Michigan Business Beat | Paul Moore, Start Garden, 'The 100' Expands Funding for Michigan Businesses

Michigan Business Beat | Paul Moore, Start Garden, 'The 100' Expands Funding for Michigan Businesses

From Michigan Business Network by Michigan Business Network

July 13, 2026 · 11 min

About this episode

Paul Moore discusses the expansion of Start Garden's 'The 100' program to support businesses at various growth stages in Michigan.

Originally uploaded July 3rd, reloaded July 13th. Jeffrey Mosher welcomes Paul Moore, Director, Start Garden, Grand Rapids, MI. Welcome Paul, remind us about Start Garden and your "The 100"? 'The 100' has traditionally focused on early-stage startup ideas. What prompted Start Garden to redesign the competition to serve businesses at multiple stages of growth and connect them with different types of capital? This year’s program brings together lenders, investors, grant makers, and corporate partners under one umbrella. How does that broader funding ecosystem create more opportunities for Michigan entrepreneurs? The competition now centers on an entrepreneurial “sprint” tied to a specific business milestone. Why is that approach valuable, and what kinds of measurable results are you hoping participants will achieve? Existing businesses are now a major part of the program, not just startups. How does this change expand the impact of The 100 for established companies looking to grow, hire, or scale operations? With more than $500,000 in potential funding opportunities, live funding announcements at Demo Day, and strong participation from underrepresented entrepreneurs, what role do…

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