Detroit Elevate: a new opportunity for legacy businesses

ICYMI: In last week’s newsletter, we shared information on Detroit Elevate, a new program and contest for legacy businesses in Detroit, Hamtramck or Highland Park. Detroit Elevate is sponsored by Gilbert Foundation and led in partnership by TechTown Detroit, Black Leaders Detroit and QT Business Solutions. The program and contest helps second-stage businesses enhance operations, elevate customer experiences and expand services, and there are funding opportunities of up to $50,000!

Get your tickets to Toast of the Town!

TechTown Detroit’s biggest party of the year, Toast of the Town, is BACK! Tickets are now on sale. Mark your calendars for Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, as we host our 11th annual celebration that proudly honors Detroit’s founders, entrepreneurs and innovators. 

We’ll have all the things you know and love from the event, including amazing food from our alumni small businesses, tech demos from innovative startups and shopping experiences with beloved retailers. We also have some new things we’re excited to present this year, so stay tuned! We are committed to providing an all-inclusive experience for our community and we are grateful for the continued support. 

Get your tickets today and help us recognize Detroit’s bold risk-takers and builders.

Congrats to the Diaspora Connect Pitch Competition winners

TechTown was thrilled to support last week’s Diaspora Connect Pitch Competition, an event put on by our partner initiative Venture 313, alongside the global African music festival AfroFuture and Black Tech Saturdays! 

Ten founders pitched their startups for the chance to win up to $20,000 in funding. Congratulations to The Coloring Museum, who took home the $20,000 grand prize, Politics on the Go (POGO), who won $7,500, and Driven, who won $5,000! It was great to witness two of TechTown’s clients and alumni, The Coloring Museum and POGO, take home some prizes. 

As Venture 313 said in its Instagram post recapping the event: “This is just the beginning — Detroit’s startup ecosystem is growing stronger every day, and we’re proud to be part of it.”

Prep your retail business for the holidays

The holiday season is the busiest, and often the most stressful, time of year for small business owners. And it will be here sooner than you think! To help small business owners prepare, we’re hosting a workshop called Retail Ready: Holiday Ideas & Inspiration, on Thursday, Aug. 21. Taking place at TechTown, this session will help attendees learn creative, low-cost ways to capture customer attention, maximize in-store and online sales, and build

Check out this food packaging workshop

We look forward to hosting the workshop, Packaging, Labeling and Product Testing for Food Businesses. Taking place Monday, Aug. 25 from noon to 1:30 p.m. at TechTown, this free session will be led by Marcus Reliford, TechTown’s food and beverage business strategist, in partnership with the Michigan State University Product Center.  

Attend our next Black Business Reunion event!

in honor of National Black Business Month, we’re thrilled to bring back our Black Business Reunion series with our next event, Cookout & Conversations! On Thursday, Aug. 26 from 5 to 9 p.m., we’re taking over Roar Brewing Co., Detroit’s first Black-owned brewery, for an evening of good food, great conversations and powerful connections. 

Applications: Michigan Founders Fund Pre-Accelerator

Applications for the fall 2025 cohort of the Michigan Founders Fund Pre-Accelerator powered by gener8tor program are open through Sunday, Aug. 31! 

This program is a no-cost, equity-free, seven-week accelerator program that provides underrepresented, immigrant and diverse startup founders based in Southeast Michigan with a $15,000 grant to use for eligible purchases related to growing their business. The program also includes personalized coaching and programming alongside access to a robust network of mentors, customers and investors.

Applications: Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Detroit

The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses (GS10KSB) Detroit program is now accepting applications for the winter 2026 cohort! This

program equips entrepreneurs with practical skills in areas such as negotiation, marketing and employee management to help them take their business to the next level. Participants will also receive the tools and expert guidance needed to develop a customized plan for their business.

Eligible applicants are either a small business owner or co-owner, have business revenues over $75,000 in the most recent fiscal year, their business has been in operation for 2+ years and their business has 2+ employees (including the owner). Applications are due Friday, Oct. 3!

Last chance: Applications for the  Detroit Startup Fund

Don’t forget: Applications are open for the Detroit Startup Fund, a new opportunity aimed at fueling job creation and talent retention in the city! The $700,000 initiative will distribute grants to Detroit-based tech startups over the next year in its first round. 

Reminder: Applications for the EY Entrepreneur Access Network

Applications close Friday, Aug. 29 for EY’s Entrepreneur Access Network 2026 program! This free 12-month immersive business accelerator program designed for leaders and founders, to equip them with access to resources, connections and capital, and helping them 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.

Learn AI workflows — no coding needed

As part of their Workshop Wednesday series, Bamboo Royal Oak is hosting a public workshop, Automation Hero: Practical AI Workflows Anyone Can Build (No Coding Required), on Aug. 20 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Attendees will learn easy ways to incorporate AI into their daily tasks, saving them time and boosting their creativity.