GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Start Garden’s open competition for business startups, The 100, wrapped up its eighth season at Demo Day at GLC Live at 20 Monroe in downtown Grand Rapids. The 100 aspiring entrepreneurs showcased their business ideas in a trade show format followed by the announcement of 10 finalists who each won $20,000 to help fund their idea.
Top 10: $20,000
Jared Seifert, Design Declassified
Jeremiah White Jr, Reflections 5001
Lindsay Joseph, BedConnect
Shelby Kelsh, Kelsh Health
James Lenger, Theraplaying
Travis Washington, Cre8ively Captured Podcast Suites
Tiffany Brown, Great Lakes Mushroom Coffee
Alin Gutierrez, Centro Informativo El Hispanohablante
Ana Olson and Angelita Valdez, Fuerza Divina-Las Amigas Tequila
Casey McKeller and Robin Petterson, Kimberlite Tech LLC
The 100 removes barriers to entrepreneurship . It is based on the belief that anyone from any neighborhood, regardless of resources, deserves a chance to launch a business idea.
Here is how it works:
- Participants made a 100-second video explaining their idea and submitted to 100.startgarden.com by July 8.
- In July, 100 finalists were chosen to receive $1,000 each, no strings attached.
- The 100 finalists showcase at the Sept. 17 Demo Day competition.
- At Demo Day, 10 winners receive another $20,000 to help their business take off
Start Garden is excited to partner with Grand Rapids-based GROW, a non-profit Community Development Financial Institution, to create an even bigger launch pad for the winners. GROW will provide the finalists the opportunity to apply for an additional $20,000 loan through the competition.
MEDC Smartzone, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Meijer, PNC Bank, and Huntington Bank are the financial muscle behind the 100 & Demo Day.
The 100 is the most diverse and accessible business competition of its kind. While it is open to aspiring entrepreneurs throughout the community, Start Garden promotes through intense marketing in historically underrepresented minority neighborhoods. The efforts pay off with demographically diverse submissions:
- Over 400 submissions in 2025
- Over 60% of submissions were from minority groups
“When we designed the Start Garden 100, our goal was to make it a genuine opportunity for anyone from any neighborhood in Michigan,” said Paul Moore, co-director at Start Garden. “It’s literally the easiest $1,000 an entrepreneur can get to play with an idea.”
A previous study reported that the 100 candidates who participated gained no advantage or disadvantage based on the following:
- Where they live
- Education level
- Household income
“We are proud that the data shows The 100 is a level playing field in business competitions,” said Darel Ross, Start Garden Co-Director. “Access to resources is the number one thing entrepreneurs need, and the 100 achieves that at scale.”
Start Garden Co-Director Jorge Gonzalez said, “We see it each year we do the 100. Relationships are formed, new ventures launched, and new wealth created due to this experience.”
There is more to the competition than the money. The lead-up to the competition and Demo Day itself is designed to expand an aspiring entrepreneur’s network, which is vital to getting any new business off the ground. 44% of competitors reported making more than eight new connections to help their startup. And more than 73% said they would “absolutely” encourage other would-be entrepreneurs to take a shot at The 100.
“We are excited for The 100 this year, as we know it will create opportunities not only for entrepreneurs but for all organizations that want to support entrepreneurship,” said Laurie Supinski, Start Garden Co-Director.
“We won the Start Garden 100 in 2022. At the time, we were getting ready to start an accelerator but didn’t have any capital to work with,” said Andrea (Dre) Wallace, founder of Opnr. Winning the 100 allowed us to buy licenses to some much-needed software and cover some travel expenses to get to SXSW, where we already partnered with Midwest House.
“As an entrepreneur, it’s very seldom that you’re in a room with 100 individuals leaning into the possibilities of their dreams. The energy, passion, and connections gained are invaluable,” said Kimberly Slaikeu, Ph.D., Founder of Luxe Artisan Preserves and past winner. “Best experience ever.”
“I am always grateful for Start Garden’s support early on in my founder journey. As you go through the founder’s ups and downs, you learn quickly that community is everything and people are rooting for you, said Darren Riley of Just Air. “To the next generation of 100 who will continue to raise the bar for our ecosystem – know that we are here rooting for you to win.”
