Jeffrey Mosher welcomes Kyle McGregor, Director of Health Innovations Grand Rapids, Michigan State University Research Foundation (MSURF), and Mike Mraz, President of Real Estate Development, Rockford Construction, Grand Rapids, MI

Hear Kyle, Mike, and Jeffrey discuss "The Bridge" and the opportunities that's providing startups in the Grand Rapids area, in the SoundCloud Podcast shared below:

In their conversation they cover:

- How did the partnership between Spartan Innovations and Rockford Construction begin?

- Why would a start-up choose to rent office space at The Bridge?

- What services can be provided for Bridge tenants?

- What kinds of businesses will The Bridge attract?

- Why is it important that healthcare and health-tech start-ups get their roots in West Michigan?

- Can the space accommodate different-sized start-ups? If so, what are the ranges in office sizes offered?

Kyle McGregor, Director of Health Innovations Grand Rapids, Michigan State University Research Foundation (MSURF)

Kyle is focused on bringing new ideas, innovative approaches, and person-centered technology into the communities that need them most. He has a passion for linking industry, academia, and healthcare to develop high-impact projects that are capable of scaling to meet unmet needs.

Mike Mraz, President of Real Estate Development, Rockford Construction

Mike oversees all aspects of the real estate development process including financing, acquisitions, leasing, project management, investor relations, and owner’s representation. He has more than 19 years of experience in the real estate industry, with many high-profile projects completed in the greater Grand Rapids area.

Below is further information shared about "The Bridge" in a release from last week.

Located at The Doug Meijer Medical Innovation Building, the new office incubator aims to drive innovation through relationships across tenants, resulting in new discoveries within the market. 

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Jan. 2023 — Spartan Innovations, a subsidiary of the Michigan State University Research Foundation, and Health Innovation Partners, a real estate development joint venture between Rockford Construction/Rockford Development, Walsh Construction/Walsh Investors and Murphy Development Group, are scheduled to open “The Bridge,” a new office incubator space, to high-tech, high-growth startups in March 2023.

The space is made possible in part by grant funds from the Grand Rapids SmartZone Local Development Finance Authority (LDFA). 

In partnership with the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and Michigan State University Grand Rapids Innovation Park, The Bridge brings a collaborative network tailor-made to promote connections among tenants. Through comprehensive startup services, grant access, and programming, the new incubator offers exceptional opportunities for entrepreneurs to create a hub for their business, provide access to the resources needed to grow, and be a part of Grand Rapids’ robust startup ecosystem. The Bridge also serves as an ideal location for enterprise companies to meet with and learn more about startups and emerging technologies, generating opportunities for entrepreneurs within the space to acquire capital investment and connections to vital distribution channels. 

“Reflecting its namesake, The Bridge is a hub for integrated talent and like-minded companies to collaborate, forge connections, apply for funding and scale their startups,” said Kyle McGregor, Director of Health Innovations at Spartan Innovations. “We couldn’t think of a better location to house these emerging businesses, as Grand Rapids continues to be a powerhouse for healthcare leaders and visionaries.” 

The Bridge spans more than 19,400 square feet and is located on the fourth floor in the Doug Meijer Medical Innovation Building (DMMIB) within the Michigan State University (MSU) Grand Rapids Innovation Park. The 205,000-square-foot DMMIB opened in late 2021 and is located at 109 Michigan St. NW next to the MSU Grand Rapids Research Center. 

“New and emerging health companies are investing in Grand Rapids for good reason,” said Mike Mraz, President of Real Estate Development at Rockford Construction. “We’re incredibly proud of our partnerships with MSU, Spartan Innovations, and the Grand Rapids SmartZone LDFA. The Bridge exemplifies our collective vision for advancing bioengineering, artificial intelligence, and healthcare innovation through medical devices and other technologies and is creating vast opportunities for healthcare breakthroughs right here on the Medical Mile.” 

Tenants making a home at The Bridge can expect a multitude of amenities, including SmartZone grant funding for qualifying startups, comprehensive startup services, and programming, Spartan Innovations’ Entrepreneur in Residence training program, and multiple options for office sizes and collaborative spaces, ranging between 250-2,400-square-feet. Additional amenities at The Bridge include office spaces furnished by Custer, ample conference rooms and phone booths, a work café, and a fully furnished rooftop deck and conference space. 

“Through the diligent work of our team and community partners, this incubator is a great addition to the entrepreneurship platform,” said Jeff Wesley, Executive Director of Spartan Innovations. “We’re confident that The Bridge will be a conduit to incredible relationships and innovation for the state. Between the networking and grant access opportunities, tenants will feel empowered to grow their businesses and, ultimately, inspire innovation in healthcare; a vision that aligns with our work at the Foundation.” 

With rental applications now open, The Bridge will host a celebratory open house in March 2023. 

Private tours of the space are offered through appointment only with Rockford Construction and Spartan Innovations. Please contact ebassi@rockfordconstruction.com and kyle@spartaninnovations.org for more information. 

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About Spartan Innovations
Spartan Innovations is the Michigan State University Research Foundation’s venture creation entity that drives entrepreneurs to develop their ideas, create business plans, and successfully launch high-tech startups. Spartan Innovations has several support services for entrepreneurs to grow their venture, including the Conquer Accelerator program, an Entrepreneur-In-Residence program, connections to MSU Researchers, programs to pursue non-dilutive funding, and access to early-stage venture capital partners. The organization has strong, collaborative agreements with the Grand Rapids Local Development Finance Authority (LDFA), and is also the administrator of the Grand Rapids Business Accelerator Fund (BAF). More information at msufoundation.org/spartaninnovations. 

About Rockford Construction
Established in 1987, Rockford Construction (Rockford) is a nationally recognized construction, real estate development, and property management provider. Rockford is licensed in 45 states and ranked by Engineering News-Record as one of the top-200 contractors in the nation. With regional offices in the Midwest and Southeast, Rockford has built projects totaling more than $5.5 billion of various size and scope in more than 800 cities across the country. More information at rockfordconstruction.com. 

About the Grand Rapids SmartZone Local Development Finance Authority (LDFA)
The SmartZone Local Development Finance Authority (LDFA) supports high-technology entrepreneurs and businesses. The SmartZone captures increased property tax dollars and reinvests that money back into the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Grand Rapids to provide incubator spaces and connections to support services to advance entrepreneurship and innovation. www.GrowGR.org. 

About Michigan State University Research Foundation
Established in 1973 as an independent non-profit, the Michigan State University Research Foundation is committed to the commercialization of cutting-edge technologies invented by MSU faculty, staff, and students. The MSU Research Foundation’s overarching goal is to support research, innovation, and entrepreneurship at the University. Additionally, the MSU Research Foundation operates Spartan Innovations, Red Cedar Ventures, Michigan Rise and incubator facilities to help drive economic development. More information on the organization’s notable achievements, services, leadership, and history are available at www.msufoundation.org.