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October 19, 2021

My Life as A New Fellow: Omkar Borse

Hi! My name is Omkar Borse and I am a 2021 Venture For America Fellow based in Philadelphia.

Since August I have been living, working, and exploring the City of Brotherly Love. Reflecting back, it is hard to believe that it has already been two months in Philly for me. From day one, the pace has been rapid. Between getting myself settled in the city and getting up to speed on projects at work, I have had little respite. But that’s not a bad thing.

My work at ChargeItSpot has been exciting. As a Product Manager at an evolving company I am involved with projects where I have autonomy and responsibility to complete tasks with the room to learn and grow. I feel well supported by my peers and my manager, Michael Weinberg. I already feel confident in my contributions to the company and am enthusiastic about how I will develop in my role. 

After work, there is never an evening where something isn’t going on. From wine nights to Volleyball For America games to trying new restaurants, I have enjoyed myself and have gotten closer to the Fellows around me.

My living situation is a large part of my positive experience; I live with three other 2021 VFA Fellows. Between the four of us, we have been able to lean on each other when we have problems and lend a hand when putting together various Ikea furniture. The location and size of our living arrangement has allowed us to comfortably host, allowing us to get to know and enjoy the company of many of our fellow Fellows.

There have been opportunities to learn about the city and the community as well. I met local entrepreneurs at a Philly Startup Leaders event and was able to speak with those beyond the local VFA community. During Welcome Weekend, I learned about exciting new technologies at Exyn. Further, I was moved by the stories and perspective of Chrissy, our tour guide for the Philly neighborhood tour hosted by Philadelphia Experiences; she spoke candidly about her experience growing up in a tough environment and how that impacted her.

Fall Welcome has made me eager to learn more about my city, its culture, and the technical entrepreneurial ecosystem. It already has allowed me to form strong bonds to those in the VFA community. My time in Philadelphia has been nothing short of phenomenal.

Posted in: Fellows, Inside VFA