Michigan Founders Fund Launches Investor Readiness Program in Kalamazoo for Southwest Michigan Startup Founders

Michigan Founders Fund, in partnership with a coalition of Kalamazoo partners, is pleased to announce a new opportunity for high-growth startup founders across the eight-county region of Southwest Michigan. The Michigan Founders Fund (MFF) Pre-Accelerator powered by gener8tor is designed for underrepresented startup founders seeking early capital, networks, and support. Applications for the Fall 2026 Kalamazoo cohort are now open; the deadline to apply is Sunday, Aug. 23.

This 7-week Pre-Accelerator program helps to prepare startups for investment opportunities through hands-on strategy meetings, coaching, operating grants, and a robust network of mentors, customers, and investors. Launched in 2025 by Michigan Founders Fund, a statewide community of high-growth founders committed to giving back, and gener8tor, a global venture firm and startup accelerator, four cohorts in Southeast Michigan have completed the program to date, and this new cohort represents the first opportunity for founders in Southwest Michigan. 

“Southwest Michigan has always been a region of creators, innovators, and entrepreneurs,” said Bobby J. Hopewell, President and CEO of Kabundant and Chairperson/General Partner at Kalamazoo Forward Ventures. “I am excited about the partnership among Michigan Founders Fund, gener8tor, Kabundant, Kalamazoo Forward Ventures, and other ecosystem organizations as we work together to help underrepresented founders go further, faster by connecting them to the resources they need to transform new ideas into thriving ventures and strengthen our region’s legacy of innovation.” 

Program details:

• Program will run Sep. 24 – Nov. 19, 2026
• Free to participate for founders. No equity taken. 
• $15,000 in non-dilutive operating grants are provided to each startup
• Hybrid format with both in-person and virtual sessions required
• This pilot program is made possible through a collaboration with Michigan Founders Fund, gener8tor, Kabundant, Stryker Johnston Foundation, Kalamazoo Forward Ventures, Startup Zoo, Western Michigan University, and Kalamazoo Community Foundation.
• Apply for the Kalamazoo cohort by Aug. 23

Eligibility:

• This program is for startups based in Kalamazoo and Southwest Michigan. At least one founder must be a resident and/or the business must be based in Barry, Berrien, Branch, Cass, Calhoun, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, and Van Buren counties. 
• Businesses must be at least 51% owned by women, Black, Latino, Arab, AAPI & Indigenous, immigrants, children of immigrants, refugees, LGBTQIA+, veterans, disabled people, individuals from rural communities, and those experiencing or who have experienced poverty.
• Participants must be able to commit to attending 5-7 hours of weekly programming, as well as be open to coaching and working in a fast-paced environment.

“We recognize the impact of the work that the Michigan Founders Fund has contributed to the eastside of the state, and we are looking forward to similar success here in  Kalamazoo County,” said William Buster, Executive Director of the Stryker Johnston Foundation. “We are proud to be a partner in their work. We look forward to seeing the creativity, motivation and innovation of local founders who will participate in this amazing, new program.” 

“I spent a significant part of my life growing up in Kalamazoo. I received a great education here and I’m honored to give back by bringing this program to the area,” said Brittni Abiolu, MFFPA Program Manager with Michigan Founders Fund. “This is an intensive program, but the results speak for themselves. After four cohorts in Southeast Michigan, our participants have raised $2.49 million in total early capital, 45% of teams have raised additional capital after completing the program, and 95% of companies are still active.”

Notably, past cohort outcomes of this high-quality program include founders advancing into investment accelerators, securing non-dilutive funding, raising seed and pre-seed capital from angels and venture capitalists, and reaching major visibility milestones. 

 “Our goal with this Pre-Accelerator program is to help prepare more Michigan founders – particularly those historically undercapitalized – for either their first investment checks or to participate in investment accelerators,” said Rishi Moudgil, Executive Director of Michigan Founders Fund. “We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to bring this program to Kalamazoo this fall and engage with more early-stage founders in Southwest Michigan.”

The MFF Pre-Accelerator has hosted four cohorts in Southeast Michigan prior to launching in Kalamazoo this fall. Pictured here, participants in the fall 2025 cohort join program leadership during the program Showcase to celebrate the completion of their program.