Building Startup Intuition 🤞

July Recap!!

Hey guys! We’re back for a sweep of July! If you’re new…

Welcome to my newsletter! This is where I write about the projects I’m working on, the people I’ve met, events I’ve been to, and what it’s like to study at Columbia University as a Mechanical Engineering student 🦁🛠 :)

verteel intership ✈:

In July, I wrapped up my internship with Verteel—a drone startup working to deliver medical supplies to hospitals and clinics. One of the biggest goals while interning was to get our Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification so we could expand into a larger market, outside of the US. It’s an intense, highly regulated process that also came with several government proposals. I gained insight into the demand for work where legality is at the forefront in a startup. This is a super valuable experience as someone who’s going to interact with a lot of governmental folks!

In the startup world, there are always a lot of things to do at the same time. Sometimes it feels like traveling through a labyrinth 😐. Do I apply for grants first? Do I continue to CRM when I’ve booked a couple of meetings already? Should I build something first to show people what I can do, or hold off because customer research is first? When there are a lot of things to do at the same time, there needs to be timelines you follow to create ease in tracking everything. So, while interning, I learned how to use project management tables like Gantt charts to create and keep timelines on track. I’ve learned easier ways to manage smaller tasks like getting started on your project, to bigger ones like managing a team. Now I can 10x management with tools other than Notion ;).

I also took charge of our merch efforts, researching and finding affordable options that fit perfectly within our budget. It sounds simple, but it was a real exercise in balancing creativity with practicality. I’ve got a lot of experience in good sites to look for later down the line!

I was also part of the hiring process for Verteel’s full-time employees! It gave me a lot of guidance on what it takes to build a strong team. It requires foresight into what the values of the other person are, what skills they bring to the table, and where their priorities lie. It’s about knowing their commitment is as high as yours, and knowing that they are completely in it with you. But it’s also about giving grace to people who are just starting.

At some point, I asked myself, “Why would anyone want me working on something this important when I don’t even have any drone experience? Wouldn’t I technically slow things down compared to someone who already knows what they’re doing?”

And then I realized that this is the whole point - you learn so you can get up to speed. No one starts off strong or fully knowledgeable in their field. You have to walk the path to get there.

There’s this grace period I was given as an intern at Verteel. It was a space to make mistakes, learn, and gradually build that ‘startup intuition’ and make informed decisions. Being capable doesn’t mean knowing everything from the start; it means showing up and pushing past your threshold so you can get stronger and stronger.

debunking startup myths 🌱:

Here are a few takeaways from working at a startup:

• 📊Startups are fluid. Everyone has their own story. There’s no manual. There may be traditional steps, such as customer research, market validation, and ideation. But your how will look different from someone else’s. You don’t need to do the same thing someone else did. Hone your own style—it’s your idea, not theirs.

• ⚡Mark Zuckerberg is an anomaly. He had perfect timing, perfect conditions. You don’t need to drop out of college to make things work. Unless you’ve got serious traction, take your time. Think about your values. Think about your shot in the market.

• 👧Some VCs target young founders because they think we’re easy to sway. Not everyone has your best interest in mind—some are just looking out for themselves, driven by greed. But other times, some people genuinely want to give you a real shot. The key is knowing the difference. Read the terms. Don’t rush. Slow down and weigh your options.

lesons i learned @ verteel 🎯:

• 🔒Never commit to a deal that compromises your values. I’m building a business to clean the ocean and help sea creatures. If the numbers in a deal look great but the impact doesn’t, don’t change who you are for people who don’t get your why.

• 🔗That being said, always go back to why you started. Stay grounded. There are a lot of people chasing profit over purpose.

• 🎢Your path won’t be linear. I used to think that if I just made the right decisions, I’d get the outcome I wanted. But life doesn’t always work that way. Plans change, priorities shift, and 10 times out of 10, what didn’t work out for you probably actually saved you from something worse. It’s okay when things don’t go as planned. Every twist has something to teach you. Every moment is working for you, not against you.

activities~ 🛬

I flew one of Verteel’s drones 🤯. It was so fun and cool! We put together the wings because the drone’s too massive to take in a van and went through a pre-flight check, post-flight check — the whole nine yards. It was literally awesome 🔥!!

I was the only intern who flew with the wind, and apparently, flying with wind on your first training is supposed to be a good sign 🤷‍♀️.

I also spent a lot of time with family! We went to the beach and watched the live action How to Train Your Dragon (I’m sorry, but the animation’s better than the live action, trust 🤞). I caught up with some friends and met some new people at an old program reunion!

July was a lot of good vibes!!

Stay tuned for August before the next semester begins! :))