Since 2012, Start Garden has played a large role in Grand Rapids' entrepreneurship ecosystem by giving entrepreneurs a stage to present their ideas to the community while they compete for the opportunity to win $5,000. Neu spoke with Start Garden…
Doomed to Fail Even those who are unfamiliar with business may know the old adage that coffee shops are “doomed to fail." Trevor Corlett, owner of Madcap of Coffee Company in downtown Grand Rapids, suggests that many people who open…
For Latesha Lipscomb, winning 5x5 Night last month was a long time coming. “I wasn’t going to do it,” Lipscomb said. “I had done 5x5 twice in the past, and I had come really close to being able to present, but…
It’s no secret that there are limited employment opportunities for individuals with special needs. In a 2015 survey conducted by the National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD), 57 percent of respondents with Down syndrome reported working paid…
Voting closed on Wednesday for the top five 5x5 ideas, and those that emerged on top will be presenting at the return of the monthly pitch competition on August 24 at 5:00 p.m. at the LINC Gallery, located at 1167…
Believe it or not, most people don't start off as entrepreneurs. Starting a venture often co-occurs with working and/or going to school. Although it is possible to save enough money to live off of while starting your own business, few…
This is the first in an ongoing series highlighting the stories of Grand Rapids' growing small business community. Bold Socks is a recent addition to the Avenue for the Arts retail sector. The Bold Socks store at 17 Division Ave…
When you are first starting out as an entrepreneur, you may have limited room in your budget for marketing. Fortunately, you don’t need to have a multi million dollar marketing department to create recognition for your brand. You just need…
Matt Larson has always been a self-starter. One afternoon when he was 3 years old, he told his mother he was going to play in the front yard. Instead, he walked eight blocks to downtown Ludington to go to work.…
The literary market is flush with books that aim to inspire entrepreneurs, tell the story of successful startups and let readers in on the secrets of those who made it big. From the practical to the absurd, there's a lot…
