Day 11

Groovy Donuts: Opening the Door to a New Kind of Donut Shop

When Andrew Gauthier couldn’t find a donut worth the calories, he wrote a business plan that same night — and Groovy Donuts was born. What started as a nostalgic, old-school donut shop in Williamston quickly grew into a second location in East Lansing, now celebrating 10 years of handcrafted, joy-filled treats.

Getting financing wasn’t easy. Traditional banks weren’t willing to back a food startup run by a first-time bakery owner. But Michigan Women Forward saw Andrew’s vision — and provided the capital that helped him open his first shop and later expand.

“MWF believed in the business even when others wouldn’t,” Andrew says.