ABOUT STARTUP GRIND

Startup Grind is the largest independent startup community, actively educating, inspiring, and connecting more than 5,000,000 entrepreneurs in over 600 chapters. We nurture startup ecosystems in 125+ countries through events, media, and partnerships with organizations like Amazon Web Services.

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.

ABOUT OUR CHAPTER

Founded in May 2021, the Marquette chapter of Startup Grind acts as the connective tissue not only in our local region but as a central ecosystem contributor for the Upper Peninsula and downstate Michigan.

As such, we are here for those who are trying to navigate the ever-shifting landscape and get access to great resources in order to help you in your endeavors. 

ABOUT OUR ECOSYSTEM

'Yoopers' (People who live in the Upper Peninsula)  are some of the most resilient and helpful people you will ever have the pleasure of meeting. Our local region consists of public and private organizations, and nonprofits working relentlessly to ensure the entrepreneurial and startup ecosystem in the Upper Peninsula is well supported for current and future projects.

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? Don't be a stranger and reach out!

ABOUT OUR REGION

According to the 2021 Michigan Venture Capital Association Report:

• There are 165 venture-backed startups in Michigan, an increase of 17 percent over the last five years.
• Total venture capital funds under management of firms headquartered in Michigan in 2020 was $2.8 billion, an increase of 28 percent over the last five years.
• Total venture capital under management in Michigan is $3.7 billion, a decrease of 31 percent over the last five years.
• 15 percent of Michigan venture-backed startups were led by a CEO who is a person of color, compared to 7.4 percent of CEOs of Fortune 500 companies nationally.
• Every dollar invested by a Michigan startup by a Michigan venture capital firm attracts $9.70 of investment from outside of Michigan.
• In Michigan, 102 startups raised over $49.5 million from angel investors in 2020.

OUR TALKS/EVENTS

We highlight local CEOs, Founders, ecosystem builders, thought leaders, subject matter experts for Fireside Chats. We also host workshops from expert practitioners around fundraising, marketing, branding, scaling, leadership, web development, technology, and overall mindset training in order to develop skills you can use IN and ON your business.

ABOUT THE HOSTS

Michael Gorski | Chapter Director

Startup Grind 

After spending many years in a leadership development training company, Mike started a RevOps (Revenue Operations) company with his wife Jazmin called JumpTeam Co where they specialize in helping companies maximize their revenue streams by aligning their technology, marketing, sales, customer success processes. 

Keith Glendon | Founder & Chief Executive Officer

LucidCoast 

Keith spent over 20 years working at IBM as a global leader in IT enterprise consulting. He has traveled all over the world implementing systems, sourcing and recruiting local talent, all while being a primary driver of technological innovations. He left IBM to start his own IT consulting company called LucidCoast. 

WANT TO PARTICIPATE?

If you're a Startup Grind Chapter Director, ecosystem support organization, domain expert, or investor interested in speaking, click here to schedule.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Want to speak?

Want to host, partner with or sponsor one or more of our events?

Want to help coordinate our events?

Reach out to the Chapter Director, Michael Gorski at michael.gorski@startupgrind.com