By Michael Lamarque
While applying to the Duke in Silicon Valley (DSV) program, I expected something much closer to a traditional class, just with more company visits and business discussions. After finishing my first week here, that expectation has been completely flipped. DSV, especially through Professor Dinin’s class, feels much less like learning entrepreneurship from a textbook and much more like being pushed actually to think and act like an entrepreneur. If there’s one thing I’ve learned already, it’s that growth comes from putting yourself in uncomfortable situations and being willing to see what happens.
At the escape room…we escaped!
One of the biggest parts of the first week was creating our “Bet” for the duration of the program. Instead of focusing on a standard final project, each person chooses a personal challenge or goal that reflects what they truly want to gain from DSV. That process forced me to really reflect on why I came here in the first place. At first, I thought my goal would revolve around networking or simply meeting more people in Silicon Valley. But the more I reflected during our nightly journals and class discussions, the more I realized I wanted to push myself beyond surface-level networking and actually build something.
Sharing a delicious meal
The class activities constantly reinforced the idea that entrepreneurship is less about having the perfect idea and more about learning through action. Even exercises that seemed unrelated at first, like improv activities or the blindspot presentation, ended up teaching us something about entrepreneurship.
By the end of the week, I decided my Bet would be to build a startup focused on connecting students who want to build startups together. The idea itself is still early, but pursuing it already feels valuable because it pushes me technically, socially, and creatively at the same time. Being surrounded by people in Silicon Valley who are constantly building, experimenting, and sharing ideas makes taking that first step feel much more possible.
Some examples of our photo projects during the first week
At the same time, the week was not entirely serious reflection and startup conversations. Some of the best moments came from the random experiences we shared as a group. Every day, we were paired with a different person and given a photo theme to capture around the city, which made each day feel a lot more interactive and pushed everyone to talk to people they normally might not have approached. We also did an escape room together, walked across the Golden Gate Bridge, went out to eat around San Francisco, and stayed up late watching Love Island together after long days. Those moments reminded me that not everything valuable has to be productive in the traditional sense. A big part of this experience has been building a genuine community with people, getting outside of routines, and creating connections through shared experiences instead of just work.
Exploring SF and making friends along the way
Coming into DSV, I expected to learn about entrepreneurship. After the first week, I think what I am really learning is how much growth comes from attempting things you might fail at. For me, this Bet is not really about building the perfect startup. It is about becoming more comfortable taking action, putting ideas into the world, and learning through the process instead of waiting until I feel fully ready.
Michael is a rising sophomore from Chula Vista, California, planning to study mechanical engineering while pursuing the Innovation and Entrepreneurship certificate. On campus, he is involved with the Duke Motorsports team and the Medical Design Club. For Michael, Duke in Silicon Valley is an opportunity to better understand the startup ecosystem and develop his entrepreneurial skills. He is especially looking forward to building meaningful connections with others in the program. In his free time, Michael enjoys going to the gym, exploring new places, and spending time with friends and family.
