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Building Brands, Breaking Molds: A Conversation with Paige of Hoyden Branding
There's a certain kind of entrepreneur who makes everything look effortless — the kind who's quietly running a full creative agency, managing a growing team, navigating the complex math of scaling a small business, and somehow still finding time to launch a podcast on the side. Paige, Owner and CEO of Hoyden Branding, is exactly that kind of person. In Episode 6 of the Lean Rocket Lab podcast, hosts Brandon and Alex sit down with Paige for a candid, energetic, and refreshingl
Brandon Marken
Apr 304 min read


Mixing Mission with Market: How Aaron Cole Built a Culinary Community in Jackson
In the world of startups, we're often told to focus on the "bottom line" from day one. But for Aaron Cole, the founder of DoughNation Bakery and The Melted Grill, the bottom line wasn't a number--it was a neighbor. In the latest episode of the Startup Storytelling podcast, Aaron joined us to pull back the curtain on this entrepreneurial journey. It's a story that proves you don't always need a 50-page business plan to start--you just need a purpose and the willingness to get
Brandon Marken
Feb 262 min read


Momentum Builds After Fall Pitch Competition as Lean Rocket Lab and Michigan Tribe Award Additional $86,550 to 14 Small Businesses in Jackson and Lenawee Counties
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Feb. 3, 2026 JACKSON, Mich., Feb. 3, 2026 -- What started last fall as a high-energy pitch competition has evolved into a sustained investment in South Central Michigan's entrepreneurial future. Following thier successful $50,000 Pitch Competition in November, Lean Rocket Lab and Michigan Tribe have awarded an additional, $86,550 to 14 small businesses in Jackson and Lenawee counties, continuing a collaborative effort to strengthen the region's small bus
Brandon Marken
Feb 33 min read


Building Momentum: When Technical Skill Meets Entrepreneurial Grit with Shane Grant
Manufacturing is the backbone of so many economies, but few people understand the intense pressure, precision, and business acumen required to run a successful modern machine shop. It's a world where success and failure are measured in microns. In Episode 4 of the Startup Storytelling by Lean Rocket Lap podcast, we are thrilled to explore this world. Host Alex Masten is joined by a special co-host for this episode--Lean Rocket Lab's own co-founder, Ken Seneff--to interview S
Brandon Marken
Jan 262 min read
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