Startup Summer: Learning and Growing with Denovo Fertility

This summer, I set one goal: to maximize every opportunity.

Through the Digital Summer Clinic, I joined Denovo Fertility, a high-tech startup helping couples struggling with infertility find and fix the root cause using a holistic, science-backed approach. I came in as a Digital Media Specialist but quickly realized this wasn’t going to be a typical internship.

Startup Life: Where Growth Happens Daily

From day one, my co-intern Natalie and I kickstarted the clinic and was immersed in a startup environment that was unlike anything I’d ever experienced. Our team is small, fast-moving, and deeply mission-driven. Things aren’t rigid or pre-defined, we’re building as we go. And that’s exactly what I love about it.

I’ve had incredible support from mentors and fellow interns, including weekly feedback sessions that help me grow in real-time. At our first Ice Cream Social, I connected with past interns who offered one powerful piece of advice:

 “Ask more questions. Speak up. Persist.” 

 That’s exactly what I’ve committed to doing.

What I’m Building at Denovo

My role involves leading the development of our influencer and affiliate program to drive sales and customer retention. I’m building content briefs for creator partnerships, developing onboarding systems, supporting the website, and contributing to the Face Forward video series on social media.

I’ve set measurable goals like improving bounce rates and boosting Instagram engagement, and I have collaborated with my field manager, Lilly (a successful influencer herself), to understand what drives high-quality brand collaborations.

AI, Marketing, and the Power of Story

During a marketing strategy session with Melanie from the Michigan Small Business Development Center, we explored AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity. We talked SEO, branding, and ethical AI usage - but one thing she said stuck with me:

“Marketing should make people feel heard.”

At Denovo, we’re not just selling a product - we’re storytelling. We’re meeting people at one of the most emotionally vulnerable points in their lives and helping them feel seen. That mission is what drives my work.

Beyond Remote: Immersing in the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

Even though this is a remote role, I didn’t want distance to limit me. I’ve thrown myself into Michigan’s entrepreneurial and tech community - attending pitch nights, storytelling events, panel discussions, and networking meetups in Ann Arbor and Detroit. I didn’t know exactly what would come of it but I trusted that every room I entered would lead to something.

And it did.💥

At New Enterprise Forum, I met Greg, who invited me to attend an executive board meeting. There, I got to witness how venture capitalists evaluate early-stage startups for coaching and funding. I met CEOs, professors, investors and got a behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to grow a startup.

As an economics student, it was powerful to zoom out and see how what I’m doing connects to Michigan’s broader goals for economic development, tech innovation, and entrepreneurship.

That connection led me to One Million Cups, where I joined a community of local founders presenting real business challenges. I’ve spoken with startup leaders, marketing professionals, and even connected one of them with our CEO Jessica after they showed interest in Denovo. That was a full-circle moment.

The momentum kept building. 

I attended:

1. Black Tech Saturdays at NewLab in Detroit, where I listened to panels from marketing experts (directly relevant to my role!)
2. SLAM Storytelling & Startup Showcase, where I learned the power of narrative in pitching
3. A2 New Tech at Bamboo Coworking, which has become one of my favorite spaces to work on Wednesdays

At each event, I kept meeting new people, collecting insights, and making connections. I even ran into Ibrahim from MotMot (a past intern I knew), Mustafa, a VC I’d met before, and Lucy, another intern from the Digital Summer Clinic. Everything was starting to connect.

Building the Bigger Picture

As a CliftonStrengths Maximizer, I’m committed to turning every good thing into something great. All of this - internship, events, conversations - is helping me zoom out and see the bigger picture. As an economics student, I’m now seeing how startups are key drivers of innovation and economic development. I’m collaborating closely with Professor James, the head of EMU’s economics department, to connect this internship with my academic co-op for credit. I’m learning how to apply economic principles to real-world innovation.

I also started my Google Analytics certification, and it’s been a “fail fast, learn faster” mindset ever since. In a role like this, where things shift daily, I’ve learned to trust myself more, ask better questions, and step into leadership, even when I don’t have it all figured out.

Coming Back With Fire

After returning from the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders in Maryland, I came back with a renewed sense of purpose. I’m learning to take up space, share my voice, and believe that the rooms I walk into need my perspective.

💫This first few weeks has been intense, inspiring, and full of momentum. I’m learning how to connect, how to ask boldly, how to fail forward, and how to trust my voice. Most of all, I’m learning how to build things from marketing systems to relationships to the kind of career I want for myself. This is just the beginning. 

Stay tuned for more weekly updates! 

Khongorzul💖