Propeller Ignite. Build. Launch.

Entrepreneurial Skill Development and Mentoring

Build your skills.
Back your
ambition.

From your first business question to your next stage of growth, Propeller connects entrepreneurs with practical learning, experienced mentors, business coaching, and a regional network of support.

Find your next step Explore the support

For aspiring founders, startups, and growing small businesses.

Based in Port Huron. Connected across Eastern Michigan.Learning, guidance, and connections for the work ahead.

Skills you can put to work

Practical skills.
Real business decisions.

Explore learning topics offered across our regional support network. Open a topic to see where you could start.

01 Business planning & milestones

Turn an idea into a working plan. Explore business models, planning essentials, and meaningful milestones that help you decide what to do next.

02 Customers & market research

Understand who you serve and what they need. Learn about customer discovery and market research before committing to your next business move.

03 Marketing & sales

Communicate your value more clearly. Build your understanding of marketing techniques, reaching customers, and having more useful sales conversations.

04 Financial confidence

Get more comfortable with operating costs, financial forecasts, and the numbers behind your business. Use learning and coaching to prepare better questions.

05 Business foundations

Explore educational sessions on business legal issues and tax basics, and discover when a conversation with a qualified professional can help.

06 Digital tools & cybersecurity

Strengthen your digital know-how and learn how to recognize everyday cybersecurity risks through Michigan SBDC courses and resources.

Topics drawn from EM-SBN training and Michigan SBDC learning resources. Individual sessions and formats vary.

Business coaching & mentoring

Better questions.
Fresh perspective.
A clearer next step.

Bring the challenge you are working on. Connect with people who can help you think through your options, strengthen your plans, and find useful business resources.

Talk with our team

Kanchan Wankhede

Director of Entrepreneurial Services · Propeller

Your starting point for Propeller incubation, EM-SBN hub services, and business mentoring resources.

Connect with Propeller

Shannon Schwabe

Senior Business Consultant · Michigan SBDC

Serving St. Clair County with support in business planning, financial projections, and marketing strategies. Michigan SBDC offers no-cost business consulting.

Explore SBDC consulting

Across the region, EM-SBN connects businesses in Huron, Lapeer, Sanilac, Shiawassee, St. Clair, and Tuscola counties. Find a regional advisor.

Events, workshops & connections

Keep learning.
Keep meeting people.

Find a session that fits your next challenge. Browse partner calendars for dates, formats, and registration, or learn at your own pace.

Eastern Michigan Small Business Network

Regional workshops

Explore business workshops, seminars, and learning opportunities across the EM-SBN network.

Browse events & training

Michigan SBDC

Live business training

Discover no-cost and low-cost webinars and workshops on starting, running, and growing a business.

Find a workshop

Michigan SBDC On-Demand Library

Learn on your schedule

Create an account to access business courses and recorded webinars whenever you have time to learn.

Explore the library

Incubators & community

Build with support.
Work your way.

Connect learning and guidance with the space, relationships, and resources your business needs.

Resident incubation

Build from a connected business community in Port Huron. Ask about Propeller’s incubator support, coworking and private office options, and connections to entrepreneurial resources.

Explore resident incubation

Virtual incubation

Access coaching, training, resource referrals, and networking opportunities wherever you work. Propeller’s Virtual Incubator Program supports entrepreneurs, startups, inventors, and small businesses.

Ask about virtual incubation

Looking for structured learning?

Explore EM-SBN’s cohort model, which combines training, mentoring, and business milestones. Ask our team about future cohort and boot camp opportunities.

Funding & growth resources

Prepare for your next
funding conversation.

Connect with information on grants, lending, pitch opportunities, and specialist business support. Start by talking through your goals with an advisor.

Explore funding resources

Availability, eligibility, and application windows vary by program. Ask our team which opportunities fit your business.

  1. Clarify the next milestone

    What do you want to build, improve, or bring to market? Start with a specific business goal.

  2. Strengthen your business plan

    Use coaching and learning resources to work on your business story, operating costs, and financial projections.

  3. Explore the right connections

    Discuss relevant programs and referrals with Propeller and regional support partners.

And the connections that come next

A wider network.
More ways forward.

Some questions call for specialist expertise. Explore EM-SBN’s resource network for professional services and business support connections.

Explore business resources
  • Legal and intellectual property resources
  • Accounting and financial services
  • Marketing and website support
  • Product discovery and validation
  • Translation services
  • Regional business support organizations

Start with a conversation

You bring the ambition.
Let’s build from there.

Tell us where you are in your business journey and what you want to tackle next. Our team can help you explore coaching, learning, incubation, and resource connections.

Connect with Propeller
Propeller · Ignite. Build. Launch.
EDA of St. Clair CountyEM-SBNMichigan SBDC