The purpose of NexUS is to strengthen our personal and community relationships so that we can better help prospective entrepreneurs validate their gifts, purpose, and ideas..

Introducing NexUs

One way God cares for us is through entrepreneurial leaders who create better ways to meet our needs.

How do we discover and develop our community’s entrepreneurial leaders? How do they discover and develop themselves? How do they learn the tools to create and validate their business ideas without wasting scarce resources? How can we educate and inspire them?  

AI and the internet alone are not the answer. Entrepreneurial leaders are human. They were created to work in community with others. (That is the purpose of organizations!) The answer, therefore, is NexUS: the intersection of “What’s next?” and “us.”  

How did I come to this conclusion? From personal experience.

For 36 years, I have been a college professor. For 15 years I have worked with students testing their business ideas and exploring if entrepreneurial leadership is an answer to their calling. For 8 years I have written about Holland’s historical entrepreneurial leaders. 

Here’s one thing teaching and writing have taught me: besides faith, grit, desire, and a certain amount of skill, pre-entrepreneurs need education, encouragement, experiences, inspiration and perspective — things a community can provide.

Thus, we need NexUS. 

The purpose of NexUS is to strengthen our personal and community relationships so that we can better help prospective entrepreneurs validate their gifts, purpose, and ideas..

Be part of what’s next and us!


NexUS Start-Up Experiences

Not sure if entrepreneurial leadership is for you? Want to test your business idea and validate your passion before burning through your scarce resources?

START HERE: NexUS offers in-person start-up and re-start experiences in cohorts with other explorers. Using lean start-up, leading change, and human-centered design tools, NeXUS not only helps you discover a business model that works, but also gives you the opportunity to test-drive entrepreneurial leadership as a way to live out your calling.

NexUS Histories

Need inspiration? Do you love learning about Holland, Michigan’s history? Do you want to know more about the entrepreneurial leaders who built our community?

START HERE: NexUS helps you explore Holland, Michigan’s entrepreneurial past as context for its future. Using Holland’s unique entrepreneurial history, NexUS educates and inspires future entrepreneurs (of all ages) through in-person and digital resources.

NexUS Events

Need encouragement? Need a venue to get feedback on your idea? Looking for a mentor? An expert? Someone to teach or learn from? Are you looking for an opportunity to connect with like-hearted people and give back to your community?

START HERE: NexUS organizes community-gathering events in which new and experienced entrepreneurs can celebrate entrepreneurship, learn from each other, connect with new and old friends and with novice and experienced entrepreneurs.