January 13, 2026 (Volume 49, Number 9)
Standing at left is Michael Hyacinthe, MVE-Lab lead instructor. The pitch night for participants was held December 15 at the Battle Creek Innovation Hub.
Photo Credit: Martin Hogan
Participants in the Michigan Veteran Entrepreneur-Lab (MVE-Lab) pitched their ideas in mid-December to a panel of judges at the Battle Creek Innovation Hub.
The event capped an 11-week entrepreneurial accelerator program. In a cohort model, veterans and military-connected entrepreneurs worked with mentors from Battle Creek to hone or launch their small business startups.
John Capers, of Pop's Family Kitchen, earned first place and $6,000 to be put toward enhancing his catering business. A total of $15,000 in prizes was awarded.
The Battle Creek MVE-Lab was offered through GVSU's DeVos Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation (CEI), in partnership with Battle Creek Unlimited and with support from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
More than 65 percent of MVE-Lab graduates have remained in business, producing gross annual sales of $799,516 and a gross capital investment of more than $3.1 million.
This article was last edited on January 7, 2026 at 8:31 a.m.
The project makes the space in Au Sable Hall more accessible and more welcoming.
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February 10, 2026 (Volume 49, Number 11)
Article by
Cass Wainwright
The Leadership Summit is planned for February 20 in the Kirkhof Center.
February 10, 2026 (Volume 49, Number 11)
Article by
Jeremy Paul
Faculty and staff with 10 to 50 years of service to GVSU will be honored.
Featured
January 27, 2026 (Volume 49, Number 10)
