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From $5K and Ikea Desks to a Statewide Startup Movement: Amanda Lewan on Building Bamboo
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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.
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