Connecting the Dots, a 20Fathoms Breakfast Lab

Over the past few months, we’ve explored key topics every founder needs to know—from customer discovery and MVPs to marketing, fundraising, and financials. Now it’s time to zoom out and see how it all fits together.

Join us for a special wrap-up session hosted by Tex Criqui, where we’ll connect the dots between each Breakfast Lab and help you turn insights into action.

Whether you attended one session or all of them, this is a chance to reflect, ask questions, and leave with a clearer picture of how to move forward with your business.

You’ll learn:

• A practical roadmap for applying the tools you’ve learned — and knowing when to use them
• Insights on how to build and refine your business model, revenue strategy, and customer process
• Guidance on developing a meaningful financial forecast and identifying key metrics (KPIs)
• Tips for assembling the right team and understanding the resources you’ll need
• A sense of how to prepare for next steps like fundraising or scaling
• Reflection on your best next moves as of today, even if they evolve tomorrow

About Breakfast Lab

Breakfast Lab is a weekly event at 20Fathoms where you’ll get expert guidance to help meet your most pressing startup needs, providing access to the right tools and the right people at the right time.

These events are held in person and there is no cost to attend. Coffee and a light breakfast are provided. Walk-ins are welcome.

There are two parts to each Breakfast Lab:

• Startup Workshop: 9 – 10:30 am
• Startup Coaching: 10:30 am – noon

Attend both parts, or just one.

Learn more about Breakfast Lab.

Who should attend:

Breakfast Lab was designed specifically to support:

• Idea and early-stage startup founders with scalable innovations and technologies
• Entrepreneurs navigating strategic growth or a pivot in their business model

Prerequisite:

You are encouraged to have your business model canvas outlined to benefit from the Breakfast Lab workshops.

Don’t have a canvas yet? No sweat – join a Startup Bootcamp to get started or Download the instructions and a blank canvas to work through on your own time.

Meet this week’s facilitator:

Following a 40 year career with General Motors, Mr. Criqui was Regional Director for an engineering consulting firm for five years and worked another five years as Director of Operations for a management consulting firm prior to his position as President of Francis Criqui & Associates, LLC.  He has extensive experience in technology and innovation, strategic planning, lifecycle management, product data management, process design and definition, standards and regulatory compliance, project management, and organizational performance.  In addition, he has championed the design, development, and deployment of the Michigan I-Corps@LTU program for startups, delivered in 9-week sessions which integrated Design Thinking principles and Lean Launch Pad protocols.  Mr. Criqui has helped approximately 300 Michigan companies evaluate their commercialization potential, assisted 6 companies in securing provisional patents, and coached 100+ companies to advance to early-stage operations.

Mr. Criqui was on the board of several local and national non-profit companies and was elected to five terms as Mayor of his hometown. Mr. Criqui is an SAE Registered Consultant and a Mentor with TC SCORE.  He earned a BSME from Lawrence Technical University and an MBA from the University of Detroit.

Supporting Partners:

About 20Fathoms:

20Fathoms is the home of entrepreneurship and innovation in Northwest Michigan. Based in Traverse City and serving all of Northwest Lower Michigan, 20Fathoms is a nonprofit startup incubator and resource center for entrepreneurs and growing businesses. The organization works with entrepreneurs of all stages and industries, and specializes in working with technology-focused companies. Programs include startup education, business coaching, connections, funding, and general support.