Coverage from Second Wave Media, published 2026-01-29.
KALAMAZOO, MI: Kalamazoo Forward Ventures announced Tsunami Lab, a 12- to 16-week acquisition accelerator meant to prepare local residents to buy existing small businesses as their aging owners retire. Chief operating officer Dwayne Powell Jr. said only about 30 percent of small business owners have a succession plan and roughly one in five firms is acquired by private equity, a gap he described as a looming ‘Silver Tsunami’ that threatens jobs, tax base and community wealth. Kalamazoo Forward Ventures, a $50 million Black-owned fund launched in fall 2024, said the curriculum covers acquisition mechanics, operational excellence and legacy stewardship, with coaching, peer support and capital partners.
Applications ran through March 31, with the first sessions scheduled for mid-April and Kalamazoo Valley Community College serving as a partner. Participants attend weekly three-hour sessions at the Catalyst Center, 180 E. Water St., take two business field trips and post a refundable $500 deposit.
The firm planned roughly 15 seats and intended to invest in three to five acquisitions, taking equity that owners would buy back. A separate seller-focused session was set for March 12, 2026, with a goal of 50 listed businesses by summer’s end.
