Desai Accelerator

It's #GivingBlueDay, and I'm asking you to make a gift to Desai Accelerator because: 1) With your generous help, we support the next generation of Michigan innovators and startup founders, 2) We've been doing it for 10 years, investing $1.65M in 50 companies, 3) We're making offers to six more companies for the 2025 cohort. You can give directly to Desai here: https://lnkd.in/gWh3uCg6 What does your gift do? ???$100 – Provides exclusive recognition gear for a founder or intern. ?? $250 – Brings an inspiring voice to our Founder Speaker Series by funding 1 of 10 expert guest speakers who share game-changing insights with our cohort. ?? $500 – Supports a month of Entrepreneur-in-Residence mentorship, giving founders access to the seasoned guidance they need to navigate challenges and seize opportunities. ?? $1,000 – Sponsors a founder or intern's weekly experience in our Immersion program, accelerating their growth through hands-on, in-person learning. ?? $2,500 – Fuels a new A2-Detroit Innovation Trek that will connect founders to investors, industry leaders, and cutting-edge startups in Michigan’s thriving ecosystem. ?? $25,000 – Transforms the future by funding an entire 1-week, in-person immersion program for 25 founders and interns, equipping them with resources to build the next wave of ground-breaking ventures. Take a look at some pics of our new home in the Zell Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurship at the University of Michigan - Stephen M. Ross School of Business, and a little joke about how I feel about...you know, *things* unrelated to the amazing founders we work with. We're so excited for the next 10 years!

Building a startup is hard. You have a bold vision, but turning it into a real, scalable product? That’s where things get complicated. We’ve seen it firsthand - early-stage startups often wrestle with one big question: What should we build? Making the right product decisions early can mean the difference between success and struggle. ?? That’s why we work alongside founders, helping them navigate the journey with our Product Loop approach: ? Innovation: We help you define what to build - not just build something. ? Creation: Our team develops scalable, high-quality products. ? Activation: We refine and enhance based on real user feedback. Through our partnership with the Desai Accelerator, we’ve had the opportunity of working alongside incredible founders as they refine, build, and launch their products. Great products don’t happen by accident. They require strategy, iteration, and the right expertise. ?? Need a tech partner that thinks like a founder? Let’s talk: https://bit.ly/411pku3

??Desai Internship Applications Due This Week!?? Are you ready to gain hands-on experience working with innovative startups??? The?Desai Accelerator?is looking for talented, driven individuals to join our?Summer Internship Program?and work directly with our portfolio companies. ??As an intern, you'll: ? Solve real-world challenges alongside startup founders ? Gain exposure to different aspects of business and entrepreneurship ? Develop skills in marketing, operations, finance, and more ? Join a collaborative, innovative, and fast-paced environment ?? Application Deadline:?Sunday, February 2nd at 11:59 PM ET ?? Location:?Ann Arbor, Michigan ?? Eligibility:?Open to undergraduate and graduate U-M students passionate about startups and innovation Don't miss your chance to be part of something extraordinary this summer. Apply now and take the first step toward an unforgettable professional journey! Request an application here??? https://lnkd.in/gUNpZPwE Tag a friend who might be interested or share this post to spread the word! #DesaiAccelerator #StartupInternship #Entrepreneurship #InternshipOpportunity

?? Join Us for a Virtual Info Session with the Desai Accelerator! This online event will feature Desai Accelerator's Managing Director and Program Manager, who will describe the program experience and answer audience questions. ?? Why Desai? The Desai Accelerator hosts a 7-month intensive program to support and grow scalable startups founded by U-M alumni. Program perks include a $25k investment, mentorship, interns, AWS credits, and more. ?? Save the Date! When:?Thursday, January 9th Time:?12:00 PM EST Where:?Online (details provided upon registration) ?? Register Today:?https://lnkd.in/gxZZdRyv Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how the Desai Accelerator can help your startup grow! Get ready to go Go Blue ? Grow Blue!

Demo Day 2024 marked the culmination of months of hard work, creativity, and resilience by our latest Desai Accelerator cohort: California Climate Exchange, Crigloo, Pathless Productions, Verbalista, and XRAY Commerce. Over the past seven months, our five startups have worked tirelessly—refining their ideas, building their businesses, and embracing challenges. Their?pitches showcased not just their vision, but their drive to create meaningful impact. A heartfelt?thank you?to our mentors, advisors, and partners who have supported this cohort throughout their journey. Your guidance and expertise are invaluable to the success of these ventures. To our team members—your hard work behind the scenes has been instrumental in bringing this year's program and Demo Day to life. Applications Now Open for Founders and Interns! ?? U-M Founders:?Are you an entrepreneur ready to take your startup to the next level? Apply to join the next Desai Accelerator cohort and gain access to mentorship, funding, and the resources you need to scale your business. This transformative experience provides unparalleled support to help you achieve your goals and culminates in an opportunity to shine on stage at Demo Day 2025. ? Learn more and apply now: https://lnkd.in/gPKsKBY ?? U-M Students:?Looking for a dynamic, fast-paced, and hands-on internship in the startup world? Desai Accelerator offers an exciting opportunity to work directly with innovative startups. Interns play a critical role in supporting founders, solving real-world challenges, and driving the growth of early-stage companies. It’s a chance to build valuable skills, grow your network, and make a meaningful impact in a collaborative, entrepreneurial environment. ? Learn more and apply now:?https://lnkd.in/gUNpZPwE Demo Day is always a reminder of what makes the startup ecosystem so special: innovation, collaboration, and the courage to dream big. We’re beyond excited to see what’s next for these startups as they continue to grow and thrive. Here’s to another successful cohort and the boundless possibilities ahead! #DemoDay #Innovation #Startups #Entrepreneurship #DesaiAccelerator #GoBlueGrowBlue

?? Happy National Intern Day! ?? Today, we celebrate the incredible contributions of our summer interns?who bring fresh perspectives, enthusiasm, and innovation to Desai Accelerator.? Thank you for your energy, creativity, and willingness to learn. Your contributions make a significant impact on our teams ?? #GoBlueGrowBlue

Congratulations, Sophie Linn, on making the Australian Olympic Team for #Paris2024! We ?? you and can't wait to cheer you on! We'll have to update your photo on our website now. ??

Desai Accelerator kickoff week is the absolute best! From guest speakers to design sprints to feedback and prioritization sessions to Top Golf, we had a spectacularly productive week together! TEAMWORK, team! #goblue #gobluegrowblue #startups #accelerator California Climate Exchange Crigloo Pathless Productions Verbalista x-Ray Commerce

?? Announcing Desai's 2024 Cohort, our tenth cohort: California Climate Exchange, Crigloo, Pathless Productions, x-Ray Commerce, and Verbalista! Welcome to the Desai Accelerator family William I.Y. Byun, Daniel Tinajero, Li Qiu, Badri Veera, Robert Peck, Srikanth KS, Matthew Stone, Kaleb Nekumanesh, Shams Juma,?Jorge Osto,?Dawn Law,?Preetam Sarnaik,?Vishal Chandawarkar and Arthur Yidi. We are thrilled to support your journey and can't wait to see the incredible impact you'll make. A special thank you to our esteemed selection committee for their invaluable contributions and dedication Candice Ammori, William Crane, Natalie Fang, Sarika Gupta, Steve Janssens, Grace Lee, Satish Malnaik, Rashmi Menon, Rob Streeter, and Stewart Thornhill. #DesaiAccelerator #GoBlueGrowBlue

Each summer, Desai Accelerator welcomes 10 talented summer interns to our program. Our?interns work full-time alongside our innovative startups, contributing their skills and passion to drive success. Over the past few weeks, we’ve had the privilege of introducing each of our interns, and today we conclude with Benjamin Kurniawan. Stay tuned for Monday's post, where we’ll unveil the five startups joining us for the next seven months! #DesaiAccelerator