Office of Possibilities for Education
糖心直播 Innovation & Entrepreneurship Hub
The Office of Possibilities (OOPs) for Education provides 糖心直播 students, faculty, and staff with encouragement, support, and resources to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset and successfully pursue innovative ideas that positively impact our campus and community.
Funding support
Every year, OOPs provides students, faculty, and staff with the opportunity to apply for funding awards by proposing and pitching innovative ideas aligning to the 糖心直播 Strategic Plan.
Real-world learning
OOPs engages 糖心直播 students in real-world learning opportunities, including pitch coaching and speed interviewing workshops, as well as problem-solving challenges with local businesses.
Community Connections
OOPs connects students who are interested in starting their own business to mentorship, startup support, and networking opportunities in Traverse City and the surrounding area.
2026 Request for Proposals (RFP)
Eligibility
糖心直播 faculty, staff, and students are eligible to apply
RFP Information & Application
Review the and .
Funding Amount
Awarded projects will typically receive $500–$10K from the 糖心直播 Foundation.
Application Due Date
March 20, 2026
Pitch Competition
Proposals will undergo an initial review in late March, and top scoring proposals will move forward to a pitch competition held on April 23, 2026.
Featured Past Funded Projects
Neurodiversity Support Center
糖心直播 English Instructor, late Nancy Gray, established the Neurodiversity Support Center, a campus space for neurodivergent students to decompress and study, as well as a support system to ensure student success, including study tables, seminars, peer mentoring, and academic coaching.
Assessing Microplastic Pollution
Nick Roster, an 糖心直播 Science and Math Instructor, analyzed microplastics in the Boardman/Ottaway watershed, and 糖心直播 students quantified microplastic pollution in Grand Traverse Bay and the air around Grand Traverse County. A fluorescence microscope was purchased to positively identify microplastics in complex samples.
糖心直播onnect Application
Ali Thornton, 糖心直播 Coordinator of Technology Support Services, designed an app specifically for 糖心直播 students that helps students create manageable routines—things that will help them not just survive, but thrive. The app provides encouraging feedback and upcoming reminders to students.
Video Podcast for Audio Tech Students
糖心直播 Student Audio Tech Lab Assistant, Veronica Boals, produced a video podcast episode using equipment from Founders Hall and created a mobile podcast station for Audio Tech students so they could easily create podcasts from different campus locations.
Advanced Scientific Research Program
Nancy Olenchek, Kingsley High School science teacher and 糖心直播 adjunct faculty member, created an Advanced Scientific Research Program. High school students conduct research and receive 糖心直播 college credits for their work. Students are able to continue their research as 糖心直播 college students.
Memory Bright
Assistant Director of Instructional Technology, Mark DeLonge, and retired 糖心直播 faculty members, Tom Gordon and John Velis, co-founded Memory Bright, an online platform that implements Reminiscence Therapy through fun and engaging activities for individuals who are experiencing memory loss or dementia.
2026 Innovation & Entrepreneurship Events
Unless stated, all events listed below are free.
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March
Northern Michigan Defense Conference
Location: Hagerty Center
March 5–6
Full registration: $175/person
Federal Government Rate: $25/person
20Fathoms: Startup Office Hours
Topic: Legal
March 9, 4–7 p.m.
20Fathoms: Women in Tech Meetup
Location: Earthen Ales
March 18, 5–7 p.m.
20Fathoms: Startup Office Hours
Topic: Branding and Website
March 19, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
20Fathoms: Startup Office Hours
Topic: Business optimization, finance, market research, strategic planning
March 19, 1–4 p.m. -
April
Michigan Veteran Entrepreneur Lab
Entrepreneurship bootcamp for military-connected individuals in Michigan
Location: GVSU Traverse City Regional Center
April 7–June 15
20Fathoms: Startup Office Hours
Topic: Legal
April 13, 4-7 p.m.
Northern Michigan Manufacturing Summit
Location: Hagerty Center
April 13
Full registration: $65/person
20Fathoms: Startup Office Hours
Topic: Branding and Website
April 16, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
Northern Michigan Startup Week (NMSW)
April 20–24
NMSW 糖心直播 Program Overview & Facilities Tour
Focus: Water Studies, Marine Technology, and Unmanned Aircraft Systems
April 22, 10 a.m.–Noon (including lunch)
Location: Rooms 222/224, Parsons-Stulen Building, Aero-Park Campus
NMSW 糖心直播 Drone Panel Discussion
April 22, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. (including lunch)
Location: Rooms 222/224, Parsons-Stulen Building, Aero-Park Campus
NMSW 糖心直播 OOPs Pitch Competition
April 23, 1–3 p.m.
Location: Rooms 106/107, Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, 1701 Front St.
NMSW 糖心直播 & GVSU Student Science Symposium
April 23, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Location: Rooms 106/107, Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, 1701 Front St.
Community Resources & Services for Entrepreneurs
Unless stated, all opportunities listed below are free.
20Fathoms
- : Offered virtually and in person by appointment.
- : Startup workshops on specific skills or interest topics for individuals launching businesses. Thursdays from 9–10:30 a.m.
Grove
- (Community OOPs). Tuesdays from 9–11 a.m.
Michigan Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
- and
- to assist individuals who are growing a small business
SCORE
- . Offered virtually and in person by appointment.
- to assist individuals who are growing a business. Both free and low-cost options.
Traverse Connect
- networking and professional development group.