Center for Regional Food Systems

On May 6, 2025, over 100 attendees gathered at the Lansing Center for the 4th annual Michigan Good Food Fund Pitch Competition to watch three Michigan packaged food entrepreneurs present their business. Selected finalists were guaranteed to receive cash awards up to $5,000. Every year, this event offers an opportunity for food businesses to build their skills, gain financial assistance, and make connections. This event was powered by the Lake Trust Credit Union, Fair Food Network, Michigan Good Food Fund, MSU Product Center, and MSU Center for Regional Food Systems, and kicks off the annual  Making It In Michigan Conference and Tradeshow. 

“It was nerve-wracking, but worth it,” Bola Okpue, owner of Wani Cakes, said. She received the $5,000 cash prize to scale up her packaged snack cake business. “I feel like every time I pitch it makes me better at it. It not only prepares you to be able to get funding, it prepares you to be better in your business. Like now I can get in an elevator and be able to pitch my pitch to someone next to me.”  

Each of the awardees are eager to use the prizes to grow their businesses. Okpue intends to expand her products, which come in flavors like Apple Crisp and Berry Summer, into more supermarkets. Through partnership with Central Michigan University, she connected with semi-automated fillers that will allow her to expand from 1,000 to 10,000 products a month. Cindy Hines of Paw Paw’s Pickles received $3,000 to expand her pickles and chacha business to additional retail stores, as well as match Michigan’s growing season for production. Currently operating out of the Flint Farmers Market, Mariant Pena of I Love Pig plans to use her $2,000 award to work towards streamline production of her signature condiment, Mom’s sauce.

These pitches were judged by a panel of experts who also reviewed more than 30 applications from packaged food business owners. This year’s judges were: Terri Barker, Economic & Community Development Analyst with Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development; Theresa Dubiel, Chief Experience Officer at Lake Trust Credit Union; Jorge Gonzalez, Co-Director at Start Garden; John P. Kepplinger, Global Food Innovation, Technology Development, and R&D Executive ; and Adrian Montague, Founder and Executive Director of Doxa Development. Many of these judges have participated multiple times across the history of this event to support the goal of providing space for food businesses to develop.

“We are champions of the continued success of small business owners at Lake Trust, we work hard to lift one another up, to empower wellbeing and to look for ways to multiply impact with our partners,” Dubiel said. “What's great about working with small businesses is that you look and you can see their hard work, inspiration, and drive, and you know that you can partner with them and bring in more resources. Because it takes a village, and so, to be part of that village, I think, is inspiring, but you can also see the progress.”

In addition to considering the pitches, the panel of experts asked the finalists thought-provoking questions and offered constructive feedback. Topics ranged from honing in on the consumer audience for the product, exploring local sources for ingredients, and encouraging them to practice their pitch further. 

“For the food people, they need help with formulation, shelf life, sourcing ingredients, so they have a very unique niche of needs,” Kepplinger said. He encourages food business owners to get as much input from family, friends, and other consumers as possible before launching a new product. Additionally, he emphasizes the importance of a stable source of ingredients to support production. 

To be successful, food and farm businesses often require a mix of assistance and funding to get started. This is why the Michigan Good Food Fund Pitch event is a perfect complement to the Making it in Michigan Conference. This annual food trade show and networking conference hosted by the Michigan State University Product Center creates an opportunity for new businesses to meet with Michigan buyers. The conference is made possible by a partnership with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. 

“The Michigan Good Food Fund invests in food and farm entrepreneurs that work from dirt to kitchen table through offering flexible financing and tailored business assistance that supports vibrant, equitable communities,” Aaron Jackson, Director of the Michigan Good Food Fund, said. As the impact investing program of the Fair Food Network, the Michigan Good Food Fund works toward growing a more resilient and supportive food system. Jackson and Jamie Rahrig, Director of Food and Farm Business Support and Development of MSU Center for Regional Food Systems, cohosted the pitch event. 

Michigan businesses can find a variety of resources through the pitch event and Conference, including connecting with the many attending local and regional organizations that cater to the specific needs of food businesses. Jazmin Bolan-Williamson, Farm and Food Business Coordinator of MSU Center for Regional Food Systems, supported the pitch event and provides individualized assistance to food businesses to help prepare them for financing opportunities. She works directly with entrepreneurs to prepare business plans and connect them with support organizations, such as the Michigan Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) and the Michigan Good Food Fund. In addition to public and private support, Michigan businesses will be able to access upcoming opportunities from the Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center. 

“It always amazes me the dedication and drive the entrepreneurs have for their products, and it is great to see how they showcase their business story and product,” Bolan-Williamson said. “This pitch event is often the first time the businesses are doing it, so to offer a space that they can practice giving them in the future, with a guarantee of wining funding, is always the highlight of the pitch for me.”

As the winner of the $5,000 cash prize at the pitch event, Okpue encourages other aspiring food and farm business owners to explore available support from their local organizations or the community.   

“Seek out resources. You won't find them unless you inquire about it,” Okpue said. “So connect with other organizations. Reach out to MSU Product Center. Reach out to Michigan Good Food Fund, whatever resources you have in your community. Be it Detroit, be it Flint, whatever city locally. Connect with other small businesses that are planning to scale, or that have been in a similar position as you are currently, and ask them how they did it!” 

About Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems 

The Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems advances regionally-rooted food systems through applied research, education, and outreach. We do this by uniting the knowledge and experience of diverse stakeholders with that of MSU faculty and staff. Our work fosters a thriving economy, equity, and sustainability for Michigan, the nation, and the planet by advancing systems that produce food that is healthy, green, fair, and affordable. 

Learn more at foodsystems.msu.edu 

About Michigan Good Food Fund

Michigan Good Food Fund invests in food and farm entrepreneurs across the state, offering flexible financing and tailored business assistance to grow a more resilient, inclusive local food system. We meet entrepreneurs where they are, connect them with what they need, and build long-term relationships that help their businesses thrive. As we work toward a more resilient, inclusive food industry, we focus on entrepreneurs whose access to power and capital has been historically limited because of their race, ethnicity, and/or gender. Our efforts are guided by the shared vision of our Stakeholder Board, a diverse group of entrepreneurs, farmers, funders, and policymakers with deep roots in Michigan. 
 
Learn more at MiGoodFoodFund.org