100K Ideas expands outreach in new move to Dryden Building

FLINT, Michigan — 100K Ideas has moved from the Ferris Wheel building in downtown Flint to the Dryden Building just next door. With this move, the organization is hoping to expand its entrepreneurship initiatives to include re-opening the popular “Shops on Saginaw” as well as establishing a new initiative called “100K Ideas Startup Hub,” to provide resources.

“This move will really allow us to grow as an organization,” said Brandee Cooke-Brown, founding executive director of 100K Ideas. “We have the ability to not just expand our own programs, but really expand our collaboration with our ecosystem partners and partner organizations.”

Shops on Saginaw, previously located on the first floor of the Dryden Building last August, was designed to be a low-stakes opportunity for early-stage businesses without brick-and-mortar locations to enter the market. This consignment-style event allowed creators to sell their products and build relationships with the community. With the relocation to the Dryden building, Cooke-Brown says this staple initiative will be back even bigger and better than before.

“Shops on Saginaw was the catalyst for the move. The closing of Shops on Saginaw really impacted the community and showed just how much it added value. Bringing it back was an essential part of this next phase of 100K Ideas,” said Cooke-Brown. 

“We aimed to keep the same model and expand the opportunity,” added Cooke-Brown. However, she emphasized that it was important to not only address current market challenges but to give small businesses tools and resources through entrepreneurial ecosystem providers, financial institutions, accounting support, and legal support.

100K Ideas is a Flint-based nonprofit organization designed to help local innovators and entrepreneurs get their ideas to market. The organization works as an entrepreneurship startup hub providing resources, real-world experience, and services to aspiring entrepreneurs, creatives, and students.

Community members can look forward to accessing the 100K Ideas Startup Hub. According to Cooke-Evans, this hub is a space where entrepreneurs and small business owners can access resources and equipment to help move their businesses forward. 

“These resources include our fellow entrepreneurial ecosystem providers, financial institutions, accounting support, and legal support,” added Cooke-Evans. “We will also have access to a packaging station, conference rooms, computers, and a media center that is available for booking. This is all accessible for a monthly fee of $29.99 per month (with scholarship pricing of $14.99 per month).”

Those interested in signing up for the 100K Ideas Startup Hub are encouraged to use this link or visit the new location for an in-person tour of everything. For residents interested in becoming a Shops on Saginaw vendor, the application can be found here.