participate in a Professional Development x DEI Pitch Competition, hosted by our VPs of DEI, Sarika Waikar and Kevin Toledo, and one of our VPs of Professional Development Max Feldman. First, in groups of 5-6, our members brainstormed challenges or inequities faced by college students today, and how technology could be leveraged to address these challenges. Next, each group was tasked with coming up with a creative, unique startup idea that addressed one or more of the previously identified issues. Using research and organizing their key aspects, groups prepped themselves and their idea before presenting to the rest of the chapter. Group 1’s idea was an app to streamline transportation. With a goal of creating a way to make public transportation more accessible, Group 1 talked about compiling all public transportation into one space to make things easier for students and allow students to save money. Group 2’s pitch aimed to tackle the issue of students getting scammed in ticket exchanges for numerous events. To make things easier for students, Group 2 wanted to compare all games and tickets into one place for convenience and easy usage. Group 3 presented an app with features including healthy meals alternatives, where to find healthy options in dining halls, volunteer opportunities, and more. This app would foster community, while helping college students with access to fresh and healthy meals. Group 4 not only sough out to make the transportation system simpler and more affordable, but also making housing easier by allowing students to pick living places farther from campus, with the help of their form of cheaper public transportation. Group 5 came up with an innovative subletting app that allows individuals to post and look at all subletting options in on location. Through filters such as price and time, this app is designed to help students find housing options that align with their needs and preferences. Lastly, Group 6 created a constantly up to date online brokerage for student housing. With this idea, Group 6 tackles the issues of how expensive having a personal broker can be and how often lots of listings are not kept up to date. Ultimately, our hosts decided that Group 4 delivered the best pitch and idea! Congratulations to Saajan Kikani, Madia Adnan, Thomas Landgraff, Jenny Hald, Maya Lindsley. In the end, this pitch competition prompted our members to think about real-life issues college students like us face every day, and how we can work towards fixing these challenges and inequities. Through activities like this, Sigma Eta Pi offers members a chance to practice their entrepreneurial spirit and problem solving skills.

In SEPi News: Alumni Weekend This past weekend, we were excited to receive a visit from five accomplished SEPi alumni: Tim Dunkel, Lucy Sohr, Mark Norten, Peter Koomen, and Nicholas Zacharek. On Saturday, we hosted a social where current brothers and our alumni could catch up and reminisce about old memories in a fun and casual atmosphere. During our weekly chapter on Sunday, we organized a discussion panel with Tim and Lucy, who shared some wise words with our current members, which was then followed by a Q&A with the brothers. They spoke on behalf of their favorite SEPi memories, what their careers are like, and gave insightful advice about job recruitment. “Anything that you do that you love, save it,” Lucy said. “There is a very good chance you will be able to use that when you are seeking out jobs. If you feel proud of it now, that’s not going anywhere, and someone else will probably feel proud of it in the future.” Tim discussed strategies for interviews and networking by creating analogies within a resume to elaborate on specific qualifications for a position. He also mentioned the importance of leadership experience for your future endeavors and to learn from others’ accomplishments. Thank you to our VP of Membership, Mitchell Herndon, for planning an amazing weekend. We sincerely appreciate all the alumni who came out this past weekend. We love you all and hope to see you again soon!

In SEPi News: Guest Speaker Matt Gordon On February 18th, SEPi gathered for an insightful chapter with guest speaker Matthew Gordon, Co-Founder and CFO at The Pickleball Club. Established in 2019, The Pickleball Club is dedicated to building indoor pickle ball courts across the United States. Gordon talked with our members about his personal experiences in creating The Pickleball Club, sharing valuable insights into the entrepreneurial journey and what it takes to be a true entrepreneur. Here is a summary of specific advice Gordon offered for young adults interested in entrepreneurship: 1. Entrepreneurial wisdom and mindset: All great entrepreneurial endeavors start with a compelling idea. According to Gordon, finding an opportunity is just the beginning; it requires diligent research and effort to turn ideas into reality. In addition, he advised that the faster one can identify what does not work, the sooner they can determine what does work. 2. Personal growth and learning: Reflecting on the start of The Pickleball Club’s journey, Gordon recalled making more mistakes than he can count, but highlighted the significance of not just accepting failure but embracing it as a fundamental aspect of entrepreneurial growth. That being said, entrepreneurs must be comfortable with the concept of pivoting within their work. Lastly, recognizing mistakes as valuable learning opportunities is key to a smoother path to success. To fuel inspiration for our upcoming endeavors beyond graduation, Sigma Eta Pi extends invitations to a range of UM and SEPi alum and local entrepreneurs to come and share words of wisdom to our members. We are so grateful for the chance to learn about The Pickleball Club and gain insights from a local entrepreneur! And thank you to our VPs of Professional Development, Max Feldman and Alex Wang, for organizing our guest speaker series! Thank you, Matt, for sharing your experiences with us!

In SEPi News: DEI and Entrepreneurship Panel On January 22nd, during our open rush round, Sigma Eta Pi held our DEI and Entrepreneurship Panel, organized by our Heads of DEI, Sarika Waikar and Kevin Toledo. The panel consisted of 5 brothers (Alex Wang, Riya Munot, Gabriel Cueto, Olivia Garzo Dominguez, Tiffany Li) and 1 local entrepreneur Kaylan Mitchell. Mitchell is the co-owner of The Getup Vintage located here in Ann Arbor. Since its opening, The Getup Vintage has focused on bringing environmentally conscious fashion to downtown Ann Arbor! We asked our panelists questions about their individual experiences- whether that was working at an internship or job, their time in SEPi, or any entrepreneurial advice they have. The panelists also discussed DEI in their workplace and the value of diverse opinions in entrepreneurship. Finally, rushees were given the opportunity to directly ask panelists questions and network with our panelists and other brothers at the end. We thank the panelists for their thoughtful insights and time!

In SEPi News: New York City Trek Fall 2023 This past weekend, on November 30th and December 1st, a group of SEPi brothers traveled to New York to commence the semesterly Professional Trek, organized by our VPs of Professional Development, Brandon Wortman and Saajan Kikani. During this trip, we visited seven businesses and gained professional advice for working in a startup and networking experience. The first company we visited was CB Insights, a market intelligence platform that aids software buyers and business leaders with investment opportunities, enhancing cost efficiency and creating seamless customer experiences. Their VP of Marketing, Yuri Daniels, educated the brothers on the importance of focusing on the process rather than just the end goal. After visiting CB Insights, we met with Findigs, Inc., a digital platform company that makes renting faster, safer, and fairer in 46 out of 50 states. Here, Grace Doering, Head of Sales and Partnerships, provided insight into their product and her career experience. The brothers also talked with a team that informed us of the differences between a startup and a large corporate job, offering valuable job hunting and interview advice. Next, we talked with Nick Chen, the CEO of Hype, a mobile marketing platform for small businesses. Here, we could see an inside look into what it takes to be a CEO of a startup and the process of starting a business. Our last company of the day was a software development company, Placements.io, where we met with CEO Edwin F. Brothers benefitted from the team's advice to always keep generating ideas and that the ability to sell is a fundamental skill needed within a startup. We started our second day off with LineLeap and met with the Co-Founders Patrick Skelly and Nick Becker (both UM alum!) Skelly and Becker shared stories and their experiences within LineLeap, from its first day of success to exciting new features they recently added to their app. They also talked about how LineLeap was focused on getting customers rather than having the “perfect” app in the early stages. Next, we ventured to Pikkit, a social sports betting app, and talked with Co-Founders Pranav Tadikonda, Anthony Jonikas, and software engineer Barrett Fitzgerald (all UM alum!). Here, the brothers were given a walk-through of the Pikkit app. Brothers were also left with the important advice of focusing on broad issues rather than small details. Our last company was Free Agency, a series A startup that provides guidance to people in tech looking for jobs. We spoke with the Recruitment Lead & Technical Advisor to the CEO Katie Kilbourne, and Operations Manager Jonathan Goldberg. Kilbourne and Goldberg helped us to understand what the company was really about. Kilbourne also gave brothers her top advice in recruiting for jobs. This trip to New York was yet another amazing trek experience. We thank all the companies for hosting us and providing a personal look into their operations!

In SEPi News: Guest Speaker Kaarin Gordon On November 4th, SEPi brothers, pledges, and parents joined together for a Parents Weekend Chapter featuring guest speaker Kaarin Gordon. To inspire our future ventures post-graduation, Sigma Eta Pi invites a range of UM and SEPi alumni and local entrepreneurs in the area. Kaarin Gordon, mother of SEPi brother Rachel Gordon, shared some words of wisdom and tales of experience working for a health tech start-up. Kaarin Gordon is a builder, optimizer, and accelerator. She holds the position of Chief Growth Officer at Accumulus Synergy and is a passionate leader who continually leads with emotional intelligence and innovative passion. Her work focuses on digital transformation and working with organizations to drive revenue growth and increase business efficiencies within the pharmaceutical/medical field. Here is a summary of some of her most valuable pieces of advice for young adults finding joy and fulfillment in their early careers: 1. Look for teams that explore creativity:  The key to finding the correct workplace for yourself is to experiment. Although it can be challenging to know which workplace you’ll fit into best, learning what you do and don’t like are both important steps in finding the best workplace for you. The more you understand what workplace cultures fit best for you, the better you can make the work experience for yourself and future employers. 2. Understand what drives your CEO, and see if you align with it:  When choosing a company to work for, it can be difficult to know what type of company or industry you'd like to begin with. While on the job hunt, it can be essential to research the passions of the CEOs at the companies you are applying for. This skill can also be valuable in seeking a mentor.  In Gordon’s case, she knew her CEO wanted the company to build its own destiny. In deciding so, they became a non-profit. 3. The biggest competitor is change or the status quo: One thing companies and their workers continually have to work on is innovating alongside society. While the parts of a company that run well should be retained for the well-being of the company and workplace, certain parts should evolve alongside its consumers, employees, and the society it serves. She noted the importance of Accumulus Synergy’s processes in the COVID-19 pandemic to illuminate this principle. Thank you so much for speaking with us, Kaarin!

In SEPi News: Innovation Practice on X On October 29, SEPi brothers and pledges came together during regular chapter time to tackle a case study- one that would require problem-solving skills, innovation, and team collaboration. The prompt? Teams were imagined to work at X (formerly known as Twitter) and tasked by their manager to combat the rampant spreading of misinformation across the platform. In groups of 5-6, brothers participated as "senior analysts," and pledges participated as "junior analysts" to dissect the problem. Some started by observing that X currently provides on the platform, from identity verification to the ability to report a post. Nonetheless, the inadequacies of the platform allow for harmful content to spread. One group's analyst proposed targeting the false information that causes harm by "Labeling stuff as possibly incorrect until it's proven one way or another… We don't want to have any absolutes, that 'this is absolutely wrong or absolutely right,'" as Hayden Weber noted. This concept would allow fact-checkers to come in and verify true or false information. Other teams noted the potential of AI or algorithms to observe posts. Potentially, filtering for keywords and reporting patterns of repeat offenders posting false information could permit the removal of certain content or the blocking of a specific user to utilize the platform. Some groups referenced other platform's attempts to prevent the spreading of false information. Chaz Dunselman and Kevin Toledo noted the fact checker on Instagram, which flags posts with potentially inaccurate information. They said X could implement similar algorithms. Another consideration was the outsourcing of fact-checking to news outlets, which may receive a unique verification for providing factual information. Venetia Beauchamp's group asserted that users could reinforce perceived trustworthiness through a series of "swipe right" or "swipe left" Tinder-inspired user integration. Ultimately, the group that won the case in the eyes of our manager, Evan Cohen, and his informants took a three-pronged approach to combat the issue. First, they would aim to take down false information posts through a variety of means, then deactivate accounts responsible for its spread, and finally implement more extended consequences if you continue to spread misinformation. Evan praised the approach for getting to the root of the problem, creating a plan to implement the technique, and ultimately creating long-term misinformation prevention. In the end, this case study practice provided brothers and pledges alike to practice real-world innovation as well as the potential tools needed to tackle a question as such in an interview. 

In SEPi News: DEI and Entrepreneurship Panel On September 11, during our open rush round, Sigma Eta Pi featured 6 passionate, entrepreneurial brothers in a DEI and Entrepreneurship Panel: Hayden Weber, Sarika Waikar, Josh Dubler, Rishi Amladi, Sarah Verduci, and Mallika Miglani. Asking them questions about their individual experiences- whether that was working at an internship at a startup, practicing innovation in research, or their advice- the brothers had many insights. The panelists also discussed DEI in their workplace and the value of diverse opinions in entrepreneurship. Ultimately, the event culminated with rushees being able to ask questions. Finally, networking closed this amazing event! We thank the panelists for their thoughtful insights and time!

In SEPi News: Summer Experiences Recap This fall, our brothers are back to school with invaluable professional experiences from this summer- AND from all different disciplines! Our brothers could be seen in New York at CBS News or Extend Enterprises. You could catch them in PA at Osage Venture Partners, PowerPay, or even 1486 Labs. Other notable mentions are those working at Hilton, Ernst & Young, and Klay Media. These incredible experiences spanned all across the country and beyond. They spanned from working in venture capital to health and wellness and even tech. It's difficult to encapsulate all the fantastic learning that was done this summer, but our brothers will undoubtedly go forth into the school year grateful for their experiences. Fun fact: One of our brothers even worked at 1871, a startup focused on business development that we visited this past semester on our Professional Trek in Chicago. The "Independent innovation hub" provided an inside sneak-peak into the startup process that proved fruitful.