We Are Detroit’s Entrepreneurship Hub

We envision a meaningful and equitable revitalization of Detroit through the launch and sustainable growth of tech startups and small businesses that create new jobs, generate revenue, and strengthen neighborhoods. We help tech startups and small businesses develop, launch and grow by connecting entrepreneurs to learning and networking events in Detroit, resources, and meeting spaces.

Our TeamContact UsMission and History

Our Story

TechTown was founded in 2000 by Wayne State University, Henry Ford Health System and General Motors. In 2004, TechTown incorporated as a nonprofit and established its headquarters in a landmark 1927 Albert Kahn building just north of the Wayne State campus.

Originally founded to support tech-based spinoffs from the university, we soon realized that our incubation and acceleration strategies for tech companies could help strengthen neighborhood small businesses and commercial corridors across Detroit. Today, we offer a full suite of entrepreneurial services for tech and neighborhood businesses, with satellite offices across the city.

Our five-story building serves as an entrepreneurial hub, housing the TechTown administrative offices, our coworking community, meeting and event space, and numerous businesses working across sectors to drive progress in Detroit. TechTown works in close partnership with Wayne State’s Office of Economic Development, the university’s hub for catalyzing business activity in Midtown and across the Detroit region.

Driven by values of collaboration, excellence, accessibility, diversity and inclusion, and respect, TechTown opens doors to opportunity that strengthen our city, neighborhoods and economy.

TechTown’s Impact

Between 2007 and 2022, TechTown supported 5,371 businesses  at our Midtown hub and in neighborhoods across Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park. These businesses created 2,277 jobs and raised $385 million in startup capital.

Read Impact Reports

Our Team

First_DetroitHeadshots02_21_22_079

Amanda Benno

Andrea Pitcher_choice 1

Andrea Pitcher

Angeline Lawrence

Angeline Lawrence

Asia Woodward Headshot Photo

Asia Woodward

caleb

Caleb Conley

CVHeadshot1

Carrie Vestrand

Carrie Wrightner

Carrie Wrightner

Chloe Malagar

Chloe Malagar

Christianne Malone

Christianne Malone

Christina

Christina Devlin

An image of Courtney Okoye

Courtney Okoye

Danielle Manley

Danielle Manley

Davit-Nadirashvili-2016_11_30TechTown_286

Davit Nadirashvili

TechTown11_12_20_037

Dawn Batts

DetroitHeadshots_-_Diana_Goode

Diana Goode

Ed1

Ed Nisnevich

DetroitHeadshots_-_Erica_Bachran

Erica Bachran

Erica_Overstreet

Erica Overstreet

An image of Eva Kashat

Eva Kashat

Fardusee Jaigirdar

Fardusee Jaigirdar

2019_11_25_DetroitHeadshots125

Grace Doss

Isabella Kiser

Isabella Kiser

Ja’Nay Chatmon

Ja’Nay Chatmon

Jacquelene Barnes

Jacquelene Barnes

Jaunice Keller

Jaunice Kellar

Headshot of Jeremy Lewis

Jeremy Lewis

Jimena_Gutierrez

Jimena Gutierrez

Julia Kalugar

Julia Kalugar

Kelly Kozlowski

Kelly Kozlowski

KPHeadshot

Kimberly Palter

Kimberly Watts Primary

Kimberly Watts

Women of color taking her headshot in front of a map in the TechTown building wearing a black turtle neck

Latrice Bright

Lindsay Robillard

Lindsay Robillard

DetroitHeadshots02_21_22_006

Madison Sanders

Mario_Tapia-Preza

Mario Tapia-Preza

An image of Mary Benitez

Mary Benitez

Mayte Penman

Mayte Penman

Michelle

Michelle DiMercurio

An image of staff Nakia Graham

Nakia Graham

2019_07_29_HeadshotsDetroit404

Ned Staebler

Nicholas Slappey_Primary

Nicholas Slappey

Norma Jean Zaleski

Norma Jean Zaleski

Rachael Thomas

Rachael Thomas

Raina

Raina Baker

Rainesha Williams-Fox

Rainesha Williams-Fox

Shardonay Feggins

Shardonay Feggins

Stacey Frankovich

Stacey Frankovich

An image of Susanna Taylor

Susanna Taylor

Tiffany Young

Tiffany Young

Trina Groce

Trina Groce

VickiS

Vicki Sitron

Image of Wendy Wilson in a dark blue sweater

Wendy Wilson

Funders

Our work is made possible through the generosity of these supporters:

Accenture
Ally
Atomic Object
Barbara and Beth Gleason
Bank of America
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC)
Comerica
Comcast Business
Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan
DTE Energy Foundation

EY
Gilbert Family Foundation
Hagerty
Henry Ford Health System
Hudson-Webber Foundation
Invest Detroit
Jane Fitzgibbon
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Kresge Foundation
Local Initiatives Support Coalition

Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Ned Staebler and Anne Staebler
New Economy Initiative
Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation
The Honorable Terri Lynn Land
U.S. Economic Development Administration
Walker-Miller Energy Services
Walters Family Foundation
Wells Fargo Foundation
William Davidson Foundation

Board of Directors

Dr. Ali Abolmaali

Dean, College of Engineering, Wayne State University

Jason Aeschliman

Partner, PwC

Ben Bernstein

Principal, Beringea

Matt Bower

Partner, Varnum Law

Dr. Michael Busuito

Board of Governors, Wayne State University

Cornelia Butler

Director of Emergency Preparedness and Restoration, DTE Energy

Michael Cole

President, Technology Industry Group, Bank of Ann Arbor

Jill Ford

Principal, Toyota AI Ventures

Anika Goss

Executive Director, Detroit Future City

Patricia Glaza

Executive Vice President and Managing Director, Invest Detroit

Nick Gorga

Vice Chair Litigation Department, Honigman LLP, Hatch Founder

Gwen Jimmere

Chief Executive Officer, Naturalicious Beauty Products and Good Hair Bar Salon and Spa

Kevin Johnson

President and CEO, Detroit Economic Growth Corporation

Dr. Virginia Kleist

Dean, Mike Ilitch School of Business, Wayne State University

Terri Lynn Land

Board of Governors, Wayne State University

Dave Massaron

Chief Business Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President for Finance & Business Operations, Wayne State University

Carla Walker-Miller

President and CEO, Walker-Miller Energy Services

Fredrick Molnar

Vice President of Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Michigan Economic Development Corporation

Portia Powell

Chief Executive Officer, Good Vibes Lounge

Lisa Prasad

Chief Innovation Officer, Henry Ford Health System

Mike S. Rafferty

President and CEO, New Detroit, Inc.

Sonal Ramrakhiani

Business Head, Wipro Engineering Edge, Americas 2 Strategic Market Unit

Jonathan Rumley

Managing Director, Accenture

Jim Saber

President and CEO, NextEnergy

Michael Sappington

Vice President of Care Delivery and President & CEO, TRIARQ Health

Chanell Scott Contreras

Executive Director, ProsperUS

Valencia Stoudamire

Vice President, Supplier Diversity, Henry Ford Health

Tosha Tabron

Social Investment Officer, The Kresge Foundation

Jamila Thompson

Partner, Consulting at EY

Dr. M. Roy Wilson, Chair

Retired President, Wayne State University

Partners

Below is a select list of the numerous partners who help us deepen our impact:

ACCESS Growth Center, Amazon Web Services, Apple, Bank of America, Beaumont Health, Brightmoor Alliance, BUILD Institute, Challenge Detroit, City of Detroit, Comcast, Detroit Creative Corridor Center, Detroit Development Fund, Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, Detroit Future City, Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, Detroit USPTO, DukeEngage, Eastside Community Network, FedEx, General Electric, General Motors, Global Detroit, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, Grand Circus, Grandmont Rosedale Development Corporation, Great Lakes Women’s Business Council, Henry Ford Innovation Institute, IBM, Invest Detroit, Invest Michigan, Jefferson East, Inc., KYBBA, LEAR Corporation, Lifeline Consulting, Live6 Alliance, Macomb-OU INC, Michigan Small Business Development Center, Michigan Women’s Foundation, Microsoft, Midtown Detroit, Inc., Mobile Technology Association of Michigan, New Enterprise Forum, Oakland County Medical Mainstreet, Osborn Business Association, ProsperUS Detroit, Public Sector Consultants, SCORE Detroit, Southwest Detroit Business Association, TiE Detroit, University of Detroit-Mercy, University of Windsor, University Research Corridor, US Commercial Export Assistance Center, US Consulate General of Canada, US Small Business Administration, Venture For America, Village Capital, Wayne County Community College District, Wayne State University, WETech Alliance, Windsor Essex Economic Development Corporation