It’s the last week of July! We hope you’ve had a wonderful, productive month and are getting ready for August. July was great for a few of our alumni small businesses. Congratulations to The Kitchen by Cooking with Que for an upcoming opportunity on national TV, and Ice Cream Detroit and Simply Roasted for the openings of their brick-and-mortars! These businesses have taken advantage of several of our programs and offerings, including Retail Boot Camp, 313 STRONG, the Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest and Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses. Scroll down to see what these businesses celebrated this month! And now, our weekly content recommendations: 🎵 In memory of heavy metal legend Ozzy Osbourne, who passed away last week, we’ve been listening to this Black Sabbath playlist. 🎙️ Katie Krizanich, TechTown’s multimedia marketing manager, recommends the podcast 99% Invisible. She says: “99PI is a great podcast that shows how designers’ choices shape our everyday lives in surprising ways. Have you ever noticed a pattern that appears on every textile, or felt curious about the story behind a striking building in your city? The 99PI crew has likely explored it and uncovered the answers.” We are so glad to have you with us! |
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Did you know? We have fully-stocked vending machines |
Forgot your lunch? In need of a midday snack? Our Market Twenty 4 Seven vending machines on the first floor offer an extensive array of grab-and go items, snacks and beverages! These vending machines are just one of our many perks to enjoy as a coworking member or tenant. Check out this reel for a quick rundown of what else TechTown has to offer. And for more information, visit our Flexible Workspaces webpage by clicking the button below! |
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A bit of TechTown’s building history |
Did you know that before our building was a coworking space and headquarters for TechTown, it was an automotive plant? Built in 1927, the five-story building designed by Albert Kahn was once the Chevy Creative Services Building. The Corvette was designed on the building’s third floor, and auto show displays were also built here. Nearly a century later, this building is still a place where economic development and innovation thrives. TechTown is proud to call this historic building our home! |
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From left to right: The Kitchen by Cooking with Que, Ice Cream Detroit and Simply Roasted |
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TechTown alumni celebrate openings and TV placement |
The past few weeks have been busy for three of our alumni small businesses! Quiana “Que” Rice, founder and owner of The Kitchen by Cooking with Que, shared on Instagram that she will be competing on the upcoming season of Food Network’s The Great Food Truck Race. The new season premieres on Sunday, Aug. 3. Ice Cream Detroit and its founder Ysahai Honor-Marie celebrated the business’ soft opening on Saturday, July 20, coinciding with National Ice Cream Day. The community enjoyed samples of the business’ classic and liquor-infused ice creams. |
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That same week, retired educator Erin Apacanis celebrated the grand opening of her Midtown cafe, Simply Roasted, on Thursday, July 24. The cafe is inspired by her late mother’s passion for baking and family traditions. We applaud all of these business owners for reaching new heights and making their dreams come true. TechTown is thrilled to continue supporting them! |
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Browse and buy from small business owners at The SHOP |
Our monthly pop-up marketplace, The SHOP, returns on Wednesday, July 30, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.! Head to TechTown to explore various products from local small businesses. This month’s vendors are:
- At My Sister’s House
- iLashed Mink Extensions
- LaVonne’s Unique Gifts & More
- Mahogani Collections
- Our City (d.b.a. Rose City)
- Shade’s of Ebony Cosmetics
- Whiff & Nibble Novelty Gifts
- Wobble Lemonade
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Cluster Conversation Series: MedHealth |
Join us for our next Cluster Conversation Series event on Wednesday, July 30 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Taking place at TechTown, this roundtable will focus on MedHealth, and will bring together founders, healthcare providers and industry stakeholders to explore Detroit’s opportunity to lead in inclusive and scalable health innovation. Attendees will dive deep into culturally competent care, tech-enabled community wellness, the future of medical entrepreneurship and how public and private sectors can work together to address systemic gaps. |
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Keep these events on your radar… In addition to the opportunity mentioned above, here’s a taste of what else is coming up at TechTown: These events cover a variety of industries and aim to bring the community together to learn, engage and support one another. We’ll provide more details on these events in upcoming newsletters and on our social media, so stay tuned! |
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Applications open: Idea to Product HardTech Accelerator |
The Centrepolis Accelerator, in collaboration with the Gilbert Family Foundation, is launching the 2025 Idea to Product (I2P) HardTech Accelerator, a dynamic 12-week hybrid program empowering early-stage founders who are developing physical products and hardware-enabled solutions to bring their innovations to life. This intensive accelerator is built specifically for hardtech startups at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 or higher, with a working prototype and a vision for scale. The I2P Accelerator provides tailored commercialization support, leadership development, expert mentorship and critical resources to help founders navigate the complex path from lab to launch. Applications for the I2P Accelerator are due Thursday, July 31! |
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Applications open: Entrepreneur Access Network |
Applications for EY’s Entrepreneur Access Network 2026 program are now open! EY assists leaders and founders in overcoming business barriers through this free 12-month immersive business accelerator program designed to equip their access to resources, connections and capital, helping them to scale their enterprises sustainably. Some of the benefits participants will receive include access to peer-to-peer learning experiences, workshops and webcasts featuring top business leaders and organizations as well as access to digital webcasts and exclusive briefings on economic, policy and industry hot topics for impacting businesses. Apply for the Entrepreneur Access Network 2026 program close Friday, Aug. 29! |
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Detroit Small & Micro Business Summit |
The City of Detroit’s Office of Contracting and Procurement is hosting the Detroit Small & Micro Business Summit on Thursday, Aug. 21, from noon to 3 p.m. at Wayne County Community College’s Northwest Campus. Attendees will learn how to do business with the City of Detroit, get insider tips on navigating the city’s contracting and procurement processes, hear directly from city council members, leaders, procurement experts and more! Registration is required to attend. |
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Get Connected to Your Community this Week! |
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A donation to TechTown will ensure that Detroit’s entrepreneurs continue to have access to the resources they need to launch, sustain and grow their businesses. |
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Attending events to grow your business and support others in their pursuits is a cyclical community benefit. Please join us for our comprehensive event programming! |
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Collaboration by proximity creates opportunities for businesses and people to flourish. Join our coworking space to meet your neighbors and build one another up in the process! |
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