This week, the Class of 2013 entered their second week of VFA Bootcamp. Along with the trainings and a handful of speakers, on Monday, the Fellows were assigned their second challenge: to conceptualize, design, and develop a product to solve a clear problem.

Early in the week, leading international design and innovation consulting firm IDEO spent two full days with our Fellows teaching them design thinking, how to identify problems, and how to create elegant and unique solutions. By sending them out into the Providence community, IDEO helped our Fellows decide which issues to address as part of their product challenge and get them off to a strong start.

Once they started working on their products, the Fellows heard from a handful of judges and speakers who tried to help each group identify their users or customers, create a business model around their product, and develop a prototype. On Wednesday, we heard from seasoned Angel Investor Dave Tisch, most recently of Techstars NY, who talked about what kind of businesses he invests in and ultimately, that “it’s an art, not a science”.

Finally, this afternoon, each group presented their products and businesses models to our panel of judges. We were extremely impressed with each and every product our teams came up with, and the progress, even over the last week, was incredible. Ideas included an app to find food trucks in small cities, a corporate outdoor workbench to allow professionals to get some sun, and the winning idea, a laundry service that increases the convenience of going to the gym by making it easier for members to show up at their fitness clubs as they are.

Sean Jackson, Alli Shea, Adam Rhoades-Brown, Eli Schwarz, and Franklin Weldon— team “Enginewity”– created “Washloop”, where members have their clothing collected from the gym, washed overnight, and returned the next day clean and folded.

Over the past few days, these Fellows visited local Providence gyms, and even washed a load of laundry for their first customer. In the end, the judges thought they had simple, straight forward idea that added significant value for its customers and could be implemented almost immediately.

Congrats, Enginewity! Stay tuned for the next challenge, and check out our Training Camp Blog to see what the Fellows are up to day-to-day.

2013 Fellow Ali Sheppard graduated from one of the most technical universities in the country, but had never built a webpage until Training Camp. Read about her experience diving into programming for the first time post-MIT during our first challenge: Redesign the VFA Website.
To see what our Fellows are up to day-to-day at Brown, visit the Training Camp Blog!
From the very first moments of training camp, we were challenged to push ourselves into discomfort and to embrace this unique opportunity to expand beyond our traditional competencies. Though the summer is only just beginning, we have already had numerous opportunities to take this charge to heart and seize the chance to challenge our comfort levels. Last week, on Day 2, we were assigned to new teams and the website challenge was presented. The task itself was straightforward: redesign VFA’s current website to better serve VFA’s purposes. But for many, myself included, this challenge was the first opportunity of Training Camp to push ourselves into areas of discomfort and to embrace the opportunity to explore something completely outside of our respective disciplines.
As the challenge was described and we were divided into teams, conversation quickly turned to the skills and strengths of our group. Slightly embarrassed, I admitted to my new team members that despite coming from an incredibly technical university, my skills in the actual technical components of this challenge were essentially nonexistent. But, it was clear that someone would need to help our team’s lead developer with physically coding the site, and based on the distribution of work and my background in visual design, it made sense that I would take on this role.
My minimal experience with maintaining websites in WordPress was certainly not adequate preparation for this task, but I hoped it would be a start! I soon realized, however, that the files sent by my teammate were, quite literally, written in a foreign language. The next hours were filled with questions: I needed to download a new program just to edit the files? Which fonts were actually usable? How do I add a table or create columns? What is the actual difference between CSS and HTML?
After pestering teammates with what felt like a million insignificant questions, I thought I was finally getting the hang of it; as long as my teammate built out the framework and template for the project, I could easily alter the physical design to reflect the aesthetic and design choices we had made.
When the team decided to completely change our strategy around hour 35 of the challenge, it became clear that someone else would have to work on building pages to house the content we had already created. While our amazing developer was creating new features to improve the current VFA site, other team members were creating new content for our microsite, and I somehow found myself with the task of building these new pages that were a part of our revised approach. Numerous Google searches, hundreds of questions to teammates, and a lot of trial and error later, I’d created new pages. The results were certainly not perfect, and were by no means the archetype of the class of page we were creating. However, they were functional, conveyed the necessary information, and served their purpose well.
I certainly didn’t think that it would take leaving MIT to push myself to experiment with coding. If I could manage to avoid any real contact with programming at MIT, I thought I could certainly avoid it anywhere. Over the course of five years surrounded by peers for whom these skills were second nature, I preemptively decided that this was not where my strengths lay. When I stumbled upon the urban planning department at some point during my freshman spring, I quickly assured myself that I would be done with the true technical rigor of MIT as soon as I finished my general institute requirements. Though many aspects of urban planning involve a degree of technical rigor and knowledge, I quickly realized that this would not be my area of focus. I had found what I was good at and passionate about, and have been largely content to grow along this path, becoming more of a specialist than a generalist outside of the realm of urban planning.
My academic background and a passion for urbanism are what led me to VFA in the first place and I naively envisioned training camp as a continuation of this trajectory. The first week, though, has already proven me drastically wrong – it is already clear that training camp is as much about exploring areas outside of our core competencies as strengthening the skills that we already have. The website challenge was a perfect example of this: within a few short days, I realized that the technical skills I had been avoiding for so long were now an inevitability. Though unexpected, the first week of training has already revealed how many opportunities we will have to embrace the discomfort and learn from our fellow Fellows over the next 4 weeks.

This week, VFA’s second class of Fellows arrived in Providence to kick of the second Venture for America Fellow Training Camp at Brown University. Already, they’ve created teams and logos, heard from amazing speakers like Gary Chou and David Rose, redesigned the VFA website, and had a two day business school crash course.

In addition to weekly updates, if you want to know what’s going on at Training Camp day-to-day, follow along with our Training Camp Blog! We’ll be sharing photos, updates, and regular reflections from our Fellows.

Week 1 Highlights

Website Challenge: For the first challenge of Training Camp, the Fellows were tasked with redesigning the VFA Website. One group made a video , some created new info graphics, and one team even opened with a VFA splash page featuring our Fellows.
To see the challenge winners and the other redesigns, check out the Training Camp Blog.
Gary Chou: On Monday, Gary Chou (@garychou), who most recently worked with Union Square Ventures, came to talk to our Fellows about some important things he’s learned throughout his impressive career. Among other things, Gary talked about how to design social products and then closed out with his list of “12 Things I Didn’t Want to Learn“. Definitely worth a read!
David Rose: Yesterday, seasoned investor and entrepreneur David Rose of Gust came to speak to the Fellows about what it takes for entrepreneurs to find investors and how to pitch business ideas. Among other things, David highlighted that he often looks for integrity, passion, and leadership among a handful of other qualities when investing in an entrepreneur’s idea. As someone who has been on both sides of the table as an founder and angel investor, David provided invaluable advice to our Fellows. We were thrilled to have him!
One Fellow, Oliver Li, shared what he learned from David on the Training Camp Blog.
Congrats to our Fellows for a first week well-done! We can’t wait to kick off Week 2.

 
Name:  Mike Wilner
Hometown: Baltimore, MD
University:  Washington & Lee University ’13
Major: Math & Business
 
What led you to apply for Venture for America?
Like many people, I was headed down the path to investment banking. The summer going into my senior year, I had an internship with a prestigious NYC bank. A few weeks in, I remember asking myself, “What am I ACTUALLY doing?” When the answer was, “underwriting municipal bonds”, I knew something had gone wrong. I realized that I desperately wanted to build something be more than grease in the wheels. I was lucky to be told about VFA from a friend; when I did my research, I knew it was exactly what I wanted to do.
What were you doing when you found out you were accepted?
I was actually doing homework in the math building. I remember knowing that I’d find out soon, and when I saw that I was getting a call from a NY phone number, I knew I was going to get some sort of news. Fortunately, it was Andrew, and he delivered the good kind. I stopped doing homework, left my books, jogged down to my house and celebrated with my friends. When I talked to Andrew, I kept a level head and thanked him, saying I’d have to think about it. However, in less than an hour I had formally accepted the offer.
Now that you’’re a Fellow, what are you most excited about with regard to VFA? What do you hope to accomplish?
I’m excited to meet some awesome, likeminded people and to learn by doing. This whole startup thing can be tricky to navigate, so I’m also really looking forward to diving in and figuring out how to start something myself. During my time as a Fellow, I’d like to help build something great with my matched VFA company and maybe hatch an idea of my own with a fellow Fellow.
If you had to live one place for the rest of your life, where would you choose?  
The thought of being in just one place for the rest of my life makes me uneasy; I’m a bit of a nomad. So, I think ‘a car’ would be the best answer.
Best thing about Washington & Lee: 
The small student body size may deter some, but I think it’s W&L’s greatest attribute. My largest class size was probably 30, and I’ve had four classes with under 10 students. I know all of my professors personally, and the academic culture and honor system foster independence and accountability. The social scene is pretty fun, too.
Favorite Book: Rework by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson
Favorite childhood TV show: The Cosby Show
Favorite meal: Baby Back Ribs with baked beans and corn pudding…or Maryland crabs.
Favorite holiday: 4^th of July
Best class you’’ve ever taken: Number Theory. It challenged me to think about numbers in a completely different way, and I had to create my own Theorem, which turned out to have very little application. Looking back, it was a bit of an entrepreneurial process—coming up with a concept I was curious about and attacking the problem from different angles until I found something that worked.
Favorite thing to do on Sunday:  Drive around with friends
Favorite movie quote: “SAY WHAT AGAIN!!!”
Favorite entrepreneur: Ben Milne, Dennis Crowley, Jack Dorsey, Aaron Patzer to name a few
Favorite cereal: Chocolate Rice Krispies with chocolate milk
Most worn article of clothing: My worn out Air Max’s
Favorite sports team: Baltimore Ravens
Best trip you’ve ever been on: At W&L, we have a 4 week trimester in the spring. My junior year, I spent those 4 weeks in Galway, Ireland with a bunch of my best friends. After our time in Galway was up, we went to London, Paris, and Amsterdam for two days each. I slept for a week upon my return.
Favorite historical figure: Sam Cooke, the King of Soul.
Accomplishment you’re most proud of: Whatever my next one is.
 

 
Name:  Katherine (Kate) Catlin
Hometown: Redmond, WA
University:  Gonzaga University   ’13
Major: Economics
What led you to apply for Venture for America?
I’ve been active in social and environmental causes since Junior High, and always thought I was going into the public sector or NGO work. Spending a semester in Nicaragua with the Social Entrepreneurship Corps changed everything. I saw how business and the private sector could transform communities, providing a necessary good or service while maintaining financial self-sustainability and empowering people through jobs. As soon as I heard about the VFA opportunity I knew I had to apply. What better way to learn entrepreneurship than doing it?
What were you doing when you found out you were accepted?
Biking. I almost swerved into traffic.
Now that you’re a Fellow, what are you most excited about with regard to VFA? What do you hope to accomplish?
I’m most excited about the connections and networks to be made. First with my fellow VFA colleagues, who are all creative go-getters ready to create the next Google/Kickstarter/sliced bread. Next, with mentors and investors that could be the support I need to launch my own business within the next five years.
If you had to live one place for the rest of your life, where would you choose?  Seattle. I’ve been lucky to travel a lot and see some beautiful things, but there’s no place like home.
Best thing about Goganza University:  The Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program
Favorite Book: Anything Shakespeare or Herman Hesse.
Favorite childhood TV show: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Favorite meal: Grilled pacific NW salmon
Favorite holiday: Christmas
Best class you’ve ever taken: Economics of Microfinance
Favorite thing to do on Sunday:  Long bike rides up mountains and down rivers.
Favorite entrepreneur: Greg Van Kirk and George Glickley of Community Enterprise Solutions, the inventors of the empowering “MicroConsignment” model.
Favorite cereal: McCann’s Steel Cut Oats with peanut butter.
Most worn article of clothing: Under Armour Leggings. I love to be active and outdoors whenever possible!
Favorite sports team: Gonzaga Bulldogs basketball
Best trip you’ve ever been on: Kayaking down the Rio San Juan between Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Sunset on that river can’t be described in words.
Favorite historical figure: Kate Mardsen- one of the toughest and most compassionate women in history. Marsen journeyed 2,000 miles across Siberia in the late 19^th century searching for medicine to aid people afflicted with Hansen’s disease.
Accomplishment you’re most proud of: Biking from Seattle to Washington, DC in 2009. This was the most intense physical challenge of my life. Yet more importantly, I conversed with people from all walks of life, witnessed the disparity of economic conditions across our nation and changed my perspective on just about everything.
 

A message from Andrew Yang:

It’s hard to get started as a young entrepreneur—often much harder than one would ever realize. For me, it took a failed company and years of experience of a startup executive before I hit a point where I could effectively run a company. I started Venture for America in order to give our talented young people a more well-lit runway.
The first 40 Fellows who joined Venture for America are some of the most enterprising young people I’ve ever encountered. Aside from constantly striving to make an impact at their companies in Detroit, New Orleans, Providence, Cincinnati and Las Vegas, many spend their free time pursuing passion projects or trying to improve their communities. Not only did they choose to take the path less traveled to become entrepreneurs and have a positive impact —they continue to create value every day.
We’re thrilled to announce that thanks to American Express OPEN Forum, a platform for small business owners and entrepreneurs to share advice, our Fellows now have access to the VFA Innovation Fund: a fund created solely to fund the ideas of VFA Fellows. Right now at VFA.RocketHub.com, our Fellows are working to promote their ideas and crowdfund their way to the first $20,000 in funding available only to them. The Fellows that raise the most money between now and July 8th will gain access to the Innovation Fund to get their ideas off the ground.
Please take a moment to look through their projects and see the incredible things our Fellows are doing— teaching entrepreneurship in middle schools, trying to simplify meeting people at networking events, creating an affordable Cincinnati sandwich shop, and more. Over the next several weeks, the Fellows will be seeking advice and support from their networks, and working to raise as much money as possible.
Visit VFA.RocketHub.com today to show your support. Let’s help today’s young entrepreneurs create new opportunities for themselves and others.

Several people have forwarded the VFA Team a recent MIT entrepreneurship essay on the sort of problems American entrepreneurs should be focused on. It’s very thought-provoking, and accurate in arguing that both the market and the respective experiences of founders drive what sort of companies get started and invested in (and which don’t), and why that might not always lead to the kind of innovation we need. Great read.

This spring, we shared a New York Times article about Quicken Loans Chairman and Founder Dan Gilbert and his quest to remake Detroit, with the goal to “turn downtown into a high-tech hub, where young entrepreneurs both live and work.”
Last week, he took another step toward achieving his goal by announcing a $1.5 Million pledge to Venture for America to continue sending our talented and enterprising Fellows to Detroit and Cleveland over the next five years. Already, he’s pumped about $1 billion into the city to acquire almost three million square feet of real estate.
Venture for America made the announcement at the VFA Summer Celebration last Thursday (check out photos here!), where our friends and supporters from around the country, including Detroit, joined us in New York. We are thrilled to work with Dan and Quicken Loans to keep moving forward, and can’t wait send over a dozens more Fellows to Detroit and Cleveland over the next 5 years to join our first class!