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 your hands messy....

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 business ecosystrem...

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 Shane Grant, the...