My Summer Internship Experience at MFF

By: Yuktha Pulavarthi, Marketing, Communications, and Events Intern at Michigan Founders Fund

When I first heard about the internship opportunity at MFF, I was eager to apply. As a marketing student at Michigan State University, I knew that gaining real-world experience in marketing would be invaluable. Little did I know that this internship would not only challenge me in ways I hadn’t expected but also profoundly shape my career aspirations.

My name is Yuktha Pulavarthi, and I’m a rising junior at Michigan State University, majoring in Marketing with a minor in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. This past summer, I had the incredible opportunity to be MFF’s first-ever Marketing, Communications, and Events intern.

How It All Started

During the school year, I work as an intern at the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Michigan State University. During our annual pitch competition, I connected with Pete Martin, Head of Connections at MFF. He mentioned that MFF was hiring for a Marketing Intern, and I couldn’t think of a more perfect place to spend my summer. I was thrilled to apply and even more excited when I was offered the position.

My Role at MFF

Throughout my internship, I had the opportunity to work on various projects that broadened my skills and challenged my creativity. Some of my key responsibilities included:

• Managing MFF’s LinkedIn and crafting engaging posts.
• Assisting in organizing the MFF Quarterly Member Celebration.
• Supporting the MFF Emerging Talent Program and its events.
• Developing a comprehensive Digital Marketing Plan for MFF.
• Documenting processes for all MFF operations and creating new ones where needed.
• Creating resources for MFF members.
• Contributing to the Michigan Talent Week (MTW) initiatives.
• Creating the monthly e-newsletter.

Overcoming Challenges and Growing Skills

One of the biggest challenges I faced was managing multiple tasks simultaneously. However, I was fortunate to work with a fantastic, always understanding, and supportive team. I learned the importance of prioritizing tasks and found that adding them to a calendar is incredibly helpful.

During this internship, I honed several technical skills, including learning to use platforms like WordPress, HubSpot, and Notion. I also developed valuable soft skills, such as enhancing my verbal and written communication, improving my multitasking abilities, and fostering creativity and innovation in my work.

A Project with Lasting Impact

One of the most impactful projects I worked on was creating and presenting a digital marketing plan that covered all the front-facing platforms where MFF appears. This plan will continue to be implemented even after my time at MFF, and I’m proud to have contributed to a project with such long-term value.

Discovering the Broader Startup Community

This internship opened my eyes to the broader startup community in Michigan. Seeing so many people building ventures that positively impact the world around them is incredibly inspiring. In my free time, I’m always baking and growing my small business, macaronza!, which sells homemade macarons. I’ve always been interested in working within a Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) company, specifically in the food industry, and this experience has taught me so many valuable lessons that I will always take with me. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from MFF members is the importance of one of MFF’s pillars: creating a future beyond tomorrow.

Building Connections

Day to day, I had the pleasure of working closely with Emily, Pete, and Rishi from the MFF team. However, one of the most rewarding aspects of my internship was becoming part of the larger community that MFF belongs to. I had the chance to attend several networking events with MFF, where I met incredible people—connections I know I can rely on even after this summer. The other interns I met through the Emerging Talent Program were also fantastic, and I’m grateful for the relationships we built.

Lessons Learned and Gratitude

This summer has been a period of immense growth for me. I’ve learned the importance of effective communication, the value of teamwork, and the impact of innovative thinking. I’m incredibly grateful to the MFF team—Emily, Pete, and Rishi—for allowing me to learn and grow.

I’m thrilled to announce that I will continue working with MFF, helping to manage its LinkedIn. I look forward to taking the values I’ve learned at MFF with me as I continue my entrepreneurial journey. Stay tuned for more from me in the coming months, I’m excited to continue to work alongside the MFF staff and community!