We sat down with Christianne Malone, TechTown’s chief program officer and Wayne State University’s assistant vice president for economic development, about TechTown’s role in the city’s entrepreneurial and economic development ecosystem

 

 

As TechTown Detroit celebrates 20 years of supporting Detroit’s entrepreneurs, founders and innovators, we’re proud of the work we’ve done to provide equitable opportunities for all to participate in our programs, take advantage of our resources and leave their mark on Detroit’s economy.  

Equity is at the core of our mission. Our organization works to ensure that everyone is able to participate in our growing economy, especially people of color, women and those residing in Detroit and Wayne County. In 2023 alone, of the nearly 1,100 entrepreneurs we served, 80% were people of color, 63% were Black or African American, 65% identified with the pronouns she/her/hers, and 11% were immigrants. And when it comes to our board, 59% are people of color, 41% are Black or African American and 55% use she/her/her pronouns.   

Christianne Malone, chief program officer at TechTown Detroit and assistant vice president for economic development at Wayne State University, is deeply committed to advancing equity across the region through economic development strategies. Since starting her role in November 2022, Malone has led, designed and implemented entrepreneurship programs for both TechTown and Wayne State’s Division of Entrepreneurship and Economic Development, including TechTown’s Small Business Services, Tech-based Programs, Entrepreneurial Education, the Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest by TechTown and WSU’s Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses. She also helps to uplift WSU President Kimberly Andrews Espy Ph.D.’s College to Career initiative (which is a part of the university’s Prosperity Agenda), emphasizing TechTown’s role as Wayne State’s entrepreneurship center and a connector for student entrepreneurship to Detroit’s business ecosystem.

Below, Malone elaborates more on our equity goals, our work in Detroit, TechTown’s alignment with Wayne State in advancing these efforts and more.

 

TechTown Detroit: How does TechTown support entrepreneurship and economic development through the lens of equity? 

Christianne Malone: We support entrepreneurship and economic development in a way that is truly rooted in Detroit. Detroit being a predominantly Black city, home to predominantly people of color, we want to make sure we reach people where they are on their journeys, while also having great knowledge of not only Detroit’s past but its present state. Also looking at where we think Detroit is going in the future and how TechTown can play a role in that vision, especially as we’re supporting small businesses and underrepresented tech founders. Here in Detroit, 80,000- 100,000 people are employed by small businesses, and it’s important to see these businesses as workforce providers and drivers. Detroit was built by small businesses, and we need to ensure that everyone sees themselves in Detroit’s future economy. And ensuring TechTown Detroit provides the best-in-class resources, coaching, support and experience for any business.

What makes TechTown’s approach to supporting entrepreneurship and economic development unique?  

We’ve been around for 20 years, and we have constantly adapted and evolved our programming to meet the current needs of the entrepreneurs here in Detroit and Southeast Michigan. What has always made us a trusted partner is that we are in community. Our small business strategists work with brick-and-mortar businesses and home-based businesses; going into the neighborhoods and to commercial corridors to ensure that those businesses have the support they need to continue growing.  

Additionally, our approach across all our programs is really based on milestones and one-on-one coaching — that’s what truly makes us unique. Entrepreneurs, founders and small business owners who come to work with us are paired with a member of our team who consults on their business needs and helps keep them accountable for reaching those milestones. That’s what gives us a deeper understanding of the businesses that we serve because we have that close relationship with them.  

 

Can you tell us about TechTown’s role in economic development in Detroit and across the metro Detroit region? 

One thing with economic development is it’s quite often associated with big, multi-million-dollar projects or housing. People often assume that economic development is all about these larger projects. But working in this entrepreneurial and small business space, we can’t ignore the fact that you can’t have economic development without small business development. So, it’s having TechTown continue to elevate the importance of our small businesses, no matter if they’re tech-based businesses or retail businesses. There won’t be true economic vitality for any of our communities and neighborhoods unless small businesses and founders are supported along that journey.

How does TechTown focus on equity as it relates to the population and history of Detroit, cycles of poverty and gaps in the tech industry? 

For TechTown, it’s not just a focus on equity. It’s ingrained in who we are and what we do. It’s an organic perspective that we always put into our work. We’re a diverse team, and we also share some of those lived experiences with the people that we serve in various ways. We understand the history of Detroit. We understand that people cannot be left behind and our neighborhoods are only as strong as each one of our residents. We want to make sure that we are helping people rise with the tide of Detroit, specifically in the tech-based industry.  

One thing that makes us unique, too, is we are at the top of the funnel for Detroit’s tech pipeline, and we want to ensure everyone has the opportunity to actualize a tech-based dream. That includes low- and no-code programming for their tech-based ideas, and they don’t have to come in with a college degree. We really want to ensure we’re reducing those barriers. It’s also access to capital; capital has always been huge as it relates to businesses. Our programs are free, and if they’re not free — for example, Retail Boot Camp, you get your whole admission fee refunded to you if you complete the program. We want to make sure that cost isn’t going to be prohibitive.

 

How has TechTown built a reputation as a trusted source for underserved and underrepresented entrepreneurs and founders to establish, scale and grow their ventures?  

Even before I arrived at TechTown, while being in the ecosystem and working in partnership with TechTown, I noticed the organization was always in community and actually in the neighborhoods. It truly goes back to being rooted in community and being Detroit’s first innovation district and entrepreneurship hub. We understand that we have to go out and meet people where they are. People understand that and I think that speaks to our brand equity and relationship capital that we’ve built over the years. Having the trust of the community is the most important thing, especially in this line of work, because people need to trust you with their ideas in order to help them. This brand equity and relationship capital, along with a proven track record of impact and small business results has solidified our reputation as an organization that truly understands and cares about entrepreneurs and our community. 

Speaking of “new generations of entrepreneurs,” can you elaborate on how TechTown is a pipeline for Wayne State students to learn and achieve their own business goals? 

TechTown is located on the north end of Wayne State’s campus and students are always welcome. TechTown is a part of the Division of Entrepreneurship and Economic Development, and we work closely with the Mike Ilitch School of Business, the College of Engineering and the Division of Research and Innovation. We continue to let folks across the university know that we’re a place for them. TechTown provides free resources and workshops. We have free Strategy Sessions with subject matter experts. Our internship program, which is open exclusively to Wayne State students, allows them to work with our program and administrative departments and engage in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Additionally, Wayne State faculty can also become part of those subject matter experts. Our innovation district is here for anyone on campus who is looking to pursue their entrepreneurial initiatives.

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