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.
Adrienne Wallace said meeting students "in the messy middle" distinguishes teaching as a profession, rather than a job.
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