On April 14, 2017, Crain's Detroit Business — Michigan's leading business publication — covered Michigan State University's selection of startups for its Conquer Accelerator incubator program. The article highlighted the program's entrepreneur-in-residence component, and as Travis Stoliker noted at the time, he was the only EIR mentioned by name in the Crain's coverage.
Travis had joined the Conquer Accelerator in early 2017, working directly with MSU student and faculty founders to provide mentorship on marketing, sales, fundraising, and growth strategy. The Crain's article was part of broader coverage of MSU's expanding startup ecosystem — a story that was drawing increasing attention in Michigan's entrepreneurial and investment communities.
The Crain's Detroit mention amplified Travis's visibility beyond the Lansing market, reaching Michigan's broader business community at a moment when his post-Liquid Web chapter was taking shape. His response at the time — "Not sure why I was the only one mentioned" — was vintage Travis: self-deprecating about recognition while actively earning it through consistent work with founders across the state.
