GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., August 3, 2023 – The Grand Rapids Downtown Market is celebrating the success of ten Incubator Kitchen tenants during this year’s Start Garden 100 grant cycle. Each start-up received $1,000 and the opportunity to present their ideas for an additional $20,000 grant this September.
The Start Garden 100 is a community-wide investment in the businesses of tomorrow. The organization encourages entrepreneurs to submit a 100-second pitch detailing their business stories and ambitious endeavors. Only 100 pitches are accepted out of thousands of submissions, earning the winners an exclusive membership into The 100.
“It’s always fulfilling to witness the success of our Incubator Kitchen tenants, past and present, and celebrate the entrepreneurs who are building West Michigan’s new food economy,” said Mimi Fritz, CEO and president of the Grand Rapids Downtown Market. “We’ve seen first-hand how innovative, passionate, and determined these entrepreneurs are, and we’re eager to see where this incredible opportunity will take them.”
The ten Incubator Kitchen tenants who made it into this year’s Start Garden 100 include:
· Maneeka Beasley, Cakes by the Jar
· Wonjae Choi, Mandoo: Korean Dumplings
· Jarrell Cisneros, Jedi Chili
· Olivia Gargett, OG’s Bakery
· Mazeichial Henderson, Big n Tasty’s Breakfast
· Adrian Fernandez Nunez, deSoto’s
· Genesis Quinones, Majestic Minerals
· April Reed, Linda Carol’s
· Jacqueline Wubbena, MI Candyland
· Winsome Kirton, Pack Elephant
As members of this year’s Start Garden 100, each start-up is invited to pitch their entrepreneurial vision on Demo Day, where a minimum of ten finalists will be selected for Start Garden’s $20,000 grant.
“As a small business, an opportunity like this can be a real game-changer, and we are grateful for the opportunity, and for the Downtown Market for allowing us to explore our creative visions,” said Adrian Fernandez Nunez, Owner of deSoto’s. “Unlike anywhere else in West Michigan, the Incubator Kitchen gives us the resources and freedom to build the foundation of our business, ensuring that we’re ready for such incredible opportunities like The Start Garden 100.”
To learn more about the Grand Rapids Downtown Market’s Incubator Kitchen, visit http://downtownmarketgr.com/incubator-kitchen.
About the Incubator Kitchen
The Downtown Market Incubator Kitchen offers affordable kitchen rates and practical business tools to give budding entrepreneurs a leg up in starting food businesses. The Incubator Kitchen strives to foster entrepreneurship, good food, and community in a supportive, efficient, flexible environment. The licensed commercial kitchen spaces are open 24/7 and are fully outfitted with professional-grade equipment ready for food production, packaging, prepping, catering and more. For more info, contact Ryan at 616.805.5308 (ext. 206) or ryanb@downtownmarketgr.com.
About the Grand Rapids Downtown Market
The Grand Rapids Downtown Market is the region’s choice for fresh, delicious foods and amazing public market merchants. During 2023, the Downtown Market celebrates 10 years as a self-sustaining, LEED-certified, mixed-use facility that brings together production, distribution, marketing and education about local foods. It incorporates entrepreneur and experimentation space for both emerging and experienced food artisans and merchants including a 20-vendor Market Hall, and two full-service restaurants. More at www.downtownmarketgr.com.
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