Veterans wanted to join GVSU entrepreneurship program in Traverse City
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Grand Valley State University will hold a 10-week entrepreneurship and acceleration program for military veterans in Traverse City that begins in March and culminates in a pitch night awarding $15,000 in prize money.
The Michigan Veteran Entrepreneur-Lab (MVE-Lab) is offered through GVSU's DeVos Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation (CEI). In a cohort model, veterans work with mentors from the community to hone or launch their small business start-ups.
Classes will begin March 10 and conclude with the pitch night on May 19. Weekly sessions are Mondays from 6-9 p.m. at the GVSU Traverse City Regional Center, 2200 Dendrinos Dr. Apply by completing an online form with details of a business idea or solution to a problem.
Shannon Owen, director of the Northern Michigan region for GVSU, said that the area is an ideal location to host the MVE-Lab due to its robust entrepreneurial ecosystem and as a home to a significant veteran population and a growing number of veteran-owned businesses.
"The MVE-Lab brings a fresh perspective to the entrepreneurial ecosystem by focusing on the unique needs of veterans and their families," Owen said. "The region embodies a culture that honors military service."
Shorouq Almallah, director of the DeVos CEI, said Traverse City participants will be MVE-Lab's 14th cohort. Since its inception in 2018, MVE-Lab has trained more than 165 veterans and distributed more than $195,000 in startup grants.
"The community partners we’ve met in Traverse City are eager to collaborate and ensure a successful cohort," Almallah said. "The area offers a vibrant and supportive ecosystem and a culture of creativity. MVE-Lab aims to collaborate with these resources and partners to help veterans thrive during the program and continue building sustainable, impactful businesses long after it ends."
The Traverse City MVE-Lab is supported by a partnership with Wells Fargo. Questions can be sent to owensha@gvsu.edu. 
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