FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 19, 2025
Contact: Michele Coffill, GVSU University Communications coffillm@gvsu.edu (616) 331-2221

Second GVSU entrepreneurship program for veterans begins soon in Traverse City

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Grand Valley State University is accepting applicants for a 10-week entrepreneurship and acceleration program for military veterans in Traverse City that begins April 7 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 or military-affiliated family members work with mentors from Northern Michigan to hone or launch their small business startups.

Classes will begin April 7 and conclude with the pitch night on June 15 at the Traverse City Opera House. Weekly sessions are scheduled on Tuesdays from 6-9 p.m. at the GVSU Traverse City Regional Center, 1890 College Drive on Northwestern Michigan College's Front Street Campus. Apply by completing an online form with details of a business idea or solution to a problem.

This is the second MVE-Lab cohort in Traverse City. Shannon Owen, director of the Northern Michigan region for GVSU, said that the area is an ideal location to host the program because of its robust entrepreneurial ecosystem and growing number of veteran-owned businesses.

"We were so pleased with the connections made within the community last year," Owen said. “The MVE-Lab supports the unique needs of veterans and their families, ensuring they have access to the resources, mentorship and community necessary to successfully launch and grow their businesses."

Shorouq Almallah, director of the DeVos CEI, said since its inception in 2018, MVE-Lab has trained more than 200 veterans and distributed more than $230,000 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."

The Traverse City MVE-Lab is supported by a partnership with 20 Fathoms. Questions can be sent to mve@gvsu.edu.