������Ƶ’s Startup Garage is a new business incubator focused on helping students start and scale their own businesses. The goal is to launch 100 Christ-centered businesses over the next 10 years.��

The initiative hosts weekly get-togethers, and, each week, students, graduates, and dreamers join the sessions. The structure is purposely unstructured. Guest speakers, including Calvin alumnus Jon VerLee (who oversees the program), offer business insights, tips and wisdom.

The first seven months of Startup Garage events have delivered weekly meetings, eight speakers, and brought together dozens of budding entrepreneurs. VerLee is energized by the diverse ideas he is seeing, noting, “[It is] the specific business ideas that often grab the most traction. We have two students partnering, for example, to launch a storage business for out-of-state and international students. Their plan is to offer storage of large items with their business over the summer. They may even extend their service to end-of-year dorm room cleaning. Another is a 5^th��year nursing student whose concept is a program to help nurses avoid burnout. There's a student creating a tech platform helping connect homeowners with people who want to do yardwork; think Uber for household tasks/yards.”

For a Startup Garage success story in the making, VerLee cites one young man who has shaped his Bible college background and deep love of music into a busy digital hub. Meet Eli Cowling and musicianhub.com.��

Eli Cowling’s Story

Cowling is a West Michigan Bible college graduate. He has been a worship leader and part of the music team at his church. His passions are guitar playing—and teaching others how to play—as a form of both worship and ministry. A job transition led Cowling to focus on growing his guitar lessons side hustle. It also reconnected him with an earlier idea he’d explored of leveraging a course he’d built for music teachers and building an online hub where students could connect with music teachers using his model.

So, what was the problem? Cowling admits, “I knew I had something, but it was overwhelming. I didn’t go to school for business. I was unsure what my goal was. I was teacher-focused and unaware that I needed more student focus.” Cowling’s idea may have remained nothing more, had he not heard about the Startup Garage through his fiancée’s father.

Cowling attended his first Startup Garage meeting and knew immediately it was a good choice. The speakers, energy and collaborative vibe delivered real-world perspectives and critical information. “It was valuable and reassuring. We got to hear from people at every point along the way in their business ideas. I could ask, “What about this might apply to my business? The mentorship was encouraging, too.” Cowling’s business just needed a plan and Startup Garage gave him the knowledge and confidence that he could make his concept a reality. He continued attending and learning until he was ready to present his thoughts to Calvin Startup Garage as a funding request. Verlee mentored Cowling on some details and approved musicianhub.com for a Startup Garage funding gift.

Cowling plans to use his launch funding for two priorities: Zoom-based marketing and to grow student enrollment (each sign-up through Zoom has a fee). He’s learned about metrics, sample sets, website analytics, and tracking his own data. He is setting benchmarks and growth targets—and meeting them.

Cowling credits Startup Garage for providing instruction and mentorship that was instrumental to his success. “I was connected to successful business owners, and they become mentors. Muscianhub.com has grown to the point where I’m often teaching on my own website when Startup Garage is meeting. But I know I can go and learn more, as well as share what I’ve learned with others who are new to Startup Garage.”

Amid an increasingly digital world, Calvin student and Startup Garage enthusiast (and member of the Startup Garage student leadership team), Myla Kar has shown that the marketplace of physical goods is still in demand, as long as it answers a customer want and offers easy access.
Kar’s mobile clothing and accessories “Myluvs Popup Shops” concept began as a digital enterprise in high school that took on a new life in response to college living.��

Myla Kar’s Story

Finishing her sophomore year at ������Ƶ School of Business, Kar is studying business and marketing. She explains that Myluvs grew from her penchant for “treasure hunting” at thrift stores during high school. She turned her favorite pastime into income, capitalizing on the popularity of teen resale websites and teen trends. Soon, she was bringing in as much money a week as friends working multiple shifts at their first jobs. By the time she got her diploma, her business was two years strong.

When Kar arrived for freshman year at ������Ƶ—she was instantly immersed into the new world of dorm life, and the fact that space suddenly came at a premium. There was no room for her own clothes, much less piles of merchandise. In typical fashion (no pun intended!), Kar made a next-level business adjustment to her high school business model, trying a new format: on-campus pop-up shops featuring the same type of fashion finds in-person to buy on the spot, right on campus.

Kar appreciates the encouragement, speakers, opportunities (she is part of Startup Garage student leadership team) and mentoring she’s received through Startup Garage.

Speaking to the Startup Garage tenet that biblically based business models matter, Kar says she applies VerLee’s conviction about redemptive entrepreneurship to Myluvs popup shops by “Bringing the goods and the good news by welcoming and friendly interactions with customers and living your values.”

Kar explains that Startup Garage inspires participants to envision the future of their businesses. “Currently we operate with a few signs and clothing racks. I’d love to have a van, where I could store and run the shop.” She also has other ideas and believes the Startup Garage is an ideal place to test them. “To anyone considering coming to Startup Garage, you will find so many great resources! It’s a free space, there is support—come in and get inspired. Really, try it!”

Interested in learning more about Startup Garage or have an idea to incubate? Contact Calvin Startup Garage to learn more.