Photo: Source: Start Garden via Clark Communications.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The startup incubator Start Garden Inc. says the award money for the annual "100" competition will double this year for its pitch-event winners.
That is because it has formed a strategic partnership with "Grow," a community development group in Grand Rapids.
Applications are being accepted now until July 8. They can be made by uploading a 100-second video of a business idea. Funding is provided for pitch event winners.
Demo Day 2025 takes place on September 17 at Calder Plaza.
Here are more details from a Clark Communications news release:
Under this collaboration, Grow matches each $20,000 grant awarded to Demo Day winners with a $20,000 loan— driving capital awards to $40,000 per winner, $500,000 total.
“Yes, every entrepreneur entering the competition has their eyes on $40,000,” said Paul Moore, Co-Director of Start Garden. “But teaming with Grow is about much more. They understand the unique needs of entrepreneurs and recognize that accessing a microloan should be swift and transparent. Grow has redefined themselves as a microlending powerhouse.”
Grow, a Community Development Financial Institution headquartered in Grand Rapids 49507 neighborhood, has emerged as the region’s go-to micro-lender under the leadership of CEO Milinda Ysasi and President Kelli Smith. Last month, the U.S. Small Business Administration honored Grow with the 2025 SBA Micro-Lender of the Year Award (Michigan) in recognition of its outstanding service and innovation in small-business lending.
In 2022, Grow refocused on growth and community impact. “We were motivated by the desire to get microloans in the hands of businesses quickly and to remove common barriers to accessing capital,” said Grow CEO Milinda Ysasi. “Our work dovetails so much with what these entrepreneurs do to prepare for Demo Day, this partnership just makes sense.”
Both Start Garden and Grow expect this partnership to extend beyond the SG 100 program. “Grow shares our values of earning trust in the community,” said Laurie Supinski, Co-Director of Start Garden. “They engage entrepreneurs well before they might be ready to take on a loan and stay with them. Like Start Garden, Grow values long-term relationships that go well beyond Demo Day.”
Key Partnership Highlights
- $20K Grant + $20K Loan: Each Demo Day winner receives a $20,000 Start Garden grant, matched by a $20,000 Grow loan, effectively doubling available capital per venture to $40,000.
- Up to $50,000 in Follow-On Funding: Grow’s accessible and responsible loan products allow successful founders to access a total of $50,000 in additional financing for growth and working capital.
- Capital Readiness Support: Joint workshops and one-on-one coaching led by Grow prepare finalists to present strong loan applications and financial projections.
Applications for the 100 are as simple as uploading a 100 second video of a business idea and are open until July 8, 2025. Demo Day 2025 takes place on Wednesday, September 17, at Calder Plaza, showcasing 100 innovative ventures before a live panel of judges, community leaders, and investors. Finalists will benefit from two months of workshops and networking events leading up to the big night.
About Start Garden
Founded in 2012 and located at 40 Pearl Street in downtown Grand Rapids, Start Garden is a nonprofit incubator dedicated to making entrepreneurship accessible to all. Through coworking space, mentoring programs, The 100 pitch competition, and Demo Day, Start Garden has funneled over $3 million in grants and resources into West Michigan startups.
About Grow
Grow is a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) serving small businesses in West Michigan. Grow specializes in micro-loans up to $50,000, capital readiness training, and community impact. Named SBA Micro-Lender of the Year (Michigan) for 2025, Grow is headquartered at 1333 Alger Street SE Grand Rapids, MI 49507 in Genesis Suites.
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