Start Garden is a nonprofit that creates opportunities for entrepreneurs by offering startup capital and mentoring.
One big event is The 100 competition in which 100 participants are selected to receive $1,000 each to showcase their businesses at the Demo Day competition. Ten finalists are then selected to receive $20,000 to help those businesses take off. Laurie Supinski is the Start Garden Co-Director.
“We introduce them to a lot of the resource organizations that are here in the community. So, people that can help them with business plans, with financials, with marketing, with other sources of funding.”
The competition is open to anyone but Start Garden markets it in historically underrepresented minority neighborhoods. This year they had over 400 submissions with 60% from minority groups.
“We strongly believe as an organization that it shouldn’t matter where you come from. If you have a desire to be an entrepreneur and to own a business, there shouldn’t be barriers.”
Demo Day features the top 100 showcasing their ideas to the public in a trade show format followed by the announcement of the 10 finalists.
One participant will also receive a $5,000 People’s Choice award.
The public is invited to Demo Day running Wednesday from 5-9pm at Calder Plaza in Grand Rapids with food trucks, live music and demonstrations.
Learn more at https://startgarden.com/
