From the Lab
Blog
News, announcements, and stories from Lean Rocket Lab and the Jackson founder community.
Oct 16, 2026
How Do I Start a Food Truck in Michigan?
Thinking about starting a food truck in Michigan? Here is the whole path, from licensing and commissaries to permits and sales tax, in plain English.
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Oct 16, 2026
CRL: The Scale That Asks If Anyone Will Actually Buy It
Part of a series on the four readiness scales we use at Lean Rocket Lab. Commercial Readiness Level. Scored 1 to 9. How proven your market is. Do you have customers, pricing, and a sales motion that repeats without you in every deal? High technology readiness with low commercial readiness is a commo
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Oct 9, 2026
MRL: The Scale That Asks If You Can Actually Build a Thousand of Them
Part of a series on the four readiness scales we use at Lean Rocket Lab. Manufacturing Readiness Level. Scored 1 to 9. How ready you are to actually make and deliver your product. Have you figured out suppliers, quality, process, cost, and volume? It is the difference between building 1 and 1,000 wi
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Sep 24, 2026
TRL: The Scale NASA Built to Stop Saying "It Works in the Lab"
Part of a series on the four readiness scales we use at Lean Rocket Lab. Technology Readiness Level. Scored 1 to 9. How proven your product or technology is. Is it a concept on paper, a working prototype, or something running reliably in customers' hands? It tells us whether your next dollar belongs
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Sep 10, 2026
The Four Readiness Scales We Use, and Why
It is the most common question in business, and it is almost useless. Ask ten owners "how are things going" and you will get ten answers that cannot be compared to each other. One says "great" because they just landed a big customer, while quietly wondering how they will make payroll in March. One s
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Jul 14, 2026
The Best Side Hustles to Start in Michigan in 2026
Looking for a side hustle you can actually start in Michigan? Here are the best low-cost ideas for 2026, with an honest read on what each one takes to get going.
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May 29, 2025
MEDC Announces $8.8 Million in Grants for Organizations Supporting Under-Represented Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) announces $8.8 million in funding to support organizations serving under-represented small businesses and entrepreneurs.
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Apr 30, 2025
Japanese Startups Look to the U.S. Midwest for Expansion as JETRO Selects Industry 4.0 Accelerator to Lead Manufacturing Tech Program
The Industry 4.0 Accelerator 133 W Michigan Ave Jackson, MI 49201 www.i40accelerator.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — April 30, 2025 The Industry 4.0 Accelerator, a joint initiative of Lean Rocket Lab and the Centrepolis Accelerator at Lawrence Technological University, has been selected by the Japan Ext
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Apr 9, 2025
Ready to Launch Your Michigan LLC? Here's Your Step-by-Step Guide
So, you're ready to take the exciting step of forming a Limited Liability Company (LLC) in Michigan? You've come to the right place! This guide breaks down the entire process into easy-to-follow steps, empowering you to take action and get your business officially up and running. Let's dive in! Here
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