Midwest House
Midwest House
Podcast Description
A podcast experience born from the intersection of innovation and community—amplifying thought leaders, startup builders, and culture-makers in the Midwest, hosted by Midwest House in collaboration with ThinkTank.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on themes of community innovation, entrepreneurship, and cultural development, with episodes like 'The Origin of Midwest House' showcasing how canceled events have led to new movements and exploring the impact of local ecosystems on national trends.
A podcast experience born from the intersection of innovation and community—amplifying thought leaders, startup builders, and culture-makers in the Midwest, hosted by Midwest House in collaboration with ThinkTank.
Can you really launch a startup hub with $5,000, no space, and a dream? Amanda Lewan did—and it didn’t stop there.
In this energizing episode of the Midwest House Podcast, host Ted Velie sits down with Amanda Lewan, co-founder and CEO of Bamboo, to explore how a scrappy coworking experiment in Detroit became one of Michigan’s most impactful startup communities. From Detroit’s post-bankruptcy days to launching a 40,000-square-foot flagship in Grand Rapids, Amanda shares the behind-the-scenes story of how Bamboo has evolved into a statewide platform for founders, innovators, and underestimated entrepreneurs.
Inside this episode:
- How Amanda helped Detroit’s startup scene take shape from scratch
- What building real community looks like when there’s no playbook (or budget)
- Why Bamboo’s new Grand Rapids space is more than a building—it’s a signal
- The power of density, open access, and designing spaces where everyone belongs
- What’s next for Michigan’s east-meets-west startup ecosystem—and why now is the moment
Bonus: lessons from Detroit Startup Week, what Amanda learned from Brad Feld’s Startup Communities, and a sneak peek at her favorite up-and-coming Midwest startup.
This one’s for the builders, the connectors, and anyone who believes the Midwest is just getting started.
Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
For a complete disclaimer, please see our Full Disclaimer on the archive page. The Podcast Collaborative bears no responsibility for the podcast’s themes, language, or overall content. Listener discretion is advised. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for more details.