“The 100” aims to knock down barriers to launching a business by providing $500,000 in no-strings-attached competition for 100 entrepreneurs
(GRAND RAPIDS, MI) – The 100, Start Garden’s open contest for startups, is back for a seventh year.
Everyone with a business idea or any business seeking to explore a new opportunity is invited. The event, which opens registration on Friday, May 2, is believed to be the largest open business competition in the state, with 100 recipients being funded.
To launch this year’s effort, Start Garden will host a workshop for potential applicants at 10 am on Friday, May 2. Ten finalists who will each receive $20,000 will be selected at Start Garden’s Demo Day event, held at GLC Live at 20 Monroe, on Wednesday, Sept 17, 2025.
MEDC SmartZone, and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, are a part of the financial muscle behind the 100.
In its six years, The 100 has proven to help remove barriers to entrepreneurship based on the belief that anyone from any neighborhood, regardless of resources, deserves a shot at launching a business idea.
Video submissions are accepted May 2–July 8, 2025. Applicants must be 14 years or older to participate. Video submissions will not be shared with the public. Each participant may upload as many ideas as they wish.
Here is how it works:
● People record and submit a 100-second video explaining their idea to 100.startgarden.com
● In July, 100 finalists will be chosen to receive $1,000 each—no strings attached—to prepare for Demo Day
● Finalists have two months to refine their ideas with support from Start Garden’s leadership team and partners
● 100 finalists present at the 2025 Demo Day competition on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025
● At Demo Day, 10 winners receive another $20,000 to help their business take off
Submitting your video puts you in the running for funding, along with technical support to get your idea off the ground.
The 100 is the most accessible business competition of its kind. While it is open to aspiring entrepreneurs throughout the community, Start Garden promoted the first competition through intense marketing in historically underrepresented neighborhoods. The efforts paid off, with about 53% of the finalists being women and 60% from minority groups each year since.
“When we designed the Start Garden 100, our goal was to make it a genuine opportunity for anyone from any neighborhood in Michigan,” said Paul Moore, Co-Director at Start Garden. “It’s literally the easiest $1,000 an entrepreneur can get to play with an idea.”
“We are proud that this competition gives entrepreneurs a chance to bring their idea to life,” said Darel Ross, Start Garden Co-Director. “Access to resources is the number one thing entrepreneurs need, and The 100 achieves that at scale.”
The 2024 Demo Day competition drew more than 2,000 visitors to Calder Plaza, the second time the event has been held outside. The winning ideas included a wide range of products and services: food and drink, online platforms and services, and manufacturers.
“We see it each year we do The 100. Relationships are formed, new ventures launched, and new wealth created due to this experience,” said Start Garden Co-Director Jorge Gonzalez.
There is more to the competition than the money. The lead-up to the competition and Demo Day is designed to expand an aspiring entrepreneur’s network—a vital component to getting any new business off the ground. 44% of competitors reported making more than eight new connections to help their startup, and more than 73% said they would “absolutely” encourage other would-be entrepreneurs to take a shot at The 100.
“We are really proud that over the past six years, we’ve created real, meaningful economic impact not only for entrepreneurs but the communities their businesses operate in,” said Laurie Supinski, Start Garden Co-Director.
Luciano Hernandez of Spirit Fire Lights, a 2024 top 10 winner, said, “The Start Garden 100 is a tremendous opportunity to get your name out as an entrepreneur and to get experience talking with others about your business. As you refine your pitch, your vision becomes clearer on what it is you need to do to accomplish your goals. In the end, it’s about being part of the community and creating value.”
“Winning Start Garden’s 100 was the first real validation of our idea—and of us as founders,” said Rachel Berkal of Vetr Health. “That early vote of confidence gave us the push we needed to keep building and showed us we weren’t in it alone. The connections we made through the 100 opened doors into West Michigan’s startup ecosystem and have played a huge role in our growth. I’d encourage any entrepreneur with an idea to pitch—it’s an incredible opportunity to gain exposure, build community, and take your first step forward.”
About The 100:
The Start Garden 100 is a community-wide effort to get 100 aspiring entrepreneurs to either take the next step in their entrepreneurial journey or to help them get a great idea off the ground. It’s the most accessible accelerator platform of its kind. By removing the risk from practicing entrepreneurship and raising the visibility of those launching new businesses, the support community around the program includes hundreds of funders, mentors, coaches, and vendors who come together to support the next generation of entrepreneurs in West Michigan every year.
About Start Garden:
Start Garden is an innovative non-profit that creates opportunities for entrepreneurs working toward their first $1,000,000 in revenue by providing opportunities for no-strings-attached startup capital. They do this through platforms like The 100 and 5×5 Night, a 16,000-square-foot co-working and incubation space that has membership options for entrepreneurs at nearly any stage, a vast network of connections to share with its members, and a strong, diverse leadership team to help people achieve their goals. Learn more at startgarden.com.
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