Capital can accelerate growth or slow you down if you chase the wrong kind at the wrong time. Whether you’re just starting out or gearing up to scale, we’ll help you understand funding options, prepare for them, and take the next step with confidence.
Capital is a tool—one that works best when it’s aligned with your business’s goals and stage. Preparation usually matters more than perfect timing, and many funding “no’s” usually mean “not yet.”
Asking questions, learning how capital works, and doing the homework early will provide clarity and confidence long before you ever fill out an application or pitch to a funder.
That’s a long-winded way of saying you don’t need to have everything figured out. You just need a place to start—and a helpful guide at 20Fathoms.
There’s not a “best” way to fund a business. Grants, loans, angels, venture capital—they all serve different purposes. They all come with tradeoffs. And we’ll help you understand the pros and cons of each.
We break down how capital works in plain language.
We help you identify where you are and what’s appropriate next.
When it makes sense, we connect you to lenders, investors, and programs that fit.
Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF)/Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) Entrepreneurship and Innovation funded programs for high tech start‐ups are available statewide for all Michigan based entrepreneurs.
Programs Available:
For more information and to connect to your local Gateway Representative, use the intake form linked below.
Most entrepreneurs we work with secure funding through external sources rather than directly from 20Fathoms. These include banks and traditional lenders, Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), angel investors, venture capital firms, and a range of state and federal startup programs.
We work with you to understand which funding options are appropriate for your business right now, what those funders expect to see, and how to prepare before you start applying.
“We took the wrong money.”
“We raised too early.”
“The money changed our company.”
We’ve heard founders say phrases like these too many times. Our goal is simple: Giving you clarity and confidence, so you can look back and say, “We made the right call.”
20Fathoms Innovation Fund, LLC is an emerging evergreen fund investing in early-stage, high-tech, and innovative startup companies in Michigan. Investment gains will be redeployed back into other startups, creating a self-sustained system of ongoing capital access. The fund was made possible by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation via the 2025 Michigan Innovation Fund. Additional information on how to apply to the fund coming spring 2026.
