Lansing Regional SmartZone

09/10/2026

💡You've got an idea, or maybe even a product prototype. Heck, maybe you even have sales. But what you are missing is about 12 other hands to do all of the work that needs to be done to really grow your startup.

That's where building your team comes in. But how do you decide which roles you need right now?

One place to start is with your venture's core leadership...

👉https://hubs.la/Q04wLBMp0

09/09/2026

Entrepreneurship isn't for the faint of heart, and last night's Spill the Tea event asked local business owners to share what that really looks like. Each brought different, valuable perspectives to the panel.

Megan Doherty of F.D. Hayes Electric Company talked about building on top of 100+ years of family legacy as a fourth-generation, women-owned business, and about carving out her own path as its current leader.

Alaina Atwood, owner of El-Oh-X Studio, shared what it took to buy a building and grow her business, and the courage it takes to trust yourself and dream big.

Justin Scott of Sit Sense, a founder in our SmartZone network, talked about the real challenges of spinning technology out of a university, wearing every hat a med-tech founder needs to wear, and moving fast to bring an automated medical recliner that prevents pressure injuries to market.

Three founders, three different journeys, one thread running through all of them: courage and perseverance. The panel offered sage advice to everyone in the room building something of their own. Moderator Jazmin Anderson did an amazing job guiding the conversation and drawing out the lessons each of them had learned along the way.

The night also included a fireside chat with LAFCU on business banking and lending, with real insight into what lending officers actually look for and how founders can walk in prepared.

Thanks to LEAP for putting on a great event and to everyone who participated. It's always great to hear the behind-the-scenes from the people building our local businesses.

Got an idea of your own you're ready to spill? Our Capital Area Startup Studio (CASS) incubator program is open for applications. We're hosting an application launch party on September 17 at 5:30 PM for a deep dive into everything CASS has to offer and get access to an AI-powered growth assessment. Leave with clarity and your next three to five tactical moves to get where you want to go.

RSVP for the Application Launch Party: Capital Area Startup Studio Launch Party 🎉 · Luma (https://hubs.la/Q04x3yyM0)

09/07/2026

👩‍💻If you’re a tech founder trying to get from concept to customers or scale what you have built — this event is for you. This isn’t a pitch competition or a networking mixer. It’s a real look at what it takes to go full time as a founder in this region, and how Capital Area Startup Studio is helping people get there.

Informational Party for Year 3 of the Capital Area Startup Studio
September 17, 2026 | 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
MSU Federal Credit Union
311 Abbot Rd, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA
2nd Floor, Community Room

What we’ve seen over the last 24 months:
⚡Founders going from idea to $25k in sales in under 90 days
⚡More than half of program founders end up full time in their business
⚡8 companies actively selling in the market

Register now to secure your seat: https://hubs.la/Q04wzrhm0

Ready to apply to Year 3 of the Capital Area Startup Studio program?
Apply here! https://tinyurl.com/45ux74p
Deadline is Sep 20

09/04/2026

🤕This month we're talking about one of the biggest headaches in founding a startup: building a team to support your venture.

⁉️Who do you need? Who do you choose? What do YOU need to continue doing and what should you hand over to someone else? Where do you find these people?

🔥This brief overview from one of the entrepreneurship world's most relevant voices, Steve Blank, is a good place to start. And keep your eyes open for more resources throughout the month!

https://hubs.la/Q04wLzZf0

08/28/2026

🚀 Five Michigan startups just joined the Summer 2026 Conquer Accelerator cohort!

Backed by the and the Lansing Regional SmartZone, this 10-week program helps high-growth, Michigan-based startups gain traction and prepare for investment.
Meet the cohort:
AbleVu – AI-powered mapping and location insights
GAIA Predictive – Predicting equipment failures before they happen
Infratico – Sensors and software for infrastructure monitoring
Oprones – Autonomous drones for hazardous infrastructure inspection
OXR – Turning 3D models into interactive presentations

Each startup receives mentorship, coworking space, weekly expert-led sessions, and a $20,000 initial investment from Red Cedar Ventures, plus access to 40+ experienced mentors.

Congratulations to these founders — we're excited to watch you grow! 🎉

Are you a startup in growth mode? Get connected to the SmartZone at https://hubs.la/Q04vH17q0

08/27/2026

This week we had a vision session (one of several) on the future of our SmartZone. This vital work moves us forward and wouldn't be possible without the municipalities in our region coming together, the dedication of our LDFA board members, and the support of our partner organizations. So many people are lending their expertise and resources to support local startups and investing in their success.

A little extra shoutout to our friends at the MSU Research Foundation for letting us use the Van Camp Incubator for our meeting.

08/27/2026

🍴If you've read our other posts this month about taking an idea and turning it into a business and you're still hungry for more... we've got one final read cooked up for you.

And we encourage you to give this one a close eye before going back and checking out the other 3 resources one more time. Because they really build on each other. Each one has a great angle that explains the process in different ways.

So pull up a... bowl... and dig in!

👉https://hubs.la/Q04rJ5BP0

08/25/2026

Have you heard the news? This is the final week to apply to Lansing's best homegrown pitch competition - The Hatching!

The Hatching 2026 gives Lansing-area entrepreneurs a chance to pitch live for funding, coaching, and community support.

08/21/2026

🎉Congratulations to Capital Area Startup Studio's 2nd cohort who wrapped their program!

Six of the companies are now actively selling in the market and building a customer base, and half of the founders have left other jobs to work on their tech businesses full time.

The Capital Area Startup Studio supports founders in building tech-enabled businesses that grow our regional innovation ecosystem. The program includes both an incubator for a small group of founders with hands-on support and a series of public events on a variety of topics from low-code/no-code training and AI enablement to general business topics to help small businesses excel.

👉https://hubs.la/Q04tQgPr0

08/20/2026

This month's SmartZone Resources series on taking your idea and turning it into a startup is really taking off 🚀

Here's another great read that will help you in building out that first MVP 👉 https://hubs.la/Q04rHZ2G0