What Start Garden does

Start Garden is a Michigan not-for-profit entrepreneurial support organization founded in 2012 and headquartered at 2 Fulton Street W in downtown Grand Rapids. It operates a curated ecosystem of programs, pitch competitions, and physical workspace designed to help aspiring entrepreneurs and early-stage startups in West Michigan access capital, mentorship, and community. The organization originally launched with a $15 million fund using a tiered "stairstep" investment approach ($5,000 weekly, $20,000 monthly, up to $500,000 per startup), but has since restructured to emphasize accessible, no-cost programs over direct investment.

In 2016, Start Garden separated into three distinct entities: Wakestream Ventures (a for-profit venture capital fund that continues to participate in follow-on rounds of portfolio companies), Start Garden (reorganized as a Michigan not-for-profit managing the Grand Rapids SmartZone and ecosystem programs), and Start Garden Foundation (a 501(c)3 formerly known as eMerge West Michigan focused on first-time entrepreneurs in underserved communities). The core programmatic offerings include The 100 (an annual pitch competition launching in 2026 with a Capital Partners Coalition that bundles grants, loans, venture investment, and first-customer contracts), 5×5 Night (a monthly $5,000 grant pitch competition open to the public), the SmartZone coworking space, maker spaces, a kitchen incubator, and ecosystem services connecting founders to legal, accounting, and IP expertise. Historically, the organization also ran the Seamless Accelerator, an IoT-focused cohort program launched in 2015.

The organization's business model is that of a community development nonprofit rather than a revenue-generating enterprise. Operating capital flows from philanthropic foundations (W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Grand Rapids Foundation), state economic development agencies (Michigan Economic Development Corporation), and corporate sponsors (Meijer, PNC Bank, Huntington Bank). Programs and services are provided at no cost to participants; no fees are charged for coworking access or pitch competition entries. The organization does not publish financial results and is governed by a board including representatives from Dwelling Place, Huntington Bank, Fair Food Network, Atomic Object, Wakestream Ventures, and 42 North Partners, with day-to-day co-leadership including Darel Ross II and Paul Moore.

Name

Start Garden

Legal name

Start Garden

Website

https://startgarden.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Start Garden is a Grand Rapids, Michigan nonprofit founded in 2012 that supports West Michigan entrepreneurs through pitch competitions (The 100, 5×5 Night), coworking, and ecosystem programs. It is funded by philanthropic foundations, state agencies, and corporate sponsors, and serves founders at no cost.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant funding and nonprofit operations: Start Garden operates as a Michigan not-for-profit organization that manages public sector contracts (Grand Rapids SmartZone) and private sector/ philanthropic efforts. The organization does not generate revenue from products or services but rather receives funding from supporters and government programs to provide entrepreneurial support programs at no cost to participants.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Start Garden operates a community-based entrepreneur support platform that runs pitch competitions (The 100 annual competition and the 5x5 Night monthly $5,000 grant competition) and provides a physical coworking environment (the Grand Rapids SmartZone) at 2 Fulton West in downtown Grand Rapids. It connects aspiring entrepreneurs and early-stage startups with capital, mentorship, service providers, and a peer community, offering programs at no cost to participants and managing affiliated entities including Wakestream Ventures (for-profit VC fund) and Start Garden Foundation (501c3).

Product overview

Start Garden is a community-focused entrepreneur support organization that operates as a platform of interconnected programs and physical spaces to help entrepreneurs find success. The core offerings include The 100 (an annual competition with capital partner access), 5×5 Night (a monthly $5,000 pitch competition), and the SmartZone coworking space for high-tech startups. The ecosystem also encompasses maker spaces, kitchen incubators, and the Seamless Accelerator (an IoT-focused program). Start Garden reorganized in 2016 as a Michigan nonprofit managing the Grand Rapids SmartZone, with affiliated entities including Wakestream Ventures (for-profit VC fund) and Start Garden Foundation (501c3 focused on underserved communities).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The 100: Annual entrepreneur competition where participants submit 100-second pitches; winners can access capital partners offering grants, loans, venture investment, and first-customer contracts.
• 5×5 Night

Products and services

• The 100 An annual entrepreneur competition that serves as a gateway for entrepreneurs to connect with funding opportunities. In 2026, Capital Partners join to offer grants, loans, shared revenue agreements, venture investment, and first-customer contracts to businesses at every stage. Open to anyone 14+ from anywhere.
• 5x5 Night Michigan's most open monthly pitch competition where anyone can submit a business idea to be voted on by the public. Top 5 presenters get 5 minutes to pitch 5 slides to 5 guest judges for the chance to win a $5,000 grant.
• SmartZone Coworking Space The Grand Rapids SmartZone coworking environment for the community around high-tech/high-growth startups, located at 2 Fulton in downtown Grand Rapids. The space is designed to surround startups with fellow entrepreneurs, investors, and service providers.
• Ecosystem Services Connects entrepreneurs to resources including capital, bootcamps, mentorship, accelerators, legal or accounting expertise, and donors for philanthropic organizations. Brings together entrepreneurs, startups, educators, funders, support organizations, service providers, corporations, and governments.
• Maker Spaces Physical spaces and resources for entrepreneurs to build prototypes and develop their business ideas.
• Kitchen Incubator Incubator facilities for food-related startups to develop and launch their culinary businesses.
• Seamless Accelerator A cohort-based accelerator launched in 2015 with eight international startups working with six industry-leading enterprises to develop Internet of Things technologies in home, automotive, office, medical, and retail spaces.
• Wakestream Ventures The for-profit venture capital fund affiliated with Start Garden that continues to participate at higher levels as portfolio companies raise multi-million dollar rounds.
• Start Garden Foundation A 501c3 nonprofit formerly known as eMerge West Michigan that serves new startups regionally and innovates on how to better serve first-time entrepreneurs in underserved communities.

Quantifiable outcome

• All grants awarded to women and minority owned businesses for nine consecutive months
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Lakeshore AdvantageminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal economic development organization hosting 5x5 Night On The Road events at their Next Center location in Holland, MI. Partnership enables regional expansion of pitch competition events.
• Midwest Tech ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Black Tech Saturdays Grand Rapids Takeover event, collaborating on regional community-building across Michigan's founder ecosystem.
• OpnrminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEntertainment technology company led by Andrea 'Dre' Wallace (Start Garden Entrepreneur in Residence). Partnership for Black Tech Saturdays event; involves cross-collaboration for ecosystem building.
• Great Lakes Mushroom CompanyminorOthersStart Garden alumni business that leads educational workshops at Start Garden space, including Hands-On Mushroom Workshop. Demonstrates successful exit pathway and ongoing relationship with alumni.
• Grand Rapids SmartZonecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStart Garden manages the Grand Rapids SmartZone, a public sector contract for the local technology-based economic development initiative providing coworking space and startup support services.
• Downtown Grand Rapids Inc (DGRI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDowntown improvement district organization collaborating on downtown ecosystem development.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Venture For America: Nonprofit fellowship placing recent graduates into startup roles in emerging U.S. cities, including Detroit. Comparable as a mission-driven org supporting entrepreneurship in Midwest cities, with partial overlap on talent and ecosystem development.

Broad incumbents

• Techstars: Global accelerator network operating accelerator programs, mentorship, and venture investment worldwide. Comparable as an accelerator providing capital and programming but at vastly larger scale and broader geographic reach.
• MassChallenge: Global nonprofit startup accelerator with industry-specific programs and cash prizes. Comparable as a nonprofit, equity-free accelerator program but with much larger cohorts and international footprint.
• Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC): Global coworking and innovation campus operator serving startups and innovation teams. Comparable for the coworking and community-building component of Start Garden's SmartZone but operates as a commercial for-profit at much larger scale.
• Y Combinator: Global startup accelerator providing seed funding, mentorship, and demo days. Comparable as a pitch-driven accelerator with capital deployment but operates as a for-profit with much larger scale and global reach.

Direct peers

• Capital Factory: Austin-based entrepreneur support hub and coworking space hosting pitch events, accelerator programs, and a mentor network. Comparable as a community-driven startup hub combining coworking, events, and capital partner matchmaking.
• 1871: Chicago-based nonprofit tech hub and coworking space supporting early-stage startups. Directly comparable as a regional, mission-driven entrepreneur hub providing coworking, community, and corporate partnerships.
• TechTown Detroit: Detroit-based entrepreneur support organization offering coworking, incubation, and accelerator programs in partnership with Wayne State University. Directly comparable as a Michigan nonprofit hub serving urban entrepreneurs with similar programming models.
• Ann Arbor SPARK: Michigan-based economic development organization providing entrepreneurial services, talent programs, and acceleration in Southeast Michigan. Closely comparable as a Michigan-focused public-private entrepreneur support org with coworking/incubator and ecosystem mandate.
• gener8tor: Milwaukee-based Midwest accelerator and investment network running cohort-based programs and direct investment. Directly comparable as a regional, founder-friendly accelerator operating across the Midwest with similar funding stages and investor networks.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/startgarden
• Facebookfacebook.com/strtgrdn
• Instagraminstagram.com/startgarden
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/10144846

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments11 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Start Garden