We’re honored, excited, and feeling incredibly grateful—Synaptic has officially been named a 2025 Comcast RISE grant recipient!

If you haven’t heard of it, Comcast RISE is a national initiative that supports small businesses through funding, media exposure, technology upgrades, and strategic consulting. Each grant package includes a $5,000 monetary grant, a tech makeover, a professionally produced commercial, and access to business coaching and educational tools.

We’re one of 100 businesses selected from the Grand Rapids and Muskegon area—and one of only 500 recipients nationwide this year.

For our small but mighty team, this is about more than just a financial boost. It’s a recognition of the work we’ve poured into helping businesses grow the right way—with strategy, integrity, and long-term resilience.

Why This Matters to Us

Marketing today is loud. Everywhere you look, someone’s shouting for attention—chasing likes, views, or the next viral moment. But in that rush to be seen, many businesses forget something critical: visibility creates vulnerability.

At Synaptic, we’re changing the conversation. We don’t just help businesses promote—we help them protect. That’s why we created PR Shield, a first-of-its-kind platform for reputation management and crisis readiness, built specifically for small business owners who are often left to navigate those moments alone.

This award fuels our ability to keep doing that work, to reach more entrepreneurs, to strengthen more teams, and to help more people show up with confidence in a world that moves fast and doesn’t always wait for the full story.

Our Origin Story: From Teacups to Taglines

Long before we were writing headlines or crafting brand strategy, we were wrapping party favors in a little tea party business out of Grosse Pointe. We hosted whimsical events for children—complete with mismatched vintage teacups, etiquette lessons, and hand-crafted decor. It was magical and meaningful and laid a collaborative foundation that still guides us. Today, Synaptic is more than just a mother-daughter venture—it’s a woman-led agency powered by two accomplished marketing professionals with the experience, education, and strategic insight to back it up. What began as a creative collaboration has grown into a trusted firm known for blending empathy, execution, and expertise.

What Comes Next

With the Comcast RISE grant, we’ll be:

Upgrading our tech and infrastructure (faster, stronger, more secure)
Working with expert consultants to sharpen strategy and growth
Creating a professional commercial to share our story
Expanding access to our tools and thought leadership

But more than anything, we’ll be doubling down on our efforts to help business owners promote and protect their brands. Because when we strengthen small businesses, we strengthen the heart of our communities.

If you’ve been part of our journey—whether as a client, collaborator, or champion—thank you. We can’t wait to share what’s next.