Dear MVE-Lab Participants, Judges, and Guests,
Thank you to everyone who joined us on Wednesday, September 23, for the MVE-Lab
Battle Creek Cohort Final Pitch and Showcase, hosted by Grand Valley State
University’s Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation.
The Final Pitch and Showcase marked an important milestone for our entrepreneurs as
they put their ideas, businesses, and months of hard work in front of a panel of judges
and the community. Pitching a business is not easy, and each participant demonstrated
a tremendous amount of courage, preparation, and growth throughout the cohort.
We are especially proud of the progress each entrepreneur made during the program.
From refining their business models and strengthening their pitches to gaining
confidence in sharing their stories, the evening was a great reflection of the work and
commitment they put into their entrepreneurial journeys.
Congratulations to Our Award Winners!
Judge’s Awards
First Place – $2,000
Joseph Layde – Layde Trading Co.
Second Place – $1,500
Wendell Smith – Pineal Libations
Third Place – $1,000
Jamal Steward – Creative Community Empowerment
People’s Choice Award – $500
Joseph Hilmert – Turtle Wizard Co.
Robert Stewart – Aspire Business Solutions
Jamal Steward – Creative Community Empowerment
Director’s Choice Award – $250
Debra Shelby – Travel Solutions Co.
Anthony Hood – CREATIVHOOD LLC
Congratulations to all of our award recipients! And a big congratulations to every
entrepreneur who participated in the cohort. Winning an award is one part of the
experience, but the real accomplishment is taking an idea and putting it out into the
world.
A BIG Thank You to Our Judges!
We are grateful to the judges who took the time to listen to each pitch, provide
thoughtful feedback, and support our entrepreneurs throughout the evening.
Julie Cowie
Founder, Casco Township News LLC
Steven Dahlquist
Associate Professor, Marketing, Seidman College of Business, GVSU
Paul Doyle
Mentor in Residence, Technology Commercialization Office, GVSU
Jonah Hurtado-Macias
Coordinator, Battle Creek Food Reimagined & Launch 269
Stephanie Suero
Community School Coordinator, Kent School Services Network
Thank You to Our Event Underwriter & Sponsor
A special thank you to Battle Creek Unlimited, our Event Underwriter and valued
partner. Your continued support makes it possible for us to bring MVE-Lab to the Battle
Creek community and provide veterans and military-connected entrepreneurs with the
resources, support, and opportunities they need to move their businesses forward.
We would also like to thank our sponsor, Marshall Community Credit Union, for
supporting our entrepreneurs and helping make this event possible.
We would also like to thank our mentors, community partners, and everyone who
helped make this cohort possible. Programs like MVE-Lab would not happen without the
support of people and organizations who believe in our veterans, military families, and
their entrepreneurial ideas.
We are proud to celebrate this group of entrepreneurs and look forward to seeing where
they take their businesses next.
Congratulations to the MVE-Lab Battle Creek Cohort!
