Momentum in Motion: Tech, Growth and the Road Ahead for Greater Grand Rapids

The Tech Report: Measuring Momentum

The Tech Report highlights the region’s tech ecosystem and progress towards establishing Greater Grand Rapids as the leading tech hub in the Midwest. Goals of that strategy include growing technology to 10 percent of regional employment and adding 20,000 new jobs by 2031.

The 2025 data show encouraging progress:

• 5,610 net new tech jobs since 2021, including 1,312 added in the past year.
• $57 million in venture capital raised across 12 deals through August 2025, already surpassing 2024’s full-year totals.
• 4.4 percent annual job growth in tech roles, outpacing state and national averages.
• Average tech wages up 6.8 percent year-over-year, strengthening the region’s ability to attract and retain talent.

These gains are not only quantitative. Local firms are beginning to break through nationally, exemplified by Payload CMS’s acquisition by Figma--proof that Grand Rapids-born startups can scale and exit on the national stage.

Recognition is following. In 2025, LinkedIn ranked Grand Rapids the #1 City on the Rise, Deal.co named it the Most Entrepreneurial Tech Ecosystem in the Midwest, and CBRE placed the region among the Top 25 Emerging Tech Markets in North America.

Tech Week: Energy in Action

The annual Tech Week Grand Rapids provided the backdrop for the Tech Report’s release. This year’s unconference format grew to more than 120 events, from AI and health tech panels to student showcases and hackathons. Thousands of attendees engaged across six days, reflecting the growing depth of the ecosystem.

The headline moment came with Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak’s fireside chat at a sold-out kickoff event. His message, that innovation thrives in collaborative, risk-embracing environments, resonated with a community eager to cement its place on the national map.

Tech Week was more than celebration. It was evidence of a region whose ambitions are starting to align with measurable outcomes.

The Bigger Picture: Industry Reports

The Tech Report is one of several intelligence tools produced by The Right Place. Alongside the Manufacturing Report, Talent Report, Development Report, and State of the Region, these publications form a comprehensive data dashboard for the region’s economy.

For executives, investors, and policymakers, these reports are more than reference material. They provide competitive intelligence: labor market trends, wage benchmarks, industry strengths, and forward-looking forecasts that inform strategic decisions.

Looking Ahead: The Right Place’s Economic Outlook for 2026

The next milestone comes on December 4, 2025, when The Right Place hosts its annual Economic Outlook event. The program will bring together regional leadership and expert economists to analyze macroeconomic trends, assess risks, and forecast the region’s trajectory for 2026.

Registration is now open. Business leaders and community stakeholders can secure their spot and learn more here.

For business leaders navigating workforce pressures, capital flows, or market expansion, the Economic Outlook provides essential context. It is both a barometer of where we stand and a guidepost for where we are headed.

Bottom Line

Grand Rapids is hitting an inflection point. The Tech Report confirms accelerating growth, Tech Week captured the energy of an ecosystem in motion, and the forthcoming Economic Outlook will chart the course for what comes next. For those invested in the future of the Greater Grand Rapids economy, the message is clear: stay informed, stay engaged, and seize the momentum.