#StartupsEverywhere profile: Amanda Chocko, Director of Entrepreneurship, Lakeshore Advantage
This profile is part of #StartupsEverywhere, an ongoing series highlighting startup leaders in ecosystems across the country. This interview has been edited for length, content, and clarity.
Supporting Regional Startups From Concept to Commercialization
Headquartered in Zeeland, Michigan, Lakeshore Advantage is a nonprofit economic development organization that’s working to support startups, entrepreneurs, and businesses in West Michigan. We recently spoke with Amanda Chocko, the Director of Entrepreneurship at Lakeshore Advantage, to learn more about the organization’s work supporting local startups, the importance of reliable broadband services, and what the future holds for West Michigan’s startup community. Amanda also serves as a member of the International Business Innovation Association (InBIA) Board of Directors.
What in your background made you interested in supporting entrepreneurship in West Michigan?
I was born and raised in New York and spent 10 years in the restaurant industry working in various roles. My husband and I moved to Holland, Michigan in 1991, and I decided to go back to school to pursue my business degree. Upon graduating, I landed a position in a large company and quickly realized that the corporate life was not a good fit for me. So I started a number of my own businesses, including a salon and a speed dating company. When my speed dating company pivoted to a speed networking company, I found myself facilitating occasional speed networking events at Lakeshore Advantage. I ended up accepting a position to manage their business incubator and entrepreneurial programs. That was in 2007, and I have been working with startups in West Michigan ever since.
Tell us more about Lakeshore Advantage. What is the work that you’re doing, and how are you working to support the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem?
Lakeshore Advantage is the economic development organization for Ottawa and Allegan Counties in West Michigan. We work with companies ranging from startups to large corporations. We believe that today’s startups are tomorrow’s base employers. Our entrepreneurial efforts are focused on product and technology startups from concept through commercialization.
We have programs and services for startups at each stage that include a focus on proof of concept, pilot programs, investor readiness, mentorship and coaching programs, an entrepreneurial service provider network, accountability groups, founder roundtables, and meetups. We also provide access to capital and connections to other entrepreneurial resources. We offer this startup support through our entrepreneurial support organization, SURGE.
There are 21 SmartZones across Michigan, which are designed to support the growth and development of local high-tech companies. We manage the Holland SmartZone and administer the business accelerator fund locally, which is a statewide resource. Through the program, high-tech companies can receive up to $50,000 in funding for services to help them reach a major business milestone. We help local companies get their applications in order and assist them in getting the funding they need.
How is Lakeshore Advantage working to help local entrepreneurs who have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic?
When COVID hit last March, we made a point of reaching out to each startup to see how we could be of assistance. Much of this work was in helping them access grants and loan programs to help them weather the storm. Prior to COVID, much of our programming took place in person at a local coworking space. We have since moved all of our programs to a virtual format.
What makes the West Michigan entrepreneurial community so unique?
West Michigan has a rich history of entrepreneurship dating back to the conception of some of our largest employers. Our region’s largest employer is Gentex, a tech fusion company with 6,000 employees that is headquartered in Zeeland. They started as a fire protection company out of founder Fred Bauer’s garage in 1974. These types of stories are abundant in West Michigan, whether it’s automation solutions companies, office furniture companies, food producers, and more.
We are also known for our outstanding manufacturing and design capabilities, which intersect well with our startups. It’s a collaborative community with a large ecosystem of mentors, service providers, companies, and other entrepreneurial support organizations that collaborate and celebrate entrepreneurship and innovation. In fact, Holland, Michigan was voted the best small city in which to start a business four years in a row by WalletHub.
What are some of the startup-related policy issues and concerns that you believe should receive more attention from local, state, and federal policymakers?
Increasing broadband access locally and across the state would have a positive impact on startups. It’s a big issue in our region, and there’s a collective of organizations—including our local municipal utility—working to increase access to Internet services. Attracting more companies to the region, bringing in the talent of the future, and educating our students and tomorrow’s startup founders is all reliant on access to high-speed Internet. Startups and companies are working together to create synergies in these areas, but deploying solutions will take time.
Access to talent is also a huge issue. Quite often, our entrepreneurs are competing with larger companies for the talent they need to generate revenue and raise capital. So we need to look at ways of giving startups better access to the talent they need to get off the ground. Whether it’s through internships, apprenticeships, or entrepreneurs-in-residence programs, anything that can be subsidized or formalized to provide more access to talented workers would be a huge help for these companies.
What is your goal for Lakeshore Advantage moving forward?
We continue to support high tech startups and develop programs and partnerships to help them grow their ideas from their conception until their launch. Our one-year goal for startups includes a feasibility study that we are currently conducting with Hope College to understand the needs for dedicated incubator space in our region. This year, we will establish that action plan to best serve the region’s budding companies. Our vision for the future is very bright and is one of regional success.
Our three-year goal is that our region’s startup community will be buzzing with robust programming, access to capital, and companies that are receiving national recognition. We are well on our way to achieving this. We already have strong entrepreneurial support organizations and exciting companies with visionary founders who are launching great products and looking to solve problems in alternative energy, mobility, advanced manufacturing, and consumer products, among many others.
All of the information in this profile was accurate at the date and time of publication.
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