Lean Startup Collective
Everything early-stage founders and small business owners need to validate an idea, launch with confidence, and build a business that lasts. Access proven lean tools, hands-on programs, mentors, and a community of fellow founders in Michigan.
- Startups
- Small Business
- Idea Stage
- Pre-Revenue
- Founders
Where Big Ideas Become Real Businesses
The Lean Startup Collective brings together early-stage founders, aspiring entrepreneurs, and small business owners who are ready to turn an idea into something real. Built around the lean tools and strategies that take the guesswork out of getting started, this collective helps you test fast, learn from real customers, and grow on a foundation that holds.
Inside this collective you'll find everything you need to launch, grow, and thrive:
- Experienced founders, operators, and business coaches
- The core lean toolkit, including the Business Model Canvas and customer discovery
- Operating frameworks like the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) and the VTO
- Workshops on validation, business planning, and traction
- Peer discussions with other early-stage founders
- Connections to funding and the full Lean Rocket Lab ecosystem
At a Glance
- Who it's for
- Early-stage founders, aspiring entrepreneurs, small business owners
- Focus areas
- Idea validation, customer discovery, business modeling, business planning, operating systems, traction
- Outcomes
- Validated ideas, launched businesses, repeatable systems, early traction
- Region
- Michigan & Midwest
Champion
Leland Falde
Expert in Residence
Providing early stage entrepreneurs with the tools, resources, and access they need to achieve milestones and launch real businesses.
Early-stage readiness & milestone roadmaps
Before building code or hardware, our intake AI evaluates where your concept sits across all four readiness scales. We establish your 30-, 60-, and 90-day validation milestones.
Technology Readiness
From basic scientific research to proven commercial demonstration. Validates software, firmware, and tech architecture.
Manufacturing Readiness
Based on DoD frameworks. Proves repeatability, tooling, unit economics, supply chain, and full-rate production.
Commercial Readiness
Customer discovery, willingness to pay, pricing model validation, repeatable sales engines, and gross margin optimization.
Mainstreet Readiness
Nine levels for local, Main Street, and service businesses, scored on Demand, Model, and Operations. Your level is set by the weakest of the three — no averaging.
The 4-step Milestone Acceleration Loop
Our continuous growth cadence — reviewed and rescored quarterly.
AI Intake & Scoring
Complete our intake form. Our AI-assisted intake engine scores your business against TRL, MRL, CRL, or MSRL scales.
Intake Meeting & Map
Meet one-on-one with our leadership. We deep-dive into your numbers and define 3–5 pivotal, achievable milestones.
Ecosystem Connection
Get plugged into the exact programs, EIR mentors, grants, and collectives tailored to hit your milestone goals.
Quarterly Rescoring
Accomplish your milestones, return each quarter to re-score your readiness levels, and unlock the next tier of growth capital.
Lean Startup Collective team & experts
The coaches, experts in residence, and team members guiding Lean Startup Collective.
Emmett Barrett is the founder of Barrett Solutions, an Ann Arbor-based custom software and AI automation firm. After studying computer science at Michigan State and working in product roles at Nutshell CRM and TechSmith, he started Barrett Solutions nights and weekends before going full-time in late 2024. Emmett specializes in helping growing companies figure out the right way to adopt AI and automation, not chasing every new tool, but sequencing implementation to match where an organization actually is. He's spoken on practical AI implementation for Michigan Works! Southeast, Ann Arbor SPARK, and Bamboo Ann Arbor, and has advised founders and legacy businesses alike on when to build, when to buy, and when custom software is the wrong answer entirely.
Brandon Bartel is a sales and revenue-growth professional currently at SWYFT Solutions, where the focus is on guiding innovative startups and growing manufacturing teams. He specializes in sales coaching and strategy, a client testimonial credits him with helping develop a sales playbook that nearly doubled the business year-over-year. He's also active in the Jackson, Michigan community, having served on the Drive Jackson Key Leadership Committee, which fits with the local focus of your funders project.
Leland is one of our EIR's at Lean Rocket Lab. Leland has a diverse skill set spanning business analytics, software development, manufacturing, and technology. With a wealth of knowledge and experience in these pivotal areas, Leland is a valuable asset to the Lean Rocket Lab community, providing invaluable insights and guidance to fellow members and entrepreneurs.
Tom McFadden is an experienced business financial professional with over 40 years of experience. Most recently, he worked for 14 years in small business finance for the U.S. Small Business Administration. Previously, Tom was a Finance and Strategy Specialist with the Michigan Small Business Development Center, where he worked as a consultant for small manufacturers throughout Michigan, helping them obtain working capital and other financing. Tom is a seasoned commercial lender with decades of experience, having worked for NBD Bank, Republic Bank and a de novo bank in Ann Arbor, MI. He also worked for many years for GE in corporate finance. Tom holds an MBA degree from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business with double majors in Marketing and Finance and a BA degree from the University of Notre Dame where he double majored in Economics and Government.
I am a co-founder of Fidelis Engineering Associates, where I serve as Director of Engineering and help guide the firm's technical and business direction. I'm focused on delivering creative, cost-effective solutions to demanding technical problems, combining analytical rigor with a practical, client-focused approach.
Zach Kraabel is Director of Operations at Lean Rocket Lab in Jackson, Michigan. He specializes in go-to-market strategy for manufacturing startups, technology vetting and market research, and connecting Michigan manufacturers with contract-manufacturing partners. He has helped vet 400+ startups and build partnerships with small manufacturers and Fortune 500 OEMs.
Upcoming Lean Startup Collective events
Workshops, bootcamps, and gatherings tied to Lean Startup Collective.
Coffee + Connect
Coffee + Connect is a bi-monthly connection event. Every First Friday and Third Thursday of the month.
133 W Michigan Ave, Jackson, MI 49201
Register
AMTC Consortium Launch Event
Lean Rocket Lab, JAMA, and The Shop Rate Foundation launch the AMTC Consortium, bringing apprenticeships, youth STEM, and startup support together.
Advanced Manufacturing Training Center, 3517 Scheele Drive, Jackson, MI 49202
RegisterLean Startup Collective resources
Curated software, services, and support available to Lean Startup Collective participants.
Hillsdale county business support
Free business consulting/workshops
Association for Michigan retailers
Meet our members
Businesses growing with the Lean Startup Collective.