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$200,000 awarded to Michigan entrepreneurs at Start Garden's Demo Day

Ten local business walked away with $20,000 each.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - More than $200,000 was awarded Tuesday night to Michigan entrepreneurs.

"This is a culmination of what started in January of this year when we opened the gates from anyone in the community to pitch an idea, whatever the idea is," says Raul Alvarez an organizer of Start Garden's Demo Day.

Grand Rapids-based Start Garden hosted the event at 20 Monroe Live. Ten winning entrepreneurs walked away with $20,000 each Tuesday night.

"We want to create this ecosystem of entrepreneurship and create a density of business ownership because we believe entrepreneurship is the most impactful way to change communities," says Darel Ross with Start Garden.

More than 600 ideas were submitted and 100 finalists were awarded $1,000 each to build their business in April. The finalists are a diverse group: 44 percent female and many industries represented like tech, product, service and others.

The list of winners are:

  • The Only Bean - a plant-based food company
  • Adoraa Company - a mobile app and web platform that matches users with hair and beauty products
  • Public Thread - uses upcycled and re-purposed textiles
  • Squish & Scrub - innovative pet health and grooming projects
  • SLP-TEK Cot - A no assembly, lightweight compact resting device
  • Sodadera Coffee - A cold brew coffee business that raises awareness to minority women
  • Kings Brewing Company - A community microbrewery on the southeast side of Grand Rapids
  • MUSE GR - An interactive art gallery that provides space for creators and artists
  • Hoodini - An escape-proof baby swaddle
  • Payload CMS - A headless content management system built with JavaScript + Express

Ariana Waller is one of the 10 lucky winners who walked away with $20,000. Waller runs a mobile app that allows users to sell and trade beauty and hair products.

"I am just so grateful because I made a lot of sacrifices to be a part of this competition," says Waller.

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