Grand Valley State University’s Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation (CEI) brought energy, creativity, and community together for its Second Annual 77 Idea Quest Final Pitch Competition on March 26, 2026. Hosted in the Loosemore Forum, the event marked the culmination…
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MVE-Lab Success Stories: Matthew Putman – Strain Guard LLC
Matthew Putman, a US Navy veteran and AEGIS Fire Controlman from Battle Creek, Michigan. In 2013, after becoming disabled and unable to work in his trade, he and his wife, Valerie, remained active in the RV community they had long…
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MVE-Lab Success Stories: Lakeea Kelly – CrownedLady Athletic
By: Sophie Bulos Lakeea Kelly is an author, Certified Life Coach, and founder of CrownedLady Athletic in Battle Creek, Michigan. Inspired by her own weight loss journey, Lakeea understands firsthand that transformation does not happen overnight. It requires consistency, accountability,…
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MVE-Lab Success Stories: John Capers – Pop’s Family Kitchen
By: Sophie Bulos John Capers is a Navy veteran from Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and the founder of Pop’s Family Kitchen. Pop’s is a homestyle barbecue driven by the longing for John’s family’s home-cooked meals. Pop’s services include catering for weddings,…
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MCSC 2026 Event Recap
This past week, Grand Valley State University proudly hosted the Michigan Collegiate Startup Challenge (MCSC), bringing together student entrepreneurs from across the state for a full day of innovation, competition, and connection. From the high-energy Elevator & Showcase Round to…
MVE-Lab Battle Creek Cohort 15 Final Pitch & Showcase
On December 15th, military veterans from Michigan pitched and presented their business ideas at the brand-new Innovation Hub in Battle Creek. This event marked a milestone for MVE-Lab (Michigan Veteran Entrepreneurship Lab) as it was the first cohort to be hosted at the Innovation…
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Be the human AI can’t replace
Hey Lakers,AI is everywhere. It can write, design, and analyze faster than we can blink, but it still can’t doeverything. It doesn’t notice the little frustrations we deal with every day, it doesn’t reallyunderstand what excites or annoys people, and…
Porto Bound: Empowering Tomorrow’s Innovators at the European Innovation Academy
This summer, I’ll be leading a group of students to Porto, Portugal to take part in EIA 2025, the European Innovation Academy, one of the most impactful and globally recognized entrepreneurship programs in the world. EIA isn’t your typical study…
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What Made Me Say Yes to Studying Abroad
I’ve always had a vision of studying abroad. But like many people, I used to overthink the process. Figuring out what I wanted to study, whether the right program existed, how to find funding, and where to go, it all…
Pop-UP Shop Inside Scoop
By Allison Albery Spotlight on Qualia Parker and Her Business Journey About You and Your Business Q: Could you introduce yourself and tell us about your business? What inspired you to start it?Hi! My name is Qualia Parker, and I’m…
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