Join host Ara Topouzian as he sits down with Ted Velie, a seasoned builder of the Midwest startup ecosystem. From co-founding the regional platform Midwest House to serving as Co-Chair of Michigan Tech Week, Ted brings a unique perspective on what it takes to spark innovation in Michigan. In this episode, they talk about Ted’s efforts to help investors and founders work better together across the Great Lakes — and the bold ideas that could spark the region’s next big leap.

In this episode of Michigan VCtalk, ⁠Ara Topouzian⁠, Executive Director of the ⁠Michigan Venture Capital Association⁠, sits down with James Feagin, Managing Partner of Black Bottom Ventures and Michigan Angel Collective. James shares his journey as a long-time Detroit ecosystem builder and investor, offering insights into the importance of inclusive growth, the role of angel investors in supporting early-stage companies, and what it takes to strengthen Michigan’s entrepreneurial landscape.

Michigan VCtalk is a podcast series produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Michigan Venture Capital Association⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (MVCA) and hosted by Ara Topouzian, Executive Director of MVCA.

This episode is sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Michigan Rise, Pre-Seed Fund III⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of Michigan VCtalk, Ara Topouzian, Executive Director of the Michigan Venture Capital Association, sits down with Terra Osmon, founder of Farmish. Farmish is a Michigan-based startup helping people buy and sell locally grown food in their communities, strengthening connections between growers and neighbors who care about fresh, sustainable options.

Ara and Terra discuss her journey as a founder, what inspired her to launch Farmish, and the lessons she’s learned building a mission-driven company in Michigan’s startup ecosystem. Terra also shares her perspective on the opportunities and challenges facing entrepreneurs in Michigan, and why community and connectivity matter now more than ever.

Michigan VCtalk is a podcast series produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Michigan Venture Capital Association⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (MVCA) and hosted by Ara Topouzian, Executive Director of MVCA.

This episode is sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Michigan Rise, Pre-Seed Fund III⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Ara chats with Justin Kosmides — entrepreneur, investor, and co-founder of Bloom, a Detroit-based platform reshaping how hardware startups scale and manufacture. From Wall Street to e-bikes to re-industrializing Michigan, Justin’s journey is a great example of innovation in action.

Michigan VCtalk is a podcast series produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Michigan Venture Capital Association⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (MVCA) and hosted by Ara Topouzian, Executive Director of MVCA.

This episode is sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Michigan Rise, Pre-Seed Fund III⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Ara chats with Daniel Jeffries, Managing Partner at Kalamazoo Forward Ventures. They digs into how Kalamazoo Forward Ventures is helping high-growth startups—especially thoseled by underrepresented and mission-driven founders—get off the ground. From funding and mentorship to building connections, their work is creating real impact in Kalamazoo and beyond.

This marks Michigan VCtalk's 50th episode since its inception!

Michigan VCtalk is a podcast series produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Michigan Venture Capital Association⁠⁠⁠⁠ (MVCA) and hosted by Ara Topouzian, Executive Director of MVCA.

This episode is sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Michigan Rise, Pre-Seed Fund III⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Ara chats with Robert Wolfe, co-founder and CEO of Zeck.

Robert is a serial entrepreneur who’s no stranger to innovation, having previously co-founded Crowdrise and Moosejaw. Now, with Zeck, he’s rethinking how boards and leadership teams operate—transforming clunky, outdated processes into streamlined, digital experiences.

Michigan VCtalk is a podcast series produced by ⁠⁠⁠Michigan Venture Capital Association⁠⁠⁠ (MVCA) and hosted by Ara Topouzian, Executive Director of MVCA.

This episode is sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠Michigan Rise, Pre-Seed Fund III⁠⁠⁠.

Ara chats with Michigan Venture Capital Association members and Venture Fellow recipients Terese Hunwick (Augment Ventures) and Caroline Wolanin (Plymouth Growth).

Caroline is one of the first Venture Fellows when MVCA relaunched the program a few years ago. She shares her experience in the program and the exciting work she’s now doing at Plymouth Growth. We’re also joined by Terese Hunwick who gives us insight into her background and the impactful work she’s leading here in Michigan.

Michigan VCtalk is a podcast series produced by ⁠⁠Michigan Venture Capital Association⁠⁠ (MVCA) and hosted by Ara Topouzian, Executive Director of MVCA.

This episode is sponsored by ⁠⁠Michigan Rise, Pre-Seed Fund III⁠⁠.

Ara chats with Ben Marchionna, Chief Innovation Ecosystem Officer at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. Ben plays a key role in fostering innovation, supporting entrepreneurs, and strengthening Michigan’s tech and startup landscape. We’ll explore his insights on building a thriving innovation ecosystem, the impact of public-private partnerships, and what we all need to be doing to drive investment in Michigans future.

Michigan VCtalk is a podcast series produced by ⁠Michigan Venture Capital Association⁠ (MVCA) and hosted by Ara Topouzian, Executive Director of MVCA.

This episode is sponsored by ⁠Michigan Rise, Pre-Seed Fund III⁠.

Ara chats with Blake Mischley, Co-Founder of Meet Your Class, a platform designed to help students build meaningful connections before their first day. Ara and Blake talk aboutthe inspiration behind the idea, the challenges of launching a startup, and what’s next for Meet Your Class. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, an educator, or just love a good startup story—this episode is for you.

Michigan VCtalk is a podcast series produced by Michigan Venture Capital Association (MVCA) and hosted by Ara Topouzian, Executive Director of MVCA.

This episode is sponsored by Michigan Rise, Pre-Seed Fund III.

In this episode, Ara sits down with Justin Turk, CEO & Co-Founder of Livegistics, the game-changing cloud-based platform revolutionizing the construction and waste management industries. Justin shares his journey from startup to scaling, the impact of real-time data on operational efficiency, and how Livegistics is driving innovation in traditionally paper-heavy industries.