The People and Companies shaping what’s next
This is a weekly series highlighting entrepreneurs, small businesses, and the ideas driving Southwest Michigan forward. Through original reporting, Second Wave shares stories of local founders, growing companies, and the organizations supporting entrepreneurship across Kalamazoo, Calhoun, Berrien, St. Joseph, Van Buren, Cass, and Barry counties. The series aims to raise awareness of the region’s entrepreneurial energy, strengthen community connection to local businesses, and spotlight what’s next for Southwest Michigan’s economy. Support for the series is provided by Southwest Michigan First.
A new six-week Storefront Growth Lab in downtown Kalamazoo will help Southwest Michigan retail, restaurant, and service business owners improve profits, marketing, operations, and long-term growth through hands-on coaching and peer collaboration.
Applications are open for the South Haven Regional Business Hub’s 2026 Growth Series, a free 26-week program offering Southwest Michigan small-business owners mentoring, training, and resources to scale and improve long-term success.
A Western Michigan University graduate student won $100,000 in a Kalamazoo pitch competition for his AI-powered medical language platform, highlighting the region’s growing support for student entrepreneurs and high-impact startups.
A new shop devoted to vintage clothing has opened in downtown Constantine, where owner Stacy Synstelien is turning decades of collecting and retail therapy into a small-town business rooted in history.
Kalamazoo Women2Women, a growing local network founded in 2016, is fostering mentorship, collaboration, and business growth by connecting professional women across industries in a supportive, no-dues environment.
House of Plunge in Benton Harbor’s Arts District combines cold plunges, saunas, and recovery therapies as a one-stop shop for “feeling darn good.”
The Reach Forward Conversations Event brought local entrepreneurs, product sellers, and buyers together to spark connections that could lead to contracts, growth opportunities, and stronger small-business networks in the Kalamazoo area.
In Battle Creek, Felicia Jaramillo opened DelectAble Treats and Sweets to create jobs for people with disabilities, inspired by her sons and her own recovery journey.
A family-owned creperie, Full of Crepe, has brought sweet and savory crepes — and a touch of Italian espresso — to downtown St. Joseph, quickly becoming a local favorite.
Old Skool Bar has opened in downtown Kalamazoo with a retro-inspired, no-phones philosophy, inviting patrons to unplug, connect face-to-face, and enjoy vinyl music, pinball, pool, and dancing in a reimagined entertainment space.
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