Michigan Business Success Stories

Kimberlite

Trying to “get out of the dirt” led engineers and avid backpackers Casey McKellar and Robin Petersen to design a rugged, ultra-lightweight, packable table, and dive into the entrepreneurial life with support from the Michigan Outdoor Recreation Industry Office and others.

Pangoo Apparel

When Detroit startup founder Sara Chen designed climbing pants to fit women’s bodies and feature pockets deep enough for a water bottle, she found a route less traveled that’s leading to a successful lifestyle brand with support from the Michigan Outdoor Recreation Industry Office

Groovy Donuts

Celebrating 10 years in business, Groovy Donuts owners Monica and Andrew Gauthier reflect on how the MEDC’s Small Business Support Hubs resources helped them grow their groovy baked goods business.

CircNova

As one of 17 startups selected for a Google initiative and recipient of a state support grant, CircNova is using a proprietary AI engine to accelerate development of new therapies for ovarian cancer and other disorders using circular RNA.

The Patient Company

A Grand Rapids-based medical device startup developed a product for making lateral patient transfers safer with support from the MEDC-funded Michigan Translational Research and Commercialization for Life Sciences Innovation Hub

Payload CMS

James Mikrut had an idea to fix a big problem in web development: the gap between design and code. With the support of MEDC-backed incubator Start Garden in Grand Rapids, he grew Payload CMS into a company that’s been acquired by a rising giant.

Elderly Instruments

A family-owned business that focuses on cultivating community and musical instruments turns to MEDC for help

Black Swamp Percussion

From making percussion instruments in a garage to exporting its products across the globe, Black Swamp Percussion is reaching musicians worldwide thanks to the MEDC’s International Trade services

ABA Pathways, LLC

Women-owned business offering multidisciplinary behavior services

Chippewa Government Solutions: A Tribally Owned Federal Contractor

Blending Native American Values and Business Acumen to Empower Tribal Communities and Serve the Government

Enspired Solutions

Dr. Denise Kay, Co-Founder and CEO of Enspired Solutions, has a passion for reducing the impact of toxic chemicals in the environment to both people and wildlife.

Farmish

In the spring of 2020, Farmish founder Terra Osman had a growing concern about gaps in the food supply distribution system. She decided to expand her garden and prioritize purchasing food directly from local producers. As a result, she found that many families had the same concerns and were expanding their gardens or growing food for the first time, buying livestock for meat, and raising chickens for eggs.

JetCo Solutions

JetCo is a full-service government sales consulting firm that covers the entire government sales and marketing lifecycle – from research and bid writing through complete government capture services.

Sniffer Robotics

What started as a hobby turned into an opportunity to automate a process, create value and build on a vision.

Soft Goods

Throughout college, Josh York operated a streetwear brand, but found it difficult to stand out as another “Detroit themed” clothing brand. So, he decided to take his business a step further and make quality garments from the ground up with the launch of Soft Goods.

Zolli Candy

Alina Morse, founder of Zolli Candy, was seven years old when she went to the bank with her dad and the teller offered her a lollipop. “My parents always told me that sugar was terrible for my teeth. I declined the teller’s offer and asked ‘Why can’t we make healthy candy?’ I asked a hundred more times, and after lots of experiments and trials, we created Zollipops.”

Austin Logistics

Two siblings land one of their first contracts for their Detroit-based logistics company thanks to MEDC’s Pure Michigan Business Connect services

Hummus Goodness

Local entrepreneur is making Michigan more delicious thanks to MEDC’s Pure Michigan Business Connect matchmaking services

Max Analytical Technologies

CMURC SmartZone support helps Mount Pleasant-based company grow, leads to acquisition by largest chemical instrumentation company in the world

Calderwood Enterprises

Northern Michigan-based contractor finds essential business skills through small business workshops with the Michigan Small Business Development Center