GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (KAHO) — West Michigan’s newest tech startup incubator, The Bridge, will open in just over a month.
The entrepreneurial hub is located on the fourth floor of The Doug Meijer Medical Innovation Building. The high-tech, high-growth space is the result of a partnership between Spartan Innovations, Health innovation Partners, Rockford Construction, Walsh Investors, Walsh Construction and Murphy Development Group.
“The goal here is to find things that move the needle so that people’s lives are better, happier, healthier,” said Kyle McGregor, director of health innovations at Spartan Innovations.
The nearly 20,000-square-foot space is intended to promote networking and growth for up and coming entrepreneurs. Terra Osman, who built the marketplace app Farmishwas one of the first tenants and received the many resources that The Bridge has to offer.
“Users can create a free listing for things like backyard chicken eggs, produce, garden supplies, plants, trees and honey,” Osman explained his app. “Buyers can search a map by location or keyword and then send a message to the seller to complete the sale.”
Since launching the app from her children’s playroom in March, Farmish has seen 220,000 unique downloads according to Osman.
“These are the people and resources that have helped Farmish grow. I am waiting for this (space) to be completed because it will have a great impact on my business under the same roof and I will be able to work with them,” he said.
Rental applications are open. McGregor told News 8 they have about a dozen tenants waiting for a March opening.
“We can make it a one-stop shop where you don’t just come to put your business plan together,” he said. “It’s getting your business plan, getting your marketing, working on your platform, talking to lawyers, talking to HR people … we’ve got it here.”
