Author: KMF Infotech

Back

Founder Stories

Cue Your Life

CUE is more than just athletic apparel, it’s apparel with a purpose!

 

Website: cueyourlife.com

 

 

The Story 

As a physical therapist, volleyball coach and mom I am frequently educating my patients, student athletes and kids on the importance of core strength and stable posture. I often find that we will engage our core when we are mindful about it, but with life’s busy tasks, we forget about that core engagement, quickly slipping back into our flexed, forward posture. The benefits of core strength is key for proper alignment, movement, athletic performance and pain control. Hence, CUE Apparel was created to provide core awareness reminders, designed with innovative CueLines in a comfortable compression tank top.

 

About the Product

CUE Apparel is a core awareness training tool in a tank top. It is designed with comfortable compression and internal CueLines strategically placed to enhance the wearers understanding of core engagement. As you wear the shirt, the CueLines automatically evoke a core engagement reminder for improved strength, posture and control.

 

 

Milestone 

Newly designed and recently launched CUE Apparel: Apparel with a Purpose and Fashion with a Function

 

How SURGE Helped Us

Through SURGE I have been introduced to some other innovative and creative entrepreneurs in Boost Camp.

 

I have enjoyed the Lunch and Learn sessions designed to inspire, guide and enhance a newly founded company. These sessions are helpful in forming a strong network of entrepreneurs.

 

I have recently met with SURGE Business Coach, Brooke DeBoer, for a personalized, one-on-one, small business coaching. Through my work with her, we are working to form specific timelines and achieve newly formed business goals to enhance CUE Apparel.

 

 

Why SURGE Matters 

As I am new to the start-up world, it can feel a bit lonely if the business is small and still in its infancy. Having the opportunity to network with others who have been in the same situation is invaluable as a new business owner with a new concept to launch. I would encourage other founders to join SURGE for help, guidance or just to take time to make their new business a priority.

 

What’s Next 

Continued promotion of the product leads to enhancing other individuals lives through wearing CUE Apparel. For instance, a collegiate basketball player and lacrosse player are utilizing the core training tool to enhance their personal performance and work outs.

 

Another goal in the next few months is to present at 5×5 night.

 

How to Help

It is important to educate people on the benefits of core strength and improved posture. As our lives are so heavily reliant on technology, it is easy to fall into a habit where we are not using our core postural muscles. Social media engagement can help promote the product and reach a larger audience to teach the benefits that a strong core provides.

 

Back

Founder Stories

Salted Perfection LLC

 

We craft exceptional culinary salts, seasoning blends, and grilling rubs.

Website: www.saltedperfection.com

 

The Story 

Salted Perfection was born out of a passion for flavorful and creative cooking. Terri Wolters had always loved experimenting in the kitchen, blending herbs and spices to create unique seasoning blends. After making custom spice mixes as gifts for friends and family for years, in 2021, Terri’s husband David convinced her to turn her hobby into a business.

 

About the Product

To help you transform ordinary meals into extraordinary culinary delights with our gourmet seasonings. Simple, easy, and unexpectedly delicious. We help you Make Every Dish Memorable®

 

Milestone 

We launched Select Blends, a line of grilling rubs in June. Two of them won Grand Champion awards at grilling cookoffs in Kansas and Iowa. A new flavor Select Blend (Northport) is being used in the World Steak Cookoff competition in Fort Worth, Texas next month and David is attending that as the team we sponsor competes.

 

We also recently became listed on Specialty Food Partners website so our products are available nationwide for grocers to order wholesale.

 

We recently had three registered trademarks awarded by the USPTO.

 

 

 

How SURGE Helped Us

SURGE helped a ton in the very early stages with mentorship and inspiring Terri to move forward with the idea and start selling at the Farmer’s Market. This includes attending SURGE Boostcamp, monthly Founder Roundtables, workshops, AI talks, Happy Hours and Startup Showcases. The SURGE community is amazing and supportive. The group feedback has helped me make difficult decisions like paring back on other ventures, etc.

 

Why SURGE Matters 

I’ve encouraged some budding entrepreneurs to join SURGE. It’s an awesome, supportive community of like-minded people that will get founders started on the right path. Founders have a habit of having an idea, making it, then trying to sell it. SURGE can protect us from ourselves and get us to have an idea, sell the idea to customers and demonstrate the need, then figure out how to make it. We love everyone we’ve met through SURGE and the support and brain trust is simply amazing.

 

What’s Next

We need to figure the next step out. We need to increase sales and increase production, but we need the sales to justify the investment that increasing production would require due to minimum orders, etc. And then there’s warehousing. We can’t store 4000 jars of spices in our garage, the chipmunks would have a field day. We are at a challenging point where we have plenty of traction but don’t have the resources to scale.

 

Advice to Others

Sponsoring competitors exposes our products to potential customers and provides social proof that our stuff is kick-ass. Hopefully they go to their favorite retailer and request them to stock our products and the retailer can order it on SFP.

Back

Press Releases

West Michigan Poised for Growth in Advanced Energy Storage Sector

New report details West Michigan’s role and opportunities in energy storage technology development and production

 

ZEELAND, Mich. | March 14, 2024 – A new report projects ‘high’ potential for business growth in West Michigan for advanced energy storage (AES) and material manufacturing production. The West Michigan Advanced Energy Storage Ecosystem Report was compiled as a collaborative effort by Lakeshore Advantage, The Right Place and Greater Muskegon Economic Development to illustrate the region’s current industry assets and highlight its growth potential.

 

The report categorizes the AES supply chain into six distinct phases and illustrates that West Michigan is active in each. The supply chain starts with raw material sourcing and ends with material recycling. In between are the refining/processing, cell assembly, pack assembly, and end-use stages. The ‘high’ business growth potential for West Michigan identified in the report is in the cell and pack assembly stages, citing logistical advantages for locating cell, pack, and end-use assemblies in proximity.

 

West Michigan Map
West Michigan Map

 

Governor Whitmer recently announced LT Precision Michigan, LLC, a battery cooling plate supplier to electric vehicle manufacturers and subsidiary of Korea-based LT Precision Co., LTD will establish its North American headquarters in Holland.

 

“Michigan is a pivotal location for the automotive industry within the U.S.,” remarked LT Precision Michigan president, Wonseok Yang. “As one of LG’s partners and a provider for many different companies, we want to ensure that we provide stable supply and satisfaction to our clients by choosing Holland.”

 

AES end-use products include EV batteries, grid and stationary energy storage, and national defense applications. The report maps the current AES landscape in West Michigan with nearly two dozen businesses providing solutions for varied energy storage applications or products and services across the supply chain.

 

National Map
National Map

 

“We have already begun to see the benefits of having this report at our fingertips,” said Amanda Murray, vice president of business solutions for Lakeshore Advantage. “We met recently with a West Michigan chemical producer that was looking at entering the AES market and was considering locations outside the region. When we shared the report, they saw the possibilities here. It’s a tool we can use to show our businesses that West Michigan is a smart investment.”

 

Anchors and innovators in West Michigan’s AES industry cluster include:

 

  • LG Energy Solution Michigan, Inc. – manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries to power EVs and other applications
  • Gotion Inc. – lithium-ion battery component manufacturing for mobility, appliances, equipment and industrial applications
  • Volta Power Systems – lithium-ion energy storage solutions for RV and specialty vehicle applications
  • Natron Energy – novel sodium-ion technology battery manufacturer for uninterruptable power supply, data centers, and other industrial applications
  • Jolt Energy – research and development of all-organic redox flow, grid-scale energy storage solutions
  • ATC Drivetrain – battery remanufacture, repair, repurpose and recycling

 

Additionally, the report details robust offerings by higher education institutions in West Michigan devoted to workforce development within this sector. Three of the state’s universities and two of the region’s community colleges have devoted programs for training and research in energy storage and related technologies in West Michigan.

 

“Renewable energy is a rapidly growing and evolving field,” said Ferris State University President, Bill Pink. “Ferris State is committed to partnering with industries across this sector to build a highly skilled workforce ready to meet industry demands in West Michigan and beyond, now and long into the future. Partnering like this is in the Ferris State DNA. We are known for such partnerships in preparing the best graduates for the state of Michigan in sectors such as this!”

 

The West Michigan Advanced Energy Storage Ecosystem Report was sponsored by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation in collaboration with Lakeshore Advantage, The Right Place, Greater Muskegon Economic Development, Barry County Chamber and Economic Development Alliance, and the Middle Michigan Development Corporation. The report was produced by DISHER.

Back

Announcements

West Michigan Lakeshore region advanced energy storage sector grows with Korea-Based LT Precision

LT Precision Michigan, LLC will establish its North American headquarters in Holland, bringing 70 new jobs

 

March 6, 2024

 

Governor Whitmer announced today that LT Precision Michigan, LLC is creating 70 new jobs and investing $43.2 million to establish its North American headquarters in Holland. The company will initiate new manufacturing operations at the Holland location, further bringing supply chains home to Michigan.

 

“LT Precision’s new North American headquarters in Holland will create 70 good-paying jobs and keep bringing the advanced manufacturing supply chain home to Michigan,” said Governor Whitmer. “This investment will build on our strength as the destination for growing companies in the battery and future mobility sectors. Let’s continue going everywhere and working with anyone to win projects and create high-skill, family-sustaining jobs across Michigan.”

 

LT Precision Michigan, LLC, a subsidiary of the Korea-based LT Precision Co., LTD, is renowned for supplying battery cooling plates to electric vehicle manufacturers in the United States. The company excels in producing components and machinery for both electric and conventional vehicle markets. It boasts expertise in designing, developing, and manufacturing machinery parts, molds, welding and assembly machinery, and fixtures for Tier 1 and Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) automotive companies.

 

The company’s strategic location in Holland will serve as a central hub for its manufacturing and corporate offices. The project is expected to generate a total investment of $43.2 million and will create 70 new jobs in the production of cooling plates for EVs.

 

“The Lakeshore region’s advanced energy storage cluster continues to grow and thrive,” said Jennifer Owens, president of Lakeshore Advantage. “LT Precision’s decision to invest in West Michigan’s lakeshore region is a well-earned vote of confidence in our capabilities, talent pool, and business environment. Having LT Precision join our ecosystem will not only create good jobs and investment, but also enhance our cluster’s innovation, productivity, and competitiveness. We look forward to welcoming LT Precision to the community.”

 

The city of Holland has offered a property tax abatement in support of the project.

 

“The City of Holland is excited to welcome LT Precision’s first U.S. manufacturing plant,” said Mark Meyers, director of community and neighborhood services with the City of Holland. “The new facility is a great example of the economic spin-off created from existing manufacturers making business-to-business transactions. The capital investment, and more importantly job creation, is significant.”

 

Read the full press release on LT Precision’s new headquarters in Holland. Those interested in career opportunities at LT Precision can contact the company’s representative, Mr. Kim Sung Jin, at dkss402@ltpr.co.kr.

Skip to content