Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Summary
02
State of Technology
03
High-Tech Talent
03
Peer Metro Comparisons
04
Top Tech Occupations
05
Tech Strategy Progress
06
Interview with Marouane Kessentini, PhD
07
Manufacturing Technology Adoption
09
Tech Job Data
11
Job Posting Data
11
AI-Related Skills
13
Venture Activity
14
Tech Project & Initiative Updates
15
Tech Week Grand Rapids
17
Data Appendix
19
Report Authors
20
Executive Summary
38,326 2026 TECH JOBS
2,957 JOBS ADDED SINCE STRATEGY LAUNCH
See Page 6
See Page 6
2 ND IN HIGH-TECH JOB GROWTH (2023 - 2025)
8 TH IN HIGH-TECH WAGE GROWTH (2023 - 2025)
$100 MILLION
Greater Grand Rapids Named Top 25 Emerging High-Tech Market
See Page 3
Emerging Defense Technology Fund
Greater Grand Rapids Ranks
12 TH IN TECH
6 TH
IN TECH EMPLOYMENT CONCENTRATION
EMPLOYMENT GROWTH
LAUNCHED BY MICHIGAN CAPITAL NETWORK
AMONG 16 PEER AND ASPIRATIONAL METROS FROM 2022 TO 2026.
See Page 4
See Page 14
Fast Growing Tech Occupations (2022 - 2026)
14 DEALS $101M TOTAL INVESTMENT $7.2M AVERAGE DEAL 2026 (YTD) Venture Capital Activity
114% DATA SCIENTISTS
141% AEROSPACE ENGINEERS
168% BIOENGINEERS AND BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERS
See Page 5
Tech Job Posting Data FROM 2025 TO 2026, JOB POSTINGS IN GREATER GRAND RAPIDS WITH AT LEAST ONE AI-RELATED SKILL GREW 84%.
2,303 JOB 1,254 JOB
POSTINGS 464 COMPANIES POSTINGS 319 COMPANIES
See Pages 11-13
See Page 14
STATE OF TECHNOLOGY
Greater Grand Rapids was named among the top 25 emerging tech markets in North America for high-tech talent by CBRE *Note: High tech talent refers to industries and occupations predominately in computer science-related fields. High-Tech Talent
23 RD IN HIGH-TECH EMPLOYMENT (2025)
2 ND IN HIGH-TECH JOB GROWTH (2023 - 2025)
8 TH IN HIGH-TECH WAGE GROWTH (2023 - 2025)
15 TH IN HIGH-TECH TALENT DEGREE GRADS (2024)
Source: CBRE Scoring Tech Talent 2026
High-Tech Employment & Growth in Comparable Cities
Grand Rapids 2nd (21.8%)
Boise 17th (1.4%)
Stamford 1st (39.5%)
Des Moines 14th (5.1%)
Colorado Springs 9th (12.3%)
Tucson 18th (0.8%)
Louisville 24th (-13.4%)
Huntsville 5th (17.9%)
Oklahoma City 12th (8.6%)
All numbers represent high-tech employment in 2025. Percentages reflect growth in high-tech employment over three years.
Birmingham 16th (3.7%)
Source: CBRE Scoring Tech Talent 2026
STATE OF TECHNOLOGY
HOW TO READ THIS PAGE: Peer Metro Comparisons Among peer and aspirational
markets, Greater Grand Rapids now ranks 12th in tech job growth and 6th in tech concentration .
Located in the upper left quadrant of this graph, Greater Grand Rapids is a growing mid-sized market with a lower-than-average net tech concentration. The region performs among its peers, demonstrating continued room for tech job growth.
Tech Concentration vs. Tech Employment Growth by Metro
2026 Location Quotient
Source: Lightcast (2025 estimated, 2026 projected)
04
STATE OF TECHNOLOGY
Top Tech Occupations Software developers now make up the largest share of tech jobs across Greater Grand Rapids , with industrial and mechanical engineers following closely behind. Meanwhile, the fastest growing tech occupations include data scientists, avionics technicians, and bioengineers. These dynamics demonstrate Greater Grand Rapids’ strength as an applied technology hub , with each of the fastest growing industries representing elements of the region’s core industry sectors (technology, aerospace, and life sciences).
Top Five Tech Occupation Trends (2016 - 2026)
14%
13%
10%
8% 5%
2016
2017
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 ESTIMATED PROJECTED
Computer User Support Specialists
Computer & Information Systems Managers
Mechanical Engineers
Industrial Engineers
Software Developers
Source: Lightcast (2025 estimated, 2026 projected)
Fast Growing Tech Occupations (2022 - 2026) 141% AEROSPACE ENGINEERS 114% DATA SCIENTISTS 168% BIOENGINEERS AND BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERS 05
Source: Lightcast (2026 projected)
STATE OF TECHNOLOGY
Tech Strategy Progress Greater Grand Rapids’ technology sector is gaining momentum as early investments pay off and the region lays new groundwork for the decade ahead. Employment in the tech sector is growing. Software developers now comprise the largest share of tech jobs across the region, and venture capital investment activity has already surpassed that of 2025. That momentum extends beyond the numbers. Institutions and companies across the region are expanding, investing in, or relocating their tech operations here. Grand Valley State University will soon break ground on its Blue Dot Lab. Meanwhile, HealthBridge Financial invested $17 million in new office space for its fintech operation, and Michigan Capital Network raised a $100 million fund aimed at emerging defense technologies. These accomplishments come during a time when the global technology industry has experienced significant disruptions and advanced technologies have reshaped how companies operate and how people work. Greater Grand Rapids meets this moment as an applied technology hub, with sophisticated technology integrated throughout the region's advanced manufacturing and life science industries. Companies outside the traditional tech sector continue to adopt, and in some cases build, software and hardware solutions that are increasingly powered by artificial intelligence. Upticks in job postings for tech and AI-related positions suggest increased momentum in the regional job market. This report analyzes trends in tech hiring, adoption, capital investments, and initiatives shaping the region’s technology sector five years into the ten-year strategy.
38,326 2026 TECH JOBS (PROJECTED) 752 TECH JOBS ADDED FROM 2025 TO 2026 2,957 TECH JOBS ADDED SINCE STRATEGY LAUNCH 6.0% TECH JOB CONCENTRATION
In 2021, The Right Place, alongside strategic partners from across Greater Grand Rapids, announced a strategy to position the region as the Midwest’s leading hub for technology. Globally, the tech industry experienced disruptions through 2025. Greater Grand Rapids' tech sector was not immune to these impacts, which are reflected in the data. Despite these headwinds, projections show Greater Grand Rapids on pace to add tech jobs in 2026 .
TECH JOBS PROGRESS TO DATE:
ESTIMATED PROJECTED
06
Source: Lightcast (2025 estimated, 2026 projected)
Interview with Marouane Kessentini, PhD Dean, College of Computing at Grand Valley State University Since joining Grand Valley State University in 2024, Marouane Kessentini has led the university’s College of Computing through a period of substantial growth. During his tenure, Dr. Kessentini has implemented several initiatives exposing students to new technologies, increasing their exposure to real-world problem solving, and opening the college up to students in majors outside of computing. As technology continues to expand across industries, Dr. Kessentini believes all work is, or will become, computing work. Born in Tunisia, Dr. Kessentini developed a passion for technology while working at an electronics store. He pursued that passion through his undergraduate and graduate education at the University of Tunis and went on to earn his Ph.D. at the University of Montreal where he focused on artificial intelligence in software engineering. Prior to joining GVSU, Dr. Kessentini served as a professor at the University of Michigan, Oakland University, and founded several research centers on AI and advanced technologies. Dr. Kessentini spoke with The Right Place regarding his views on the intersection of artificial and human intelligence, how technology has shifted universities’ role in education, and how Grand Valley State is integrating technology across its pedagogy.
Q: A:
How has the perception of AI technology changed over time?
One of my early prototypes with my research team we developed with eBay in 2014. It involved developing bots that could restructure the whole backend. My research team was among the very first who developed bots that can generate code. It was working, but the engineers did not trust this type of innovation. They were saying humans should write code. It was interesting, ten years later, in 2022, I have executives from eBay calling me to say, "We need to deploy this right now.” The technology didn't evolve, it was available ten years ago, people’s mindsets changed after a decade. I'm saying this because that's what I'm passionate about: continued innovation. That's what excited me about coming here to Grand Valley.
AI literacy is very critical for our society. It's important that our society is aware of the advantages and the limitations and risks of AI and understanding its potential. ”
How do you think about the pushback against AI and consider the risk versus reward of the technology? Q:
What excites you about the Greater Grand Rapids region when it comes to applied technology? Q:
A:
A:
Education is the key because ethics, bias and regulation are the type of thing engineers, once they are trained in those values, they are the ones developing the systems. Training people who are ready to look at the intersection of AI and governance, for example, helps us to provide frameworks that can even automatically evolve when technologies evolve. AI literacy is very critical for our society. It's important that our society is aware of the advantages and the limitations and risks of AI and understanding its potential.
The vision of President Mantella with the leadership of The Right Place getting together to think about the future of work and the future of our region. That's what makes me excited because seeing those partnerships while sitting on the east side of the state, I was always looking at the potential here that exists in West Michigan, especially when it comes to technology in general, and being a tech hub here. Every job is a computing job today and our strength is that combination between manufacturing, health, AI, cybersecurity, and so on making our region a hub for innovation.
This seems like a very human-centered approach to AI and technology development. Q:
more advanced? Q:
How do you see the university’s role changing as AI becomes
A:
A:
Yeah, absolutely, and that's why we launched the initiative Computing Plus X. I think we are the first one in Michigan who are developing this type of degree. We are combining AI plus anthropology. We are doing it with modern languages. We are even doing it with the writing department – you can still use AI but it’s not as creative as humans. That's why even in our AI degree we have integration of courses like AI ethics and bias, courses around AI literacy, courses around AI and sustainability. As a college of computing, people may think about it as technical but seeing a college offering those courses accessible to everyone, whatever your major, those are actions that are louder than words. That shows we truly believe in the responsible AI piece and the human-centered AI piece as well.
The need of society today is more about human potential because industries are looking for humans to do ten- or twenty-times what they are typically doing every day because intelligence is accessible. Human judgment is important. Communication is very important because you can generate ideas, but you need to evaluate them, improve them, and communicate them to leadership. That’s what changed the mission of the university. That’s why here in the College of Computing Grand Valley we launched the Shipyard, where it is an experiential learning framework from day one until graduation. We want to graduate people who have a bachelor’s degree and four years of experience solving real-world problems. When someone from the College of Computing applies to jobs, they will have that four years of experience learning by doing.
This interview was condensed and edited for clarity.
MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY
Manufacturing Technology Adoption
Manufacturers across the country are increasingly adopting and pioneering advanced technologies to improve competitiveness and efficiency to boost competitiveness, launch new products, and grow.
80% OF MANUFACTURING EXECUTIVES PLAN TO INVEST 20% OR MORE OF THEIR IMPROVEMENT BUDGETS INTO SMART MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGIES INCLUDING AUTOMATION, DATA ANALYTICS, AND IIOT.
According to a survey of 600 manufacturing executives conducted by Deloitte in 2025:
Source: Deloitte, “2025 Smart Manufacturing and Operations Survey.”
Since adopting smart manufacturing technologies, executives report improvements including: 10% - 20% PRODUCTION OUTPUT 7% - 20% EMPLOYEE PRODUCTIVITY 10% - 15% UNLOCKED CAPACITY Source: Deloitte, “2025 Smart Manufacturing and Operations Survey.”
Orb Aerospace With the support of The Right Place, Lowell-based Orb Aerospace was able to purchase a 3D printer, allowing them to prototype components in-house, lessening their reliance on outsourcing and the impact of shipping delays. As a result, the investment increased Orb’s sales by securing market position, generating new product revenues, and allowing the company to make facility and equipment upgrades.
09
MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY
The regional tech industry can help manufacturers implement advanced technology solutions into their operations.
MMTC-West conducted technology assessments with more than 200 companies from 2021 to 2025 . These in-depth assessments examined each company’s product, process, and challenges, and offered tailored recommendations based on their individual needs.
Source: MMTC-West across 218 assessments conducted from 2021 to 2025. Companies may have received multiple recommendations.
TECH JOB DATA
Job Posting Data Job posting data for technology positions provides timely insights into the regional job market and state of the regional tech industry.
New job postings for tech occupations increased 25 percent from 2025 to 2026, while the median advertised salary for these postings rose 8 percent , from $95,100 to $102,800. Postings had been declining since 2022, but rebounded in 2026.
Tech Job Postings
Source: Lightcast (12-month period aggregated July to June.)
Median Advertised Salary
Source: Lightcast (12-month period aggregated July to June.)
11
TECH JOB DATA
Source: Lightcast (12-month period aggregated July to June.)
Source: Lightcast (12-month period aggregated July to June.)
12
TECH JOB DATA
AI-Related Skills Since generative AI’s widespread release in 2022, the number of job postings requiring AI-related skills has increased significantly. While many postings are concentrated among the tech sector, companies across industries are hiring talent with relevant AI skills. From 2025 to 2026, job postings in Greater Grand Rapids with at least one AI-related skill grew 84% .
2026
2,303 JOB 1,254 JOB 2025 Source: Lightcast (12-month period aggregated July to June.)
POSTINGS 464 COMPANIES POSTINGS 319 COMPANIES
In 2026, Grand Rapids ranked 8th among peer metros in: The concentration of AI-related job postings compared to total job postings in each market. Median advertised salaries for new job postings that reference AI-related skills.
Source: Lightcast (12-month period aggregated July to June.)
VENTURE ACTIVITY
Venture Activity Venture capital momentum continued to build through 2026 and with larger investments per deal than in previous years. Year-to-date investments have already surpassed 2025’s year-end figures by 48 percent. Likewise, 14 deals closed in the first eight months of 2026, compared to 12 deals during the same period the previous year. The average amount of venture capital invested per deal is also rising , expanding from $1.5 million in 2024 to $3.6 million in 2025 to $7.2 million year-to-date.
$7.2M 2026 (YTD) $3.6M 2025 $2.5M 2024 Average Deal Size
2026 Momentum (YTD)
14 DEALS
$101M IN VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTMENT
This compares to 12 deals and $63.5 million in capital investment during the same period the previous year.
Source: Pitchbook
Source: Pitchbook
Venture Capital Raised
$20M $40M $60M $80M $100M $120M $140M $160M $180M
$100M Fund Launched by Michigan Capital
Network Defense Tech Fund
Michigan Capital Network launched a $100 million fund to invest in emerging defense technologies. Michigan Capital Network was one of eighteen organizations chosen by the U.S. Department of Defense and Small Business Administration to participate in a nationwide defense tech investment initiative.
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 (YTD)
Source: Pitchbook
Deal Count
5 10 15 20 25 30 35
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 (YTD)
14
Source: Pitchbook
Tech Project & Initiative Updates PROJECTS & INITIATIVES
Array of Engineers Array of Engineers purchased a building in downtown Grand Rapids in early 2026 for its new headquarters. A woman-owned engineering and software design firm, Array of Engineers offers testing, design, and prototyping services for hardware, software, and internet of things (IoT) applications. Westwood AI Westwood AI was selected to participate in the Ford Launchpad for Innovative Technologies and Entrepreneurship (FLITE) program. The FLITE Program is a grant and pilot-testing initiative led by the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority, which allows companies to test new technologies in a live airport environment. Westwood’s AI platform combines advanced drone data and AI-driven analysis to evaluate and examine infrastructure. HealthBridge Financial HealthBridge Financial invested $17.2M to lease a new, long-term office space near the Gerald R. Ford International Airport. The fintech company, which links healthcare providers with capital market partners to provide consumer-protected patient payment plans, will hire 200 additional employees at its new location. Root Functional Medicine Dr. Erica Armstrong founded Root Functional Medicine after a career in the medical field to address a gap in functional and preventative care. The Grand Rapids-based company created a digital platform that combines advanced lab testing, board-certified physicians and dietitians, and intelligent software to deliver personalized health outcomes for patients. Root recently closed a Series A funding round and expanded its headquarters in downtown Grand Rapids. Bindplane-Dynatrace In mid-2026, Grand Rapids-based Bindplane was acquired by Dynatrace Inc., a publicly traded, Boston-based corporation with approximately $2 billion in annual revenue. Bindplane, which created a data telemetry platform, was founded in Grand Rapids in the mid-2000s under the name Blue Medora and received early investment from locally-owned firms including Grand Angels and Wakestream Ventures.
15
GVSU PhD Program x VAI Partnership Grand Valley State University has partnered with the Van Andel Institute, pairing the University’s newly created PhD in Computing program with the Institute’s biomedical research. The collaboration will apply artificial intelligence, machine learning, and other advanced computing techniques to advance research into cancer, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and other diseases. Blue Dot Lab Grand Valley State University will soon begin construction of the Blue Dot Lab, a 58,427-square-foot addition to the Eberhard Center in downtown Grand Rapids. When completed, the Blue Dot Lab will include four research labs, a teaching lab, multiple classrooms and other multi-purpose and collaborative spaces. The College of Computing, Academic Computing Institute, and Institute for Cybersecurity Education will be housed at the Blue Dot Lab. Calvin University School of Engineering and Computer Science In August, Calvin University combined its schools of engineering and computer science under a unified banner. The university plans to add or strengthen programs related to advanced energy systems, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.
PitchMI Competition Tech Week GR 2026 will feature a defense and aerospace pitch event as part of PitchMI, a founder-focused startup competition for Michigan entrepreneurs. Separate pitch events for AI and software, advanced manufacturing, and health sciences will be held across the state, culminating in a championship event in April 2027.
Vetr Health Founded in 2021, Vetr Health created a digital platform to support its mobile veterinary practice. The platform retains digital medical records of pets, manages diagnostics and scheduling, and allows veterinarians real-time access to testing results in the field. Vetr Health was one of seventeen companies nationwide to be selected by Google for its StartUps AI Academy and is integrating AI tools into its platform.
16
TECH WEEK GRAND RAPIDS
Keynote Speakers
Malcolm Gladwell (2023) Author of five New York Times bestsellers Stephen Dubner (2024) Co-author of the Freakonomics books Steve Wozniak (2025) Co-founder of Apple Inc. Daymond John + Robert Herjavec (2026) Stars of ABC’s Shark Tank
17
Tech Week GR 2025 Event Success:
15,000+ ATTENDEES
300+ PARTNERS
120 EVENTS
VISITORS FROM
12 STATES +
2 COUNTRIES
Most Popular Event Topics Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tech Startup Health Tech Tech Talent Cybersecurity Advanced Manufacturing Creative Tech
DATA APPENDIX
Data Appendix Data Notes:
The data in this report are based on the Grand Rapids-Wyoming Metropolitan Statistical Area and were collected as of Q3 2026 unless otherwise noted. Tech job postings are based on data collected from 12-month periods from July to June. Peer and Aspirational Markets: Markets are based on metropolitan statistical areas determined from The Right Place’s 2026-2028 Strategic Plan. Tech Jobs: Tech job numbers are calculated from Lightcast data, which projects current year figures based on historical trends. Projections are later revised as the Bureau of Labor Statistics collects new data and issues their own revisions. The Right Place distinguishes projected and estimated figures from historical numbers in all charts, graphs, and data from Lightcast, following the practices adopted by CompTIA and other prominent research organizations. AI Job Postings Skills: Based on Stanford HAI methodology, using Lightcast’s AI-related skills excluding “Artificial Intelligence” to weed out vague mentions. The methodology to analyze job posting data for AI references has shifted to account for the substantial increase in companies including AI-processing disclaimers in job postings. The new methodology relies on a bucket of AI-related skills instead of the keywords “artificial intelligence” and “AI.
Report Authors
Tech Report Authors
Andria Romkema Senior Vice President, Business Development
Jennifer Wangler Vice President, Technology | Director, Technology Council of West Michigan
John Wiegand Business Intelligence & Research Manager
Matthew Streeter Business Intelligence & AI Analyst
Emma Tuthill Digital Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Tech Report Contributors
Randy Thelen President & CEO
Brad Comment Senior Vice President, Strategic Initiatives
Katrina Panzlau Marketing & Communications Director
20
25 Ottawa Ave SW, Suite 400 Grand Rapids, MI 49503
info@rightplace.org www.rightplace.org (616) 771-0325
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