Working on my Falcn startup is like drinking from a firehose – my team was forced to learn everything at a breakneck pace, from 3D CAD design to learning legalese, to filing a patent. And MIT LaunchX and UMichigan’s MPowered Entrepreneurship Competition gave me that opportunity.

Falcn was invited to UMichigan’s MPowered Entrepreneurial Summit (Startup High School) to present our smart material nitinol cookware.  It was a weekend-long event held at the University of Michigan, designed for student collaboration and growth. And we won third place!

To compete in “Startup High School”, hundreds of high school students submitted their unique ideas to this national pitch challenge. The applicants that stood out were invited to compete in the competition. And Neha and I were fortunate to be finalists and receive an invitation! On a first day, in an Ideation Workshop, we were given the opportunity to solve complex problems, interact with knowledgeable mentors, listen to professional guest speakers. It was great to connect with many motivated, diligent high school students.  On the second day, 20 teams presented and we all pitched our ideas in front of a panel of experienced judges.

This was another chance, in public, to improve my speaking ability and define the importance of smart materials, especially nitinol. This was so valuable because if we can present well, this is how technology and knowledge progress, within ourselves and within society– all the while articulating this world I love.