Kalamazoo Forward Ventures

It's happening. TONIGHT. Join us for a last-minute opportunity to connect, collaborate, and build. Bridging The Spaces is a networking happy hour happening tonight for entrepreneurs, change-makers, and community supporters. The event is FREE and the doors open at 4:00 PM. This is your chance to meet leaders in philanthropy, entrepreneurship, and innovation right here in Kalamazoo. We’ll have music thanks to Dabney + Co. and your first drink is on us! See you there. Details: Date: October 15, 2025 Time: 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM Location: 344 N Rose St #Kalamazoo #Networking #Entrepreneurship #CommunityBuilding #Collaboration #Innovation #VentureCapital

Honoring Our History. Creating Our Future. At KzFV, we believe in investing in spaces that tell a story, and now, we're adding a new chapter. We're incredibly proud to announce the acquisition of 302-308 W. Michigan Ave; a historic property that has been a cornerstone of Kalamazoo since 1850. This building has seen it all: from a shoe store in the 1800s to a grocer, a piano shop, a cigar distributor, and most recently, the home of the legendary Michigan News, a true sanctuary and beacon in our city. Thanks to the vision of longtime owner Dean Hauck and the resilience of this incredible building, KzFV now owns two of four Black-owned properties in downtown Kalamazoo. This is more than a transaction; it's a commitment to economic empowerment and preserving the rich tapestry of our community. We are honored to carry this history forward. What future will we build together? Explore the rich history of this location: https://lnkd.in/eUcePM7J #Kalamazoo #HistoricPreservation #BlackOwnedBusiness #CommunityDevelopment #RealEstate #MidwestInnovation #InvestInTheZoo

One year down. Like the startups we fund, we’ve spent our first year in full-on build mode. We’ve been laying the groundwork, building our team, and constructing the systems that will support our mission for years to come. This year, we hired our first staff members, built our application pipeline from the ground up, and began cultivating countless relationships; the seeds (many of which) that won’t come to fruition for a long time. We are constantly evaluating, reimagining, and refining our work. We're proud of the foundation we’ve built, and we know this is just the beginning. The party is just getting started! For now, thank you for all the ways you've supported us; be that spreading the word, liking a post, trusting us enough to apply for funding, signing up for our newsletter, or attending an event. It all makes a difference and it is truly appreciated. #Kalamazoo #VC #Startups #Entrepreneurship #Michigan #BuildingFromScratch #MidwestInnovation #BlackInvestors

Mark your calendars. We're building bridges. Join us for Bridging The Spaces: A Community & Collaboration Happy Hour; a networking event designed for entrepreneurs, changemakers, and community supporters. This is a unique opportunity to connect with some of the most dynamic leaders in philanthropy, innovation, and business. We're also honored to host this as the Unofficial After Party for attendees of the Council of Michigan Foundations conference, where our own Daniel Jefferies and BTS Co-Founder Johnnie Turnage will be speaking. Whether you're looking for your next partnership or to expand your professional network, this is a can't-miss event. Event Details: Date: October 15, 2025 Time: 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM Location: 344 N Rose St We're proud to present this with promotional support from our friends at Black Tech Saturdays (BTS). We'll have live music from Dabney + Co. and your first drink is on us, courtesy of KzFV. See you there. #Kalamazoo #Networking #Entrepreneurship #CommunityBuilding #Innovation #Collaboration #VentureCapital #MainStreet #RealEstate

Congrats to Community Homeworks on a fantastic luncheon! And our very own Jamauri Bogan for winning Advocate of the year! 💪🏽🙏🏽🙌🏽

What would you love to see in Downtown Kalamazoo? We’re not just acquiring properties; we are making history! As far as we know, Downtown Kalamazoo has never had more than three Black-owned properties at any one time. Today, we’re humbled to share that KzFV now owns two. 🏢 131 W Kalamazoo is the latest addition to our real estate portfolio. This commercial space has lived many lives: restaurant, retail store, manufacturing site, even an auto repair shop. Now, it becomes something more; a symbol. A commitment to reimagine what’s possible. A space for potential to take root. We don’t know exactly what it will become, but we know the energy is right; and the future is bold. 📸 Check out the photos and infographic below. 👇 And tell us; what would you love to see come alive here? #KalamazooForward #DowntownKalamazoo #BlackOwnedRealEstate #InclusiveDevelopment #CommunityCapital #MichiganRealEstate #UrbanReinvestment #MidwestMomentum #PlaceBasedInvesting #FounderFocused #RealEstateImpact #BuildTheFuture #KzFV

Congrats to all the winners!

What. An. Incredible. Summit.

That’s a wrap on our first Reach Forward Conversation Series! This isn't your average networking event. We're creating a space for purpose-driven connections, where ambition meets opportunity and million-dollar deals are made right here in Kalamazoo. Here’s a look at what the series is all about: - A Strategic Focus: Each event is centered around a specific, high-growth industry, from construction to food service. We're doing three of these a year, building a powerful pipeline for our community. - Hand-Selected Entrepreneurs: We bring together 10 of our area's most scalable and dynamic businesses, connecting them with key players in their industry. - Powerful Partnerships: We invite leaders from multi-billion dollar corporations looking to diversify their supply chains and discover new investment opportunities. This is how our entrepreneurs get the tools they need to scale. - Community First: We celebrate with incredible local food and dope creative talent, proving you can plant roots in Kalamazoo and scale right from here. We believe in building bridges, not just businesses. A huge thank you to our collaborators Southwest Michigan First, ROOM 35, and El Concilio for helping make this event happen. And love to the venue, The Black Arts and Cultural Center of Kalamazoo. 📸 Photo Credit: Chance Brown #ReachForward #Kalamazoo #KzFV #MidwestInnovation #MainStreet #Entrepreneurship #Networking #CommunityBuilding #VentureCapital #RealEstate

We’re proud to announce that Marcel Price, our Director of Community & Strategic Engagement at Kalamazoo Forward Ventures, will be serving as a judge at this year’s Black Tech Saturdays 2025 Digital Empowerment Summit! 📍 Join us THIS Friday and Saturday (September 26-27) at The Tubman Center (480 W Baltimore St, Detroit, MI) for two days of innovation, connection, and celebration of vibrant brilliance in tech. Marcel is no stranger to bold moves. As a former philanthropic founder, he helped take a grassroots organization from articles of incorporation to becoming a multi-million dollar nonprofit; raising millions through public/private partnerships and state appropriations along the way. We also want to give a major shout-out to Black Tech Saturdays for the game-changing grant just awarded by the Knight Foundation! A win for them is a win for all of us. Because showing WE can is one of the many reasons WE exist. Let’s build. Let’s empower. Let’s celebrate the future of entrepreneurship in Michigan.