January Johnson - Cohort 3
My experience with the Accelerator has been positive and I believe my internship with Jakapa will be just as great. You and all others involved in the creation and execution of the Anchor program have done an outstanding job in creating amazing opportunities for the founders, interns, and community at large. And I personally thank you for reaching out and asking for my resume, which has brought me to this point in my professional journey.
Pitch night and networking with founders was an amazing experience! I really enjoyed getting to know the founders and hearing their pitches. It was great to see so many innovative ideas and to be part of such an exciting event.
As a DEI Intern, I'm hoping to use and develop my technical and soft skills as well as gain a deeper understanding of how small businesses and start-ups scale and leverage resources to expand their domains. I hope to gain experience in the field of software engineering to solve real-world problems. Lastly, I'm looking forward to working in a diverse and inclusive team that will help me to grow both personally and professionally.
As for my educational journey, this internship is a fantastic opportunity for me to gain hands-on experience and apply the concepts and skills that I've learned in the classroom. I'm looking forward to learning from my mentors and colleagues and to developing new skills that will be valuable in my future career.
Divine Akinjiyan - Cohort 3
I had so much fun on pitch night. I was initially very nervous because I didn't think I had a lot of the specific skills the founders were looking for, but after I got a chance to hear from them, they all seemed very success-oriented and approachable and that put me at ease. It was also great networking with the founders because they all shared how they had started on the path to entrepreneurship, some of the unique challenges they faced, and some encouragement for anyone looking to become an entrepreneur themselves.
I am looking forward to gaining first-hand experience of what it is like to bring an idea from execution to success, especially in a startup. I'm very excited to learn from the team at JAKAPA and gain some knowledge that I can take into the workplace. I am also looking forward to making sure that I can challenge myself to make a huge impact on JAKAPA in the 8 weeks I'll be working with them.
I know this internship is of so much benefit to my educational journey. JAKAPA is a tech startup and as a computer science major looking to launch a career in that field, I do not doubt that this internship will not only prepare me for the workplace but also teach me the soft skills needed to have a successful career such as self-management, emotional resilience, cooperation, social engagement, and innovation.
Michael Leverenz - Cohort 3
My experience on pitch night was amazing. It was super cool to see the founders pitch their business ideas. It reminds me of Shark Tank (minus the bidding). I even wrote down a few notes for each of the founders when they presented so I can reflect. I thought I nailed the elevator pitch since everyone seemed positive about it. It was also informative to get to talk to all of them and see how each of us would fit. Overall, awesome night.
As an intern, I am hoping to learn about what it is like to run a start-up. Starting a business is not easy, it requires time, hard work, and skill to make it profitable. Through this, I hope to gain experience that will help me in my career in financial services.
I believe this internship will be very helpful in my educational journey. It will give me exposure to real-life businesses where I can see many of the things I learned in the college of business being applied in real time. It will also help me learn new skills that will be helpful not only in finishing up my final semester (I graduate in May) but beyond in the labor market.
Sarah Abbas - Cohort 3
Participating in the pitch night was an amazing experience for me. I had the opportunity to showcase my networking skills and connect with several founders. It was a great learning experience to understand the inner workings of a startup and what these founders were looking for in an intern. I was able to gain insights into various areas such as data programming, website development, social media management, and video creation. I must admit that I was initially nervous about speaking in front of a large group and introducing myself, but I now feel more confident. I am grateful for this valuable experience and I feel that I have gained a lot from it.
I hope to get more insight into the subject of diversity, equity, and inclusion as a DEI intern. I'm hoping to pick up tips from business leaders and get practical experience putting DEI projects into practice in a workplace environment. I'm also interested in learning more about the many obstacles that organizations must confront and how to get through them. I aim to obtain valuable internship experience and concentrate on assisting FYSIQ.
I believe that this internship will have a significant impact on my educational journey. By participating in hands-on experiences, I will be able to apply my classroom knowledge to real-world situations. The connections I build through this internship with the company FYSIQ will be valuable assets for future job opportunities. I am confident that this internship will enhance my career readiness and provide me with a deeper understanding of the entrepreneurial mindset. Through this experience, I will have the chance to sharpen my practical skills and further develop the concepts I have learned in school.
Greg Waters - Operations, Manufacturing and Engineering Leader
The Anchor Accelerator program is simply amazing and is truly unique in how it helps to transform local businesses in the greater St. Louis area. What an amazing way for the University to help promote growth of businesses in the region.
Being a mentor was an incredibly positive experience, as I had the unique opportunity to provide guidance and support the aspiring entrepreneur on the growth journey of the company. Witnessing the enthusiasm, desire to grow, overcome challenges, and achieve milestones was truly rewarding. It reaffirmed my belief in the power of mentorship and the potential of small businesses to make a lasting impact on the economy.
Jeff Barry - Chief Innovation Officer
Programs like the UMSL Anchor Accelerator program are essential for the St. Louis innovation ecosystem to thrive. They encourage and allow early stage entrepreneurs the ability to help build the foundation that others, and they themselves, will build upon for years to come.
Being a mentor for me is about giving back to the community that gave me a voice, a passion, and a direction many years ago. The start-up world is a small one, we are a family in many senses, that understand each other and support each other. I look forward to passing on as much of my knowledge about what works, and what doesn’t, for many years to come.
