Month: April 2022

The ecosystem for startups has been steadily growing in Traverse City, Michigan and the entire Northern Michigan region.  It's a lovely, affordable place to live, and as remote work grows, more and more skilled workers have gravitated to the area.

And Michigan, and particularly Northern Michigan, have done a great job of supporting the ecosystem for those who want to create their own businesses.  Traverse City has steadily created more and more resources for startups and entrepreneurs, in spite of the pandemic.

And that has led to an outpouring of enthusiasm and events in the form of an inaugural Norther Michigan Startup Week.  Two of the organizers are 20 Fathoms, a co-working space, and TCNewTech, an organization helping startups with training and connections and other support.

Keri Amlotte, from 20 Fathoms, and Jennifer Szunko, from TCNewTech, join The Savvy Entrepreneur to talk about some of the key activities surrounding Northern Michigan Startup Week.  They also share their thoughts on how to successfully build a startup ecosystem.

Click on the arrow to the left and listen to how Northern Michigan is steadily growing its entrepreneurial community.

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Monika Joshi, Founder of Art of Pure, shares with The Savvy Entrepreneur her quest to source and sell sustainable health and beauty products.

A former New York City investment banker, she grew tired of the long hours and time away from her young family.  When she and her family moved back to Chicago, Monika knew it was time to do something different,

When her daughter began struggling with eczema and other skin issues, the dermatologist suggested putting her on steroids.  Monika felt there must be other, more natural alternatives to try first.

That led her on a journey to find truly natural products but all types and health and beauty needs –something that sounds like it should be easy, but definitely is not!  And at that point, Art of Pure was born.

Click on the arrow to take a listen to Monika's story and some of the bumps and challenges she's faced along the way creating and growing Art of Pure.  Or you can read a transcript of the interview here.

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