Introduction

Hi! My name is Mandira Chenjeri and I am a junior at Eastern Michigan University. I am majoring in Marketing and plan to graduate in December of 2024. This summer, I was paired as an intern with Ann Arbor SPARK, through the Digital Summer Clinic. Ann Arbor SPARK is a service that allows start-up businesses to launch and grow in the Ann Arbor area. They provide incredible amenities to ensure that all the businesses that work with them thrive. So far, SPARK has already helped 2000+ companies turn their business visions into a reality. SPARK has multiple programs that finance early-stage tech startups; these programs provide education and guidance for entrepreneurs as well. SPARK has two business incubators located in Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor. All of the start-up businesses in this clinic fall under the SPARK umbrella, so it is really cool to see some familiar names!

During Week 1 of the clinic, I had the opportunity to attend a seminar: "Customer Discovery-The secret to start-up success." When running a business, it is important to understand who your potential customer is and what they are trying to get out of your business. Once this is figured out, you are able to start product development. Effective marketing is key during this process as it engages the customer and creates a good brand image. This seminar was great as I got to hear from real people who had their own start-up company. I also got to see how SPARK implements their best practices in the business environment. 

During Week 2 of the clinic, my partner, Thomas, and I had our first meeting with the team. We went over projects and meetings for the week. Naturally, everything seemed a bit intimidating in the beginning. Grasping and using the new terms was probably the most challenging for me. Thomas and I got assigned to different projects this week. My task was to review and write up case studies for SPARK. Case studies are a tool that demonstrates the value of a business. SPARK has a program called AYB, which is a grant program for small businesses impacted by Covid-19. They interview start-up companies that have been partnered with AYB (Advance your Business) and then they write a case study on them. I began by reading a case study interview that was conducted a while back. I read up the interview questions and then I read up on the actual case study itself. This was great as it allowed me to see what my supervisors are looking for. Currently, I am in the works of writing one for a company. 

I cannot believe that week two is already over. I am excited to see what the rest of the summer holds!!