SURGE powered by Lakeshore Advantage

06/09/2026

What happens when you give innovators a microphone, five minutes, and a room full of people who believe great ideas can come from anywhere?

You get 5×5 Night.

On June 30, we're excited to welcome Start Garden's signature pitch competition to The Next Center. Five entrepreneurs will take the stage to share their ideas, make their case, and compete for a $5,000 grant.

Whether you're a founder, investor, entrepreneur, or simply someone who enjoys seeing what's next, 5×5 Night offers a front-row seat to the creativity, ambition, and innovation shaping Michigan's future.

We know that vibrant regional economies are built by people willing to test new ideas, solve problems, and create opportunities.

Join us for an evening of big ideas, bold pitches, and entrepreneurial energy.

June 30, 2026 - 5:00 - 6:30pm
The Next Center | Holland, MI

Will we see you there?

https://vist.ly/576kp

Get ready for 5 x 5 Night at SURGE - 5 speakers, 5 minutes each, sharing their innovative ideas in a lively and interactive setting!

06/05/2026

Owen Sette-Ducati, our Entrepreneurship Program Manager, recently attended Michigan Tech Week and came away energized by the innovation happening across the state.

"It was exciting to see the innovation that's happening in all corners of the state. Due to Michigan's strong manufacturing base, it's uniquely poised to innovate when it comes to mapping AI to automation solutions and it was exciting to see the momentum surrounding those innovations."

That momentum matters here on the Lakeshore. With manufacturing generating nearly 40% of our region's GDP, we're uniquely positioned to turn emerging technologies into real-world solutions that help companies innovate, compete, and grow.

It's one reason Lakeshore Advantage continues to support both high-growth startups and established employers. In fact, 87% of local employers report using AI in at least one business function—a sign that innovation is becoming a competitive necessity across industries.

The future of technology in Michigan won't be built by startups alone. It will be shaped by the collaboration between entrepreneurs, manufacturers, educators, and business leaders working together to solve real challenges.

Special "shout out" to Ryan Hoffman of who was also in attendance!

Learn more about our start-up ecosystem: https://vist.ly/56rrq

06/04/2026

Congratulations to Liz Hilton of Swaddelini on the release of Holding Mother, a documentary focused on defining and elevating the conversation around postpartum support.

For nearly eight years, Liz has worked to support new parents through Swaddelini. Now, she's helping shine a light on an issue that impacts countless families.

Entrepreneurship often means identifying problems that others overlook and having the courage to create solutions. Holding Mother is a powerful example of a founder using her platform, experience, and passion to drive meaningful change beyond her business.

We're proud to celebrate Liz and the many founders who continue to challenge assumptions, tell important stories, and make an impact in their communities.

Join the conversation and learn more about Holding Mother: https://vist.ly/56j2x

Holding Mother is officially live! Swaddelini has been helping new parents with their bedtime routine for almost 8 years and now we have successfully created the first documentary defining postpartum support! Because if we can define what support we need, then we can advocate for it! Please join the...

05/29/2026

Proof that great branding and great placemaking go hand in hand.

Thanks! Spirit Fire Lights and Tiger Studio

A classic Chevy Bel Air sitting in front of “The Next Center.” Old soul. Future backdrop. Somehow inspiring. Lakeshore Advantage,SURGE powered by Lakeshore Advantage,Luciano Hernandez V By the way, I added the Spirit Fire logo on the door and thank you to the gentleman who parked his car here. :...

05/26/2026

Before building a business, founders need to validate the right things.

Join Jeff Muller of , for a practical session focused on the tools and frameworks startups can use to reduce risk, test assumptions, better understand their market, and avoid costly mistakes early.

Topics include market research, Business Model Canvas, MVPs, financial forecasting, buyer personas, and more.

Register now:

In this Lunch & Learn, Jeff Muller will walk through practical startup tools founders can use to reduce risk and build smarter.

05/22/2026

At SURGE, community really is the secret sauce.

Our Spring Happy Hour was a great reminder of what makes this founder ecosystem special. Nearly 25 people came together — SURGE members, partners, leaders from Latin Americans United for Progress - LAUP’s Prospera small business network, and even a few members of the Next Gen Talent Council — all connecting, sharing ideas, and supporting one another.

The best part? It’s never just about business. It’s about relationships, collaboration, and creating the kind of community where people genuinely want to help each other grow.

And special shoutout to Marissa Taylor for crafting the strawberry rhubarb cocktail of the night — a perfect spring sip.

This is what building an ecosystem looks like.

05/21/2026

A guitar may not be the first thing that comes to mind for occupational therapy — but Holland native, James Lenger of Sharp and Flat is helping change that.

Theraplaying uses music-driven movement to support people living with Parkinson’s, combining therapeutic exercises, real-time health tracking, and engagement through music to improve mobility and well-being.

Backed by peer-reviewed research and growing partnerships with both Holland Hospital and Corewell Health, they are now positioned to scale beyond the Lakeshore.

A creative example of innovation making a real impact.

Read more: https://vist.ly/553kb

05/15/2026

We’re growing our team.

Lakeshore Advantage is hiring a Business Attraction Manager to help position the Lakeshore Region for continued growth and investment.

This role will support business attraction efforts across Ottawa and Allegan Counties — working with site selectors, managing attraction projects, coordinating site visits, and helping tell the story of why companies choose West Michigan.

If you’re passionate about economic development, relationship-building, and shaping the future of the Lakeshore region, we’d love to connect.

Learn more and apply: https://vist.ly/54chc

05/14/2026

BIG recognition for SURGE founder, Liz Hilton of Swaddelini and her amazing product, Swaddelini!

Seeing Liz’s product featured by Forbes is an exciting milestone — and a reminder that great ideas built on the Lakeshore are reaching families across the country.

We’re proud to celebrate founders like Liz who continue turning insight, passion, and persistence into products making a real impact.

Congratulations, Liz! We can’t wait to see what’s next.

Read more: https://vist.ly/548ky

After testing 10 popular options with my twins, I found the best swaddles available in 2026. See my picks from Halo, Happiest Baby and more.

05/08/2026

Big things ahead for SURGE member Locavana.

What started as an idea to create a more direct connection between local farms and consumers is quickly turning into a new model for how people access food across West Michigan and beyond.

Locavana - Local Food Delivery is tackling food system inefficiencies by shortening the supply chain, supporting local producers, and delivering farm-fresh products directly to homes through a curated online marketplace and temperature-controlled delivery network.

From partnering with 30+ local farms and food producers to expanding delivery across the Lakeshore, Grand Rapids, and Chicago regions, they’re building something that blends technology, logistics, agriculture, and consumer convenience in a really interesting way.

We love seeing founders rethink traditional systems and create solutions with real regional impact.

Excited to watch Locavana continue to grow and reshape how local food reaches our communities.

Read more here:

Zeeland-based Locavana expands delivery, helping residents buy local food easily while increasing farmer earnings and improving access across West Michigan communities. Zeeland-based Locavana expands delivery, helping residents buy local food easily while increasing farmer earnings and improving acc...