Five entrepreneurs win prize money at first MVE Pitch Competition

By Kayla Sosa   Five entrepreneurs with military background or connection took home prize money at the first showcase and final pitch competition for the Michigan Veteran Entrepreneur Lab. Produced through the Grand Valley State University Center for Entrepreneurship and…

Spotlight: Immersive Language Learning

By Kayla Sosa After being immersed into the Portuguese language studying abroad in Brazil, Grand Valley State University student Olivia Seaver was trying to think of ways she could keep up with learning and retaining languages once she came back…

Spotlight: WINC advocates for women veterans post-military life

By Kayla Sosa Two women are heading up a consulting group that will educate employers on not just how to hire veterans, but how to retain them. Henrietta Hadley said many workplaces say they are “veteran friendly” but once they…

Spotlight: Local veteran hopes to redefine masculinity for a younger generation of men

By Kayla Sosa A local man is hoping to change society’s view of masculinity through a new non-profit he’s calling ACES. Awareness, Compassion, Equity, Strength. That’s what ACES stands for, and what Trey Sumner is looking to for the foundation…

Spotlight: Veteran, wife hope to open community dental clinic

By Kayla Sosa As a dental hygienist, Blanca Elizabeth Duque-Rico knows the dentist office inside and out, including the advantages and disadvantages certain people face when trying to access dental care, and just health care in general. After seeing this,…

Vets apply military skills to business development in GVSU community program

By Kayla Sosa A community program out of Grand Valley State University’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation is helping to open doors for veterans looking to start their own businesses. “Veteran students did very well with their entrepreneurship ideas as…

Malamiah Juice Bar, Royal Jelly Foods take home funds in Business Bootcamp Pitch Competition

By Kayla Sosa In September, owners of Malamiah Juice Bar and Royal Jelly Foods participated in the Grand Rapids Business Boot Camp Pitch Competition. This endeavor is lead by Michigan Good Food Fund, a “thirty million dollar loan fund created to provide…

The Rise of Entrepreneurship Education on Campus

By Kayla Sosa Studies show that entrepreneurship is an essential part of our economy in the United States. In fact, 85 percent of new jobs are created by startups; companies that are less than five years old, according to a…

GVSU Students Win in the Top 10 Startups @ European Innovation Academy (EIA)

Gabby Hulst, Marissa Hoffman, Shorouq Almallah, Qi'Shaun Coyle, Jenna Grannan In July 2018, I along with four Seidman College of Business students ventured for a three-week journey to Turin (Torino) Italy to participate in the European Innovation Academy (EIA) accelerator…