Michigan Business Beat | Dwayne Powell Jr. & Marcel Fable Price, Cultivate 269 at WMU

Jeffrey Mosher welcomes Dwayne Powell Jr., Chief Operating Officer and Managing Partner of Kalamazoo Forward Ventures & Marcel Fable Price, Director of Platform and Programming at Kalamazoo Forward Ventures Questions covered: ● Can you tell us what inspired Kalamazoo Forward Ventures to launch Cultivate 269 for WMU students? ● At $100,000, this is Michigan's largest student pitch competition where participants keep 100% ownership. What does that mean for student entrepreneurs? ● The competition includes both expert judges and a public vote. Can you explain how that works and why community involvement matters? ● What does it mean to change the story of who gets to be a founder and where they get to build? ● How does Cultivate 269 help build world-class entrepreneurial talent right here in Michigan? ● The deadline is February 27. What would you say to a WMU student who has an idea but isn't sure if they should apply? ● Looking ahead, what does success look like for Cultivate 269? Talking Points ● The Capital Gap Reality: Early-stage capital is the primary barrier for underrepresented founders. Cultivate 269 addresses this by providing non-dilutive funding that allows students to maintain full ownership while getting the resources they need to launch. ● Local Talent, Local Impact: The entrepreneurial talent to transform Southwest Michigan's economy already exists within WMU. This competition ensures students don't have to leave the region to access the funding and support they need. ● Scale and Ownership Model: At $100,000, this is Michigan's largest student pitch competition where participants retain 100% ownership—a critical differentiator that shows our commitment to founder equity. ● Regional Economic Development: This isn't just about individual businesses; it's about creating a sustainable pipeline of entrepreneurs who will build wealth and create jobs in Southwest Michigan for decades to come. ● Proven KzFV Model: As one of the Midwest's largest Black-founded investment funds, Kalamazoo Forward Ventures has a track record of deploying capital strategically into underinvested communities. Cultivate 269 extends this mission to the next generation. About Kalamazoo Forward Ventures Kalamazoo Forward Ventures (KzFV) is one of the largest Black-founded investment funds in the Midwest, dedicated to deploying capital into underinvested communities across Michigan. Through venture capital, Main Street business acquisitions, and strategic real estate investments, KzFV is building an inclusive economic ecosystem that creates generational wealth and stabilizes the regional economy.