2025 – 2026 UMF Activities

I attended the Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization Global Conference in Tampa from October 30 to November 1. The event brought together hundreds of students, founders, and mentors from across the country. Over three days, I moved between workshops, presentations, and one of the largest pitch competitions in the collegiate entrepreneurship space. It was intense and valuable, and it came at the right time in my academic and professional development.

I traveled with a small team representing the University of Michigan-Flint’s Entrepreneurs Society, along with our faculty advisor. As treasurer, I had handled the funding coordination with the School of Management and the Hagerman Center, which meant I was already deep in logistics before we even left Michigan. That responsibility helped me appreciate how much operational planning sits behind every successful venture.

The energy at the conference was constant. Students and founders filled every hallway, comparing business ideas, showing prototypes, and talking strategy. The sessions covered topics from starting a company to leadership, branding, and risk management. What stood out most was how honest the speakers were about their failures. Hearing established founders describe their early mistakes made long-term entrepreneurship feel more accessible and grounded in real learning.

The highlight of the event for me was the Global Pitch Competition. More than three hundred people applied, and I was selected for the top hundred. To qualify, I had to record a three-minute pitch video for my business, which took dozens of attempts to get right. That work paid off when I advanced to the top twenty worldwide and earned a live pitch slot.

The live pitch was five minutes with a slide deck, delivered under bright lights in front of judges and a full audience. At one point, I got ahead of my pacing, but practice helped me stay calm and correct myself without losing momentum. Afterward, the judges offered targeted feedback. One encouraged me to draw clearer connections to the social impact of my venture, and another suggested leaning more on my delivery instead of relying heavily on slides. That critique has shaped how I prepare for future competitions.

Networking filled every spare minute between sessions. Conversations turned into advice, resources, or connections worth following up on. One session that stood out was a workshop focused on building communication platforms for entrepreneurial outreach. It directly supported the education-focused startup I am building and helped me refine how I plan to share updates, resources, and veteran-related guidance with future users. It reminded me that many of the best opportunities develop in informal settings.

Balancing conference preparation with classes, travel, and team responsibilities was demanding. Managing that workload forced me to focus on preparation and execution instead of getting caught up in nervous energy. What I took away from the experience went beyond technical entrepreneurship. It reinforced the value of communication, adaptability, and preparation. Watching other founders pitch clarified how to handle investor questions, present business models, and manage expectations.

Representing Flint meant a lot to me. Many attendees knew very little about our city, and I appreciated being able to talk about the progress happening back home. It was a good reminder that strong ideas can come from anywhere, and that Flint’s story includes resilience and innovation, not just recovery.

Since returning, I have updated my deck, tightened my pitch structure, and shared what I learned with the Entrepreneurs Society so future members can prepare for their own competitions. The conference also completes my Honors off-campus requirement, which fits the nature of the experience. It pushed me to develop as a leader, sharpen my communication skills, and connect classroom knowledge to real-world expectations.

My advice for future students is simple: relax and over-prepare. Every conversation has potential, and the smallest interaction might lead to your next opportunity. The CEO Global Conference wasn’t just a competition. It confirmed that I am on the right path and reminded me that the most valuable lessons come when theory meets practice. It was the clearest signal yet that the work I’m doing matters, and that I am ready for whatever comes next.

Although I did not win the competition, the experience only reinforced that my company is moving forward. I have not slowed down. I am still building out the platform, strengthening the business model, and expanding my network. I continue to look for investors and partnerships that can help me scale the work. Every new contact adds to the support structure I need to serve the veterans my venture is designed to help.

– Shane Berkholz, Treasurer