Startup Grind is the largest independent startup community, actively educating, inspiring, and connecting more than 4,500,000 entrepreneurs in over 700 chapters. We nurture startup ecosystems in 125+ countries through events, media, and partnerships with organizations like Amazon Web Services, Silicon Valley Bank, American Express for Startups, and more.
The cornerstone of our global community are monthly events featuring successful local founders, innovators, educators and investors who share lessons learned on the road to building great companies.
Founded in Silicon Valley, Startup Grind has helped millions of entrepreneurs build their businesses, connect with strategic partners, and secure funding.
OUR MISSION
To educate, inspire & connect area entrepreneurs.
OUR VALUES
Help others before we help ourselves, give before we take, make friends not contacts.
Founded in December 2019, the West Michigan / Grand Rapids chapter of Startup Grind acts as the connective tissue between all the great resources in our community.
As such, we are here for those who are trying to navigate the landscape of great resources available.
We also serve to contribute to the conversation as we all work to grow our entrepreneur and startup ecosystem.
GLOBAL STARTUP GRIND AWARDS
🎉🔥 GLOBAL CHAPTER DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR 2021 🚀🕺
🚀 Overachiever Award at the Global Director's Summit 2021
🚀 The Most Fun to Work With Award at the Global Director's Summit 2021
🚀 The Bull Award at the Global Director's Summit 2021
🚀 Chapter Director of the Year at the Global Director's Summit 2021
🚀 Overachiever Award at the Global Director's Summit 2022
🚀 The Bull Award at the Global Director's Summit 2022
There are some incredible people, public and private organizations, and nonprofits working very hard to ensure the entrepreneurial and startup ecosystem in the Great Lakes is well supported.
Whether you're in the ideation stage, fundraising, looking for talent, or whatever stage of your endeavor, there's some incredible support available.
Need help navigating? Reach out!
ABOUT OUR REGION
The Great Lakes region is no longer the best-kept-secret in tech.
Encompassing great talent and capital hubs around the Great Lakes, we've got powerful tech cities like Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, St. Louis, Detroit, Buffalo, Traverse City, Ann Arbor, Waterloo, Toronto, among others.
According to the 2021 Michigan Venture Capital Association Report:
We highlight local CEOs, Founders, ecosystem builders, thought leaders for Fireside Chats. We also host workshops from expert practitioners around branding, scaling, leadership, pitching, mindset... and also on to develop skills you can use IN the business.
Here's a list of some of our greatest events featuring those from our Michigan ecosystem:
We need:
Reach out to the Chapter Director, Corey Hart at corey@startupgrind.com or the Co-Director Megan Norton at megan.norton@startupgrind.com.
Startup Grind’s annual gathering of startups building the next big thing.
View detailsJan 26, 2023
In-Person Event
Spunkk'd Podcast - Intro Session
Grand Rapids
Nov 30, 2022
Livestream Event (Free)
Founders Fundraising: Lessons from the Front Lines
Grand Rapids
Nov 2, 2022
In-Person Event (Free)
The Startup Ecosystem Party
Grand Rapids
Oct 28, 2022
Virtual Event (Free)
Preview of the 2023 Economic Outlook for Startups + Ask Me Anything
Grand Rapids
Oct 20, 2022
In-Person Conference
The Upside of Downturns
Grand Rapids
Sep 27, 2022
In-Person Event
Founders Only Workshop: YOU ARE NOT ALONE w/ Charlie Crystal of Nudgebase
Grand Rapids
Sep 23, 2022
In-Person Event
@STARTUPGRINDGR's Unofficial #TECHWEEKGR Happy Hour @ Pyramid Scheme
Grand Rapids
Sep 15, 2022
Past Event
AWS Web3 Ready
Grand Rapids
Aug 31, 2022
In-Person Event
🎉🥂 Startup Grind Grand Rapids Mid-Year Party 2022 🎉🥂
Grand Rapids
Jun 16, 2022
Past Event
techni/color
Grand Rapids
May 25, 2022
Virtual Event (Free)
Take a moment! Literally, with WisckAR!
Grand Rapids
May 24, 2022
Virtual Event (Free)
The What, Why, and How To about Women Owned Enterprise Business Certification
Grand Rapids
Startup Grind
Chapter Director
Startup Grind Grand Rapids
Co-Director
Communications Director
Intern of All Trades
Kikcit
Spunkk'd Creative Strategist
Spunkk'd Director