Sales & Marketing Accelerator
The Sales and Marketing Accelerator is a free, grant-funded program that helps Michigan small businesses gain clarity with proven sales and marketing systems, to build a scalable business in as little as 8 weeks.
3
Cohorts Completed
32
Companies Served
$65K
Grants Given
12+
Events Per Year
You're working hard, but your growth is unpredictable
System Failure
"I can't grow because I don't have the marketing or operational systems to close deals reliably."
The Growth Plateau
"I feel stuck and tired of guessing what to do next with random YouTube tactics and free advisors."
The Right to Revenue
Every small business deserves a clear, structured path to revenue, not a maze of disconnected resources.
You aren't the only one
We see founders every week who have the drive but lack the roadmap. We've built a proven program backed by the State of Michigan to give you the implementation-focused support you actually need to build predictable revenue engines.
How to engage with the Sales & Marketing Accelerator
Who is the Accelerator for?
We focus on helping Michigan based growth-minded founders. We don't focus on a single specific industry. Our mission is to help any Michigan small business or startup develop the tools, strategy, and network to grow their sales and marketing engine.
What do I get?
Through the Sales and Marketing Accelerator program you get access to education, coaching, mentorship, community, events, exposure, resources, and funding opportunities. These are delivered in multiple ways including cohort based bootcamp programs, community groups called collectives, monthly workshops, and 1-1 coaching.
How do I apply?
Click the Apply button anywhere on this page. Our application for the cohort based bootcamp opens seasonally, but we would love to meet with you anytime to understand how Lean Rocket Lab can support you via coaching, events, resources, and exposure. Fill out our intake form to get connected.
Ready to grow your startup or small business through sales and marketing?
If you are ready to start your journey towards better sales and marketing tools, strategies, and revenue growth, apply today. If you aren't sure where to start, our team can guide you in the right direction across all readiness stages.
Apply & Get Scored
Fill out the intake form to officially kick off your journey.
Create a Plan
Meet with our team to learn about the programs, resources, and coaching best suited for you.
Engage
Participate in relevant workshops, events, cohorts, and peer collective groups.
Grow
Utilize the learnings, resources, and programs at Lean Rocket Lab to take your business to the next level.
Sales & marketing services & capabilities
Branding & Content
- Company Branding & Identity
- Website Creation & Optimization
- Video Production & Storytelling
- Crafting Differentiated Offers
- StoryBrand Messaging Frameworks
Digital Marketing
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)
- Social Media Management & Ads
- Public Relations & Press Releases
- Ad Management & Lead Capture
Technology & Sales
- Marketing Technology Integrations
- CRM Setup & Automated Pipelines
- Outbound Marketing & Sales Sequences
- Consultative Sales Training
- AI Implementations & Software Dev
Sales & Marketing cohort program
Our accelerator cohort is a free, grant-funded eight-week virtual program for Michigan-based companies building software, physical products, or embedded solutions. We select 8 to 10 companies per cohort for intense, milestone-driven execution.
Lecture Based Learning
Weekly sessions covering StoryBrand messaging, crafting offers, landing pages, CRM automation, and outbound outreach.
Coaching and Networking
Weekly office hours with experts and a permanent private community channel for cohort founders to stay connected.
Opportunities for Grants & Exposure
Program culminates in a live pitch event where active participants compete for milestone grant funding to execute their marketing plan.
Commercial & Mainstreet readiness
We assess your customer acquisition maturity on the Commercial Readiness Level (CRL) scale — and, for brick-and-mortar and service businesses, the Mainstreet Readiness Level (MSRL) scale. From defining your ideal client profile to scaling repeatable, profitable acquisition channels, we align your milestones every quarter.
Commercial Readiness
Customer discovery, willingness to pay, pricing model validation, repeatable sales engines, and gross margin optimization.
Mainstreet Readiness
D · Demand
Do enough of the right people want this, at this price, again?
M · Model
Does the money work per sale, per month, and across a full year?
Operations is scored too — your level is set by the weakest dimension.
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.
Sales & Marketing Accelerator team & experts
The coaches, experts in residence, and team members guiding Sales & Marketing Accelerator.
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.
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.
Brandon is the visionary founder of Lean Rocket Lab, driven by a passion for nurturing and empowering startup companies. With a relentless commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurial success, Brandon has created a thriving ecosystem within Lean Rocket Lab.
Aaron Kopplin is the founder of Kopplin Co., a digital marketing agency based in Jackson, Michigan. He graduated summa cum laude from Grand Valley State University with a degree in Computer Science, then spent five years as a software engineer at a Fortune 500 company in Grand Rapids, where he sharpened his expertise in building reliable, production-grade systems. Aaron's approach blends engineering rigor with marketing strategy: every campaign is measurable, every site is built to perform, and every line of code is written to last. He works closely with founders and operators who want a technical partner that moves fast, communicates clearly, and treats their business like his own.
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.
Kim Gamez is a serial entrepreneur and business strategist with over 20 years of experience launching and scaling companies, both brick-and-mortar and digital. She's the founder of Sober(ish), and previously founded and led Mi Padrino as CEO from inception through a successful exit, earning a reputation as a tenacious, visionary leader with a gift for rallying customers, investors, and partners around a shared vision. Based in Jackson, MI, and a graduate of Siena Heights University, Kim brings a sharp eye for market trends and a proven track record of building strategies that drive real growth. She's passionate about entrepreneurship and innovation, and is an active mentor in the startup community, including with programs like MSU's Conquer Accelerator. Whether she's building her own ventures or helping others build theirs, Kim leads with energy, strategic insight, and a genuine investment in the people around her.
Upcoming Sales & Marketing Accelerator events
Workshops, bootcamps, and gatherings tied to Sales & Marketing Accelerator.
Video Marketing: Tactical Execution
Jake Cross of Uncharted shows you how to plan, shoot and post marketing video using nothing but your phone.
Online (Zoom)
Register
Manutech LIVE Innovation Experience 2026
See live demos, manufacturing technology, prototyping, innovation, and training at Jackson's AMTC.
Advanced Manufacturing Training Center, 3517 Scheele Drive, Jackson, MI 49202
RegisterSales & Marketing Accelerator resources
Curated software, services, and support available to Sales & Marketing Accelerator participants.
Free business consulting/workshops
Brand storytelling video production
Professional sales training programs
Meet our alumni
See and hear from past cohort program alumni and 1-1 coaching clients!