Liquor Licensing 101
2026-04-02 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Detroit) | TechTown Detroit, 440 Burroughs Street, Detroit, MI, 48202, United States
Thursday, Apr. 2 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

This session will be held in-person at TechTown Detroit. Registration opens at 11:30 a.m., with the session starting promptly at 12:00 p.m.

Understanding how to obtain a liquor license is one of the biggest challenges for new and growing businesses. This workshop provides a clear, practical overview of Michigan’s liquor licensing system, including how the MLCC operates, the types of licenses available, and how the quota system affects your options. You will also learn what Detroit requires beyond state approval and when federal permits are required for breweries, distilleries, wineries, and wholesalers.
Whether you are opening a restaurant or bar, launching a retail shop, or exploring beverage manufacturing, this session will help you understand the path from application to approval. The workshop also highlights common mistakes that slow the process and offers guidance on preparing your documents, timeline, and business plan to keep your project moving.
Key takeaways:

The major categories of liquor licenses
How Michigan’s quota system affects availability and cost
The full licensing process
Detroit‑specific requirements
Key obligations for restaurants, bars, retailers, and manufacturers
Common pitfalls that delay applications and how to avoid them

This Workshop is presented in partnership with TechTown Detroit and Varnum Law

First Thursdays
2026-04-02 17:30 - 19:30 | TechTown Detroit, 440 Burroughs Street, Detroit, MI, 48202, United States
Join us for a dynamic networking event that brings together entrepreneurs, startups, and ecosystem partners in a celebration of innovation and collaboration. First Thursdays is a monthly gathering where the entrepreneurial community comes together to share ideas, learn from one another, and build meaningful relationships. Whether you’re a seasoned business owner or just starting out, you’ll find value in this welcoming space.
Connect with fellow entrepreneurs and industry experts, and discover opportunities to collaborate with like-minded individuals. Each month, we spotlight up-and-coming business owners to share what they do and inspire others in the community. Interested in being featured as a business spotlight participant? Complete the interest form! Join us at First Thursdays and become part of a thriving community.
First Thursdays is made possible with support from the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC).
Reserve your spot today!

Start Studio Lecture Series
2026-04-15 17:30 - 19:30 | TechTown Detroit, 440 Burroughs Street, Detroit, MI, 48202, United States
Join us for our Start Studio Lecture Series! An energizing monthly workshop designed to empower aspiring and early-stage tech founders throughout 2026. Each session brings together entrepreneurs, innovators, and ecosystem partners for a hands on learning, thoughtful discussion, and practical skill-building rooted in the realities of launching and growing a tech-based venture.
Every month features a unique workshop led by a different expert facilitator, offering fresh perspectives and actionable insights across a wide range of topics such as customer discovery and prototyping to fundraising, product strategy, and founder resilience. Whether you’re shaping an early idea or preparing to scale, you’ll find guidance that meets you where you are.
This lecture series is more than education it’ll become a community anchor.
Come connect with fellow founders, exchange ideas, and build relationships with people who understand the challenges and excitement of building something new. Each session also highlights emerging founders in the Start Studio community, offering inspiration and real-world examples of entrepreneurial growth.
Interested in applying for Start Studio ID? Complete the application form here!
Join us every month for our Start Studio Lecture Series and become part of a thriving tech ecosystem. Reserve your spot today!

AI and Automation: Build Night
2026-04-16 18:00 - 21:00 | WSU Industry Innovation Center (I2C), 461 Burroughs St, Detroit, MI, 48202, United States
Join us with Detroit’s builders for an intensive hands-on session where you’ll learn practical AI and automation, build working prototypes with expert mentors, and demo what you shipped by the end of the night.
What is Build Night?
TechTown’s AI and Automation Build Nights are a monthly series designed for beginners, founders, and builders who want to move beyond theory and actually ship something. Whether you’re a starting founder building your next product, a developer learning new tools, or someone just curious about AI then this is your night to experiment, collaborate, and create something real.
No pitch decks. No talking about building. Just build!
Who should attend?

Beginners with no coding experience (we provide templates and guided support)
Founders building products who need mentor help to ship an MVP feature
Developers wanting to learn AI tools while building with experts
Product builders looking to automate workflows and operations
Anyone curious about AI who wants hands-on experience

What you will leave with:

Hands-on mentorship from industry experts
Free tool credits (Lovable, Replit, Zapier, Make, and more)
A working prototype or automation by end of night
Food and refreshments provided
Application pathway for continued TechTown support
Connections to Detroit’s builder and founder community
Demo time to showcase your work and get feedback

Come connect with fellow founders, curious people, exchange ideas, and build relationships with people who understand the challenges and excitement of building something new!
Join us every month for our AI and Automation: Build Night and become part of a thriving tech ecosystem. Reserve your spot today!

Alumni Cluster # 1: Food and Beverage Roundtable
2026-04-20 17:00 - 19:00 | La Terraza Restaurant, 8445 Vernor Hwy,, Detroit, MI, 48209, United States
Monday, April 20 | 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Lunes 20 de abril

This session will be held in-person at La Terraza Restaurant. Check-in opens at 4:45 p.m.
Esta sesión se llevará a cabo de manera presencial en el restaurante La Terraza. Bienvenida comienza a las 4:45 p.m.

Session 1: The Business Behind the Plate
Our first session will bring together food and beverage entrepreneurs: from cafés and restaurants to caterers, food trucks, and meal prep businesses. Whether you run a storefront, pop-up, or delivery-based operation through platforms like DoorDash or UberEats, this is a chance to share experiences and talk about what’s working in today’s F&B climate.
What to expect?

Peer-to-peer conversations, no panels.
Discuss what’s actually working and what’s not.
Share real-world experiences.
Grow your brand together.

Come ready for an open, slide-free conversation about the real-world grind.
Sesión 1: El Negocio Detrás del Plato
Nuestra primera sesión reunirá a emprendedores del sector de alimentos y bebidas: desde cafeterías y restaurantes hasta servicios de catering, food trucks y negocios de preparación de comidas (meal prep).
Ya sea que tengas un local físico, una tienda pop-up o que operes mediante entregas a domicilio a través de plataformas como DoorDash o UberEats, esta es una oportunidad para compartir experiencias y hablar sobre lo que realmente está funcionando en el clima actual del sector.
¿Qué puedes esperar?

Solo conversación, no panelistas.
Discutir lo que realmente funciona y lo que no.
Compartir experiencias reales
Hacer crecer tu marca en conjunto.

Ven listo para una conversacion abierta, sin diapositivas, sobre el día a día real del mundo del negocio detrals del plato.

Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest Top 10 Reveal
2026-04-21 17:00 - 20:00 | TechTown Detroit, 440 Burroughs Street, Detroit, MI, 48202, United States
The moment we’ve all been waiting for is here! After a rigorous selection process, the Top 10 semifinalists of the 2026 Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest by TechTown will be announced. Join us to be the first to meet the contestants!
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
Doors at 5 p.m. | 5:30 – 6 p.m. | Sneak Peek Meet & Greet Happy Hour
This talk show-style fireside chat is your chance to meet the Top 10 semifinalists and ask questions about their business: how and why they got started, where and why they want to be in your neighborhood, and what it would mean if they win.
Note: Seating capacity is limited. The Meet, Mix & Mingle Open House will immediately follow.
6:15 – 8 p.m. | Meet, Mix & Mingle Open House
Mix and mingle with the Top 10 semifinalists and learn about their businesses. Stop by the Open House anytime; come as you are and bring the whole family!
Details
Tickets are $20 and include complimentary drinks and small bites from Hatch Detroit alumni businesses. A donation with your ticket purchase will help provide dedicated support to Hatch alumni as they continue their entrepreneurial journey of opening a storefront.
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

ABOUT THE CONTEST
The Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest by TechTown is a retail competition that gives savvy entrepreneurs the chance to win a $100,000 cash grant and a package of in-kind services to open up their brick-and-mortar storefront in Detroit, Hamtramck, or Highland Park.
The Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest by TechTown is supported by Comerica, EY, and Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses.
Learn more at hatchdetroit.com.
Sign up to receive Hatch Detroit emails and stay in the loop about the contest, alumni and more!

Building a Resilient Business
2026-04-28 11:30 - 13:00 | TechTown Detroit, 440 Burroughs Street, Detroit, MI, 48202, United States
All businesses face adversity sooner or later, but the ones that recover and thrive are those that understand how to take inventory of what they have and adapt to changes.
Join TechTown and ACCESS for this two-hour session to learn how to assess and enhance your business’s resilience. Through engaging activities, expert guidance, and collaborative discussions, you’ll identify key areas of vulnerability and explore practical strategies to adapt, innovate, and grow — even in the face of adversity. Walk away with a personalized resiliency plan tailored to your business’s unique needs.
Why Attend?

Hands-on approach: Build practical, actionable plans tailored to your business.
Interactive learning: Engage with industry experts and fellow business owners for fresh insights and ideas.
Take home results: Leave with a comprehensive, ready-to-implement plan.

Don’t let uncertainty hold you back. Invest in your business’s future with this dynamic workshop and gain the tools, confidence and strategies to weather any storm and seize new opportunities.

This workshop is made possible with support from LISC Detroit.

The SHOP at TechTown
2026-04-29 11:00 - 14:00 | TechTown Detroit, 440 Burroughs Street, Detroit, MI, 48202, United States
Experience the best of Detroit’s small business community at The SHOP, TechTown Detroit’s monthly retail pop-up marketplace! Join us in person on the last Wednesday of every month to explore unique products, connect with local entrepreneurs and uncover your next favorite find. Mark your calendar and join us for a vibrant shopping experience celebrating Detroit’s small business community!
Interested in participating in The SHOP? Submit an interest form today!
The SHOP at TechTown is made possible with support from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation and Wells Fargo.
