Kyli Corder is a senior at Michigan State University, majoring in advertising management in the College of Communication Arts and Sciences with a minor in entrepreneurship & innovation. She is a licensed cosmetologist, national beauty educator and the recipient of the Spartan Founders Club and James Ian Gray Scholarships, bringing more than a decade of experience in the beauty industry and over 11,000 color services performed. That experience ultimately inspired her to launch Ekos, an AI-powered salon operating system designed to help independent stylists and salons better understand their businesses through data-driven insights.
"When I decided to go back to school and finish my degree, my advisor suggested the Minor in Entrepreneurship & Innovation. It made sense. I'm a licensed cosmetologist, a former salon suite owner, and someone whose spent years frustrated by how outdated technology in the beauty industry was. Eventually, that frustration turned into building, and that idea became Ekos.
My first entrepreneurship class was with Ken Szymusiak, and that class cracked something open for me. He laid out everything the Burgess Institute had to offer, and what he said stuck with me: "What do you have to lose? We have programs here that will help you build your venture — and even if you fail, you will have gained that experience. You're still in college. Now's the perfect time." That perspective changed how I approached the opportunity in front of me.
One of our class requirements was attending entrepreneurial events, including 2DAY VENTURE. It was a hectic semester, I was nervous, and didn't know what to expect. But the second I walked in, a group of strangers welcomed me. Seven people from seven different majors, who probably never would have crossed paths otherwise, and we spent 36 hours building a brand together. We won something. That felt like a sign.
What kept me coming back was the community. Entrepreneurship can be isolating, especially when people don’t fully understand what you’re building. The community at the Burgess Institute felt different. Through pitch competitions, workshops, mentorship, and the MOMENTUM Accelerator program, I found people who challenged me to think bigger and gave me real tools to turn a concept into an actual business.
Being accepted into the MOMENTUM Accelerator program took that experience even further. I was surrounded by other founders who were navigating the exact same doubts, challenges, and little victories I was experiencing and that made a huge difference. Access to mentors, investors, successful entrepreneurs, and fellow founders created this environment where growth just a happened naturally.
My favorite part was getting outside my normal bubble. Touring innovation hubs, learning from founders, and having honest conversations without everything being sugarcoated pushed me to think differently about my business and myself.
Before being a part of the Burgess Institute, I knew my industry inside and out. I had years of experience, a book of clients, and a clear vision of the problem I wanted to solve. What I didn’t have was a startup skill set. These programs taught me how to communicate my vision, validate ideas, and build real relationships within Michigan’s startup ecosystem.
More than anything, I gained confidence to keep moving forward.
As a founder, you’re constantly stepping into the unknown. I’ve learned that you don’t need to have everything figured out. You need to stay open, keep learning, and keep moving forward even when things are uncertain.
Building Ekos has come with its own set of challenges. I used to believe that if I could just build the right product, it would solve everything, but it doesn’t work that way. The real challenge is staying resilient through setbacks, pivots, and the slow stretches where progress feels invisible.
Those experiences have shaped how I work and how I lead. They’ve taught me to stay focused on the bigger mission while remaining flexible in how I get there. Every obstacle has made me a better problem-solver, a more patient founder, and a stronger advocate for the people I’m building for.
One lesson continues to stand out: your network matters. Some of the most important opportunities I’ve had didn’t come from a pitch deck. They came from relationships. Showing up, communicating your values, and being in the right rooms opens doors in ways you don’t expect.
My path at MSU hasn’t been traditional. I’m a non-traditional student, balancing school with family, work, and building a business. There have been semesters when I didn’t know how I would get through everything and choosing to take classes in person instead of online wasn’t the easiest option, but it gave me the experiences and connections I was looking for.
MSU has given me more than a degree. It has given me access to a community that believed in my vision before it was fully realized. Through the Burgess Institute, I’ve had the opportunity to pitch on real stages, connect with founders, and continue building Ekos into something that I believe can make a meaningful impact in the beauty industry.
What stands out most isn’t just the programs or the events. It’s the people, the conversations, and the growth that happened along the way. This experience showed me that big ideas can come from anywhere, and sometimes the most important thing you can do is keep showing up, even before you feel ready."