One of the goals of the Legal Environment of Business course at the Seidman College of Business involves introducing students to legal and regulatory challenges businesses encounter while seeking to make a profit and act as a force for good in their communities.  In pursuing this goal, students first learn about traditional topics such as contracts, torts, administrative law, secured transactions, bankruptcy, business organizations, and employment law.  Second, we challenge students with current business topics, such as stockholder v stakeholder capitalism, B-Corps, issues of sustainability, the triple-bottom-line, and the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  Finally, students explore application of these concepts by studying West Michigan businesses, such as Cascade Engineering, Brewery Vivant, Herman Miller, and not-for-profit organizations like Van Andel Institute and the Michigan Small Business Development Center. Many times, engagement with these topics culminates with students indicating that they have an interest in starting their own businesses.  

To meet this entrepreneurial interest of our students, class discussion includes exploring the important role small businesses play in the American economy.  For example, students learn that these entities represent 99.9% of businesses in the U.S. and generate 43.5% of America’s Gross Domestic Product, while employing nearly half of the American workforce. [Source: U.S. Chamber of Commerce] Students are excited by the thought of someday becoming small business owners themselves, and discussions include the role of the Michigan SBDC in helping small businesses grow and prosper. The overall goal of this article is to highlight how the Michigan SBDC can help individuals achieve their entrepreneurial dreams through the case study of Teknique Street Dance Academy.

Students learn that the Michigan SBDC provides no-cost consulting, business education, market research and technology commercialization to new and existing businesses throughout Michigan’s 83 counties. Individuals looking to start or grow a business can connect to free export services, market research, cybersecurity resources and business education through the Michigan SBDC. Entrepreneurs and small business owners may access the services of their nearest Michigan SBDC office by visiting michigansbdc.org.

Michigan SBDC services are made available through the support of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). The Michigan SBDC is a member of America’s Small Business Development Center Network, the federal government’s largest and most successful management and technical assistance program for small businesses.

Through their engagement with these resources, students come to realize that 90% of Michigan SBDC clients are entrepreneurs and small businesses with less than 10 employees, that 51% of these entities are women-owned businesses, 31% are BIPOC-owned businesses, and 12% are veteran-owned.

Grand Valley State University’s Seidman College of Business (SCB) has hosted the Michigan SBDC since 2001. According to Seidman Dean, Diana Lawson, “The Michigan SBDC continues to strengthen its impact in helping small businesses grow and prosper. Hosting the Lead Center at GVSU, as well as the West Michigan and Northwest Regions, creates a synergy between our purpose-driven organizations.”

One example of this synergy: The Michigan SBDC annually consults with over 8,000 entrepreneurs and small businesses and maintains a robust database of consulting activities and outcomes which is shared with GVSU partners.  Specifically, an independent team of university faculty, staff and students will analyze this data to conduct research and to help inform Michigan SBDC strategy and small business policy. The Michigan SBDC ensures the confidentiality of all data it collects, and all team members adhere to client confidentiality policies. In summer 2025, the fruits of this combined work between the Michigan SBDC and GVSU’s Seidman College of Business will blossom into a co-authored annual publication. The thought leadership publication entitled the “Small Business Scoreboard” will occur with the help of Seidman’s Economic Outlook Forecast. This innovative new publication will aim to educate stakeholder’s strategy/policy in order to inform Michigan’s small business ecosystem. The publication will be peer-reviewed by a committee of university faculty, and findings will be shared widely and presented to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and partner organizations.

Another example of synergy: The Lead Center and West Michigan Regional office employ seven GVSU students in intake, market research, finance, strategy and innovation, enabling them to get hands-on business experience while pursuing their education. 

To further illustrate the benefits to entrepreneurs and small businesses of the Michigan SBDC and Seidman partnership, one need look no further than Grand Rapids’ own Teknique Street Dance Academy (Teknique).

One of the leaders of the West Michigan breaking community is Janeil Foy, the owner of Teknique.  Mr. Foy is the fourth owner of this business that began over 20 years ago. Teknique prides itself as a leader in the education of the “hip-hop culture” in the West Michigan region, and Janeil is described as a “visual and performance artist.”  He is well-respected, smart, and considered a creative genius in the breaking community.  His reputation has grown beyond the West Michigan region, as he is recognized in many areas of the United States. Janeil and representatives of Teknique regularly participate in breakdancing competitions, known as “battles,” throughout the United States, and Janeil often serves as a judge at these events.  

One should note the important role of the breaking culture in our community and the world.  Few realize that hip-hop culture is the world-wide movement that led to “breaking” (also called b-boying, b-girling, or breakdancing).  Because of the popularity of this culture, breaking debuted as a two medal event, one each for men and women, with 16 “b-boys” and “b-girls” competing in the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France.

Recently, Mr. Foy reached out to the Michigan SBDC at GVSU for advice on growing his business in a more sustainable way in order to insure long-term viability.  Janeil was looking for a cost effective, outside professional opinion.  West Michigan Regional Director Ed Garner and Certified Business Consultant Jay Martinez, both Michigan SBDC business consulting experts with over 20-years experience each, met with Janeil.  Together they gathered information and provided valuable feedback for Janeil to consider along with promises to follow-up and provide needed future help. Some of the many suggestions provided included an improved business website and record-keeping system to support increased business.  Profit centers for lessons, rehearsals, live performances and publications were also discussed.  Overall, Janeil found that having an independent review of current business practices was extremely helpful in defining his target customer markets and planning for future business success. Janeil also appreciated that these services were available to him at no financial cost thanks to federal and state funding.            

Through supporting Teknique and Mr. Foy, GVSU and the Michigan SBDC foster a business entity that serves as a force for good in the West Michigan community and the world. An example of this is their recent recognition as a recipient of the 2024 Play Award by PLAYGROUNDgr. Teknique educates a broad spectrum of young community members to follow and apply the following principles:

Mission:  To cultivate, encourage, and elevate a person’s individuality by providing space and guidance that allows for the freedom of self-expression through the art form that connects people with music. 

Vision:  To instill the following core principles of hip hop culture: Peace, Love, Unity, and Fun.

At the Seidman College of Business, we seek to highlight businesses and individuals who serve as a force for good in our community and the world. We provide our students with knowledge about the environment of business and give them examples of sources to utilize as entrepreneurs and business owners within the Seidman College of Business and the Michigan SBDC. The example of Teknique and Mr. Foy serves as an inspiration to these future entrepreneurs by illustrating just how far one can go when armed with the knowledge and support provided by the many resources surrounding them during their time at GVSU and beyond as alumni.

For more information on Teknique, click here.

For an example story of student entrepreneur Clients who have worked with the Michigan SBDC click here.

For more Michigan SBDC Client success stories click here.