Michigan entrepreneurs will have a chance to compete for more than $500,000 in funding and business opportunities Thursday, Oct. 22, as Start Garden hosts its annual Demo Day at its new downtown Grand Rapids headquarters.
The event marks the culmination of the eighth season of The 100, Start Garden’s open competition for entrepreneurs. From 5 to 9 p.m., 50 finalists will showcase their businesses, demonstrate their products and compete for funding, contracts and other opportunities designed to help their ventures grow.
Founded in 2012, Start Garden is a Grand Rapids-based nonprofit dedicated to cultivating entrepreneurship across West Michigan, with an emphasis on equity, access and inclusion for underserved communities. Through programs such as The 100, the organization connects entrepreneurs with capital, resources and a network of support.
This year’s competition introduces a significant shift in how those resources are distributed. Announced in June, the updated format brings multiple capital providers into the program, expanding its focus beyond early-stage business ideas to include established companies seeking their next stage of growth.
The changes expand The 100’s award opportunities to more than $500,000, introduce a new “sprint” process and bring more funding partners into the final Demo Day event.
The competition’s Capital Partners will help support up to $500,000 in funding and business opportunities through corporate contracts, small-business loans, shared-revenue agreements and venture capital. Start Garden will also continue to offer small catalytic grants to entrepreneurs at every stage.
The 2026 Capital Partners include GROW, which offers small-business loans; Opportunity Ventures, which provides shared-revenue agreements; Union Heritage, which offers venture capital; Meijer, which will provide first-customer contracts for food and consumer product companies; and Start Garden, which awards grants.
“Entrepreneurs were using the 100 to connect to capital, so we decided to bring as much capital from as many partners right into the beginning,” said Laurie Supinski, co-director of Start Garden. “Now the 100 is not just about winning a small cash award, but can be where you land your first major contract or investor.”
The revised approach also puts existing businesses at the center of the competition. Companies already generating revenue are eligible to pursue opportunities through partners offering loans, shared-revenue agreements and venture capital, expanding the program’s reach beyond entrepreneurs who are still developing an initial idea.
Since its inception, The 100 has connected more than 800 Michigan founders with funding and community resources. Across its broader programs, Start Garden has served thousands of entrepreneurs. The 100 has historically drawn strong participation from underrepresented communities, with 75% of participants identifying as women or minorities.
The organization’s alumni have expanded products into Meijer and other major U.S. retail chains, grown small-business ideas into companies generating more than $10 million in revenue, and built technology companies across Michigan and beyond. Some of those ventures have since grown or been acquired by other organizations.
For Grand Rapids, Demo Day offers a look at the ideas and businesses taking shape across the region — and at the funding pathways that could help bring them to a wider market.
Demo Day 2026
Who: Start Garden and 50 finalists
What: The 100 Demo Day, featuring entrepreneur showcases and awards
When: Thursday, Oct. 22, from 5 to 9 p.m.
Where: Start Garden, 2 Fulton St. W., Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Schedule: The public expo runs from 5 to 7 p.m. on the fourth and fifth floors, followed by the awards program from 7 to 9 p.m. in the theater.
Cost: Free and open to the public.
More information is available at startgarden.com.
