About Emerge

The Emerge Innovation Hub

We are the Hub of Southwest Michigan for Innovation. All are welcomed into this inclusive culture that stimulates creativity and fosters collaborations. We provide business support and the resources you need to succeed.

Our Story

Diverse entrepreneurs. Under-Resourced entrepreneurs. Welcome to all. Creating equity with everything we do.

Founded in 2020 in downtown Benton Harbor, Michigan by Andrew Robinson and Gabrielle Engle in response to the intellectual capital that resides in Southwest Michigan and beyond. Entrepreneurs are what build a community.

Emerge has become a nationally recognized innovation hub and home to more than 50 entrepreneurs, startups and small businesses.

Andrew and Gabrielle have been integral in building an inclusive innovation ecosystem in Southwest Michigan by launching monthly hangout events, pitch competitions, and weekend start-up camps in Benton Harbor and investing their commitment to supporting diverse and under-sourced entrepreneurs through networking, incubation and ecosystem development.

Emerge has, and always be, more than an innovation hub. With wrap-around services and a passion for driving success for the most unexpected entrepreneurs, we work to provide entrepreneurship opportunities for everyone.

Our Mission

Emerge exists to support diverse communities by empowering historically underresourced and underrepresented entrepreneurs to start and run their businesses in Southwest Michigan.

Our Values

Innovation: It takes thinking outside the box to disrupt the status quo. We welcome new and fresh ideas in any form.

Inclusive: Sharing our ideas is scary, but it doesn’t have to be. Emerge is a soft place to land for entrepreneurs to dream and grow together in a judgment-free diverse environment.

Equity: True equity requires intentionality of building relational bridges between those that have and those that do not.

Collaboration: We believe it takes a village to raise an entrepreneur. Emerge is always looking to partner with any individual, group or organization wanting to invest in our ecosystem.

Social Change: Entrepreneurs are the bedrock to economic changes and human flourishing in our communities. As such, we empower every entrepreneur to not only become a business owner but a community leader.