A number of Detroit businesses won grants or interest-free loans totalling $1.2 million dollars over the weekend at Quicken Loans Demo Day.
The event was judged by three entrepreneurial stars Charles Adler, a co-founder of Kickstarter; former Detroit Lion Ron Bartell, who’s also the founder of Kuzzos Chicken & Waffles, and Anne Sempowski Ward, the CEO of CURiO brands.
There were three categories Start, Grow, and Scale, where 7 businesses took home prizes at an event at the Detroit Music Hall.
Let’s begin with the Start category winners:
Plum Health, providing Direct primary care health care services came home with $50,000.
A potted plant delivery service, Bloomscape, was awarded $75,000;
And Lush Yummies, a pie place focusing on local ingredients, got $100,000.
The Grow winners were:
Cynt-Sational Popcorn, $150,000;
Home accessory and toymaker Tait Design got $200,000;
And the hot and popular TEN Nail Bar, got $250,000.
The Scale winner was:
Michigan Farm To Freezer, the company helps connect local farmers to local markets by freezing and packaging their produce, received $300,000.
Three of the businesses received an additional $25,000 grant as winners of the “People’s choice.” Michigan Farm to Freezer, Lush Yummies and Cynt Sational Popcorn.
To talk about it, we’re joined by Dr. Paul Thomas of Plum Health Direct Primary Care. He and his business took a $50,000 award. The interview is below.