High school students from across West Michigan joined us for TESA, a week long entrepreneurship summer academy. The students learned the start-up process and 3 teams walked away with prize money.
Through The Fire: Q&A with Shawn Moulenbelt
Shawn Moulenbelt is a veteran, Michigan native, and business owner. Always having a knack for working with his hands, Moulenbelt turned his knife-making hobby into a business he calls 51 Bravo.
Life with Spice: Q&A with Matthew Seguin
Matthew Seguin is a veteran, father, entrepreneur, and GVSU alum. A man wearing that many hats needs a good spicy snack to unwind with - so he made his own: Deep Safety Hot Peppers
Good Hair Day: Q&A with Monique Palmer
Monique Palmer is a senior at Grand Valley State University. Born and raised in Detroit, Monique turned her hair care routine into an inspiring business. As the first place winner from the 77IdeaLab, Monique has leveraged funding and business guidance…
Denim Redefined: Q&A with Kushan Shah
Kushan Shah is a global entrepreneur focused on making a sustainable impact in the U.S. and his home country of India. Shah is an international student at Grand Valley State University studying Business Economics and Entrepreneurship. Shah enjoys playing tennis…
Spotlight: Q&A w/ Ariana Waller
By Kayla Sosa Note: This interview was conducted in February 2020, before the shutdown caused by the global pandemic, COVID-19. Ariana Waller is a Grand Rapids-based entrepreneur, multi-business owner, and tech innovator. She attended Tuskegee University and is originally from…
GVSU students ‘lend a hand’ to entrepreneurs in need
By Kayla Sosa Empowering students, honing in on skills and boosting small businesses is all part of the work done through Lend GR at Grand Valley State University. The program piloted over a year ago, with a focus on providing…
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First GVSU student entrepreneur accelerator program finishes strong despite setbacks
(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
GV alum, business owner spreads positivity through snail mail
By Kayla Sosa Shannon Cohen is known around West Michigan for her positive attitude and inspiring leadership by the work she’s done through her book, podcast and public speaking engagements. With the recent societal shift due to coronavirus, Cohen has…
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Entrepreneurs, community members lend skills, resources to create masks
[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…
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