(Featured Photo Courtesy of 77 Idea Lab Youtube Page) By Kayla Sosa Students who want to solve a problem in their community or society through a product or service have a new opportunity through the 77 Idea Lab at Grand…
Read More First GVSU student entrepreneur accelerator program finishes strong despite setbacks
[Pictured above is: Zawadi Leya, Zizi Matanda and Lisa Knight.] By Kayla Sosa West Michigan business owners, skilled workers and community members are coming together to volunteer to help Public Thread create PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) masks for healthcare professionals…
Read More Entrepreneurs, community members lend skills, resources to create masks
Because there’s a lot of information out there, we compiled some of the most available funding resources for West Michigan small businesses. Note: This list will continue to update as we see more resources and as applications close. All of…
By Kayla Sosa In an effort to support each other and the entrepreneurial community, four sisters came together in 2017 to form the organization, Sisters in Business. Nicole Parker, Alisa Parker, Tiffany Parker and Teleshia Parker are four biological sisters,…
Read More Sisters in Business: Building community by supporting women of color
By Kayla Sosa Listen to the full podcast this story is accompanied by below: https://soundcloud.com/user-533504696/what-the-hustle-podcast-ep-1-gvsu-small-businesses-and-covid19 With the virus COVID-19 causing a global pandemic, colleges around the country have closed and moved online, including Grand Valley State University. In the…
Read More PODCAST: How Local Entrepreneurs Are Responding to a Global Pandemic
By Kayla Sosa Jermale Eddie is a GVSU graduate and owner of Malamiah Juice Bar in downtown Grand Rapids. The family business began in 2012 with Eddie’s interest in juicing and then his wife, Anissa Eddie’s, idea to start…
Read More 5 tips from GVSU alum, business owner Jermale Eddie
By Kayla Sosa The City of Grand Rapids and Downtown Grand Rapids Inc are partnering to host an expo for small businesses in the city. Community members are encouraged to attend to meet local small business owners, who will…
Read More Upcoming expo to highlight small businesses in Grand Rapids
By Kayla Sosa A community organization in Grand Rapids is making it easier for entrepreneurs and small business owners who can’t obtain a bank loan through racial bias and inequity, to acquire funds. Rende Progress Capital was co-founded by Eric…
Read More Rende Progress Capital: Creating equity in lending and investments
By Kayla Sosa An unique pitch competition allows participants to compete for money with a goal of helping others, not just themselves. Four teams will compete for $5,000 in funding at the upcoming Grand Valley State University Laker Effect Challenge.…
Read More Annual pitch competition inspires social justice work in the community
“There were times in my life where I would open the fridge and there would be nothing,” Jonathan Kumar said. “You never really forget what that's like.” Kumar is the founder of Food Circles, an app that connects citizens, businesses,…
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