Haz un recorrido a estos negocios de Detroit que muestran ofrendas del Día de los Muertos
A medida que se acerca la celebración anual mexicana, analizamos el significado de la celebración y las formas de mostrar apoyo en Detroit.
Negocios multigeneracionales en las comunidades hispana/latina de Detroit
En honor al Mes de la Herencia Hispana/Latina, destacamos a algunos de nuestros clientes locales hispanos/latinos que son dueños y manejan pequeños comercios con sus familias. Read this blog in…
Angel investor spotlight: Kim Frazier
Catalyst Angel Program participant Kim Frazier was recently interviewed by Nicholas Slappey, program coordinator at TechTown Detroit. Kim shared her investing journey to and the importance of angel investing. Tell…
Catalyst Angel Program Spotlight: DeWayne Williams
Nicholas Slappey, program coordinator at TechTown Detroit, recently interviewed Catalyst Angel Program participant, technologist and angel investor DeWayne Williams. He shared his experience as an angel investor and insight for…
TechTown receives grant to accelerate economic growth
TechTown will gain $3.5 million over the next three to four years to run a software accelerator, pilot technologies in neighborhoods around Detroit, and coordinate the efforts of the Mobility Accelerator Innovation Network (MAIN).
What makes TechTown a cool place to work?
TechTown was recently named to Crain’s Detroit Business’ 2022 Cool Places to Work list! While our company tagline is “We Mean Business” based on the work that we do supporting…
Diversity Awareness Month featuring Anne Maghas
Dash Group is in the logistics business which is very male-dominated so we are keenly aware of some biases that may exist towards those who are not in the “core group”. Starting with our hiring practices, we intentionally position the jobs we hire for with the full metrics of what it takes to succeed
June, Immigrant Heritage Month
Celebrate the Immigrant Heritage Month by recognizing that immigrant-entrepreneurs play a big role by driving innovation and job growth. They are a critical component of the resilient Detroit’s economy.
April is National Arab American Heritage Month
National Arab American Heritage Month was first proclaimed by Congresswoman Debbie Dingell and has since been recognized by the Department of State in April 2021. Arab American business owners have…
Working at TechTown by Kelly Kozlowski
These days, we’re trying to be a little more loud and proud about all the reasons TechTown is a great place to work. Since part of my job as COO…
Innovator Interview: Ramy Habib and Sean Carroll, HoneyCure by EnBiologics, Inc.
TechTown and the Rocket Community Fund have partnered to shine the spotlight on business owners and ecosystem service providers who responded quickly to the COVID-19 pandemic. As we count down…
Radical Inclusion in Tech
Tech entrepreneurship is a powerful force for addressing societal problems and opportunities. Dr. Marlo Rencher, TechTown’s director of technology-based programs, benchmarked some of the best practices for creating an inclusive tech entrepreneurship environment.
Collaborations Matter
TechTown’s SWOT City team is a customized support program for brick-and-mortar small businesses in Detroit neighborhoods. As part of this support, SWOT City team members (Portfolio Managers) connect small businesses to a rich network of subject matter experts in support of their coaching efforts. This group of professionals cares about strengthening Detroit through a unique approach to commercial corridor revitalization, job creation and economic development.There are many important aspects to running a small business. In today’s competitive omnichannel sales environment, a website that connects you to customers, represents your brand, provides sales opportunities and enhances your online presence is vital.On July 3, TechTown partnered again with Rebrand Cities, a global civic design partnership with Wordpress.com, and Venture for America Fellows (VFA) to host a hackathon style event, in which 30 Detroit small businesses were assisted in developing their first websites. Two hundred VFA Fellows created new websites for businesses, led workshops and provided one-on-one sessions to help educate business owners on brand building, domain research and design.Six SWOT City businesses (including a Retail Boot Camp graduate) worked in partnership with VFA Fellows to produce new websites:Razzle Dazzle Nail Supply, Chasity Jones | razzledazzlesupply.com Triangulo Dorado, Adrian and Karina Torre | triangulo-dorado.comMangonadas del Barrio, Antonio and Maribel Hernandez | Mangonadas del BarrioLa Rosita, Angelica Saenz | larositarestaurant.comEl Caporal, Antonio and Aracely Canchola | elcaporaldetroit.comQuince Primaveras, Eulalia Piña | 15primaverasllc.com“For so many years I tried to have a website for my business,” said SWOT City client, Eulalia Piña, owner of Quince Primaveras.” This seemed almost impossible since they are very costly. Finally, I have a website where customers from Macomb, Oakland and Wayne County can see the variety and brands of gowns we carry. I am really loving my website.”SWOT City Portfolio Managers at TechTown are here to support, encourage and connect businesses with other professionals who will offer the specific expertise needed to grow your business. TechTown has a broad network of tools and resources, including subject matter experts, workshops and the Accenture Skills to Succeed online learning platform. At TechTown we know, collaborations matter!
Next-Level Pop-up Merchandising
With a little planning and purposeful decision-making, you can create a visually stunning pop-up display that can be scaled for a variety of spaces, make a strong statement about your brand and gain the interest of new customers.Pop-ups are a great way to test products, broaden brand exposure and awareness and gain new customers. Unfortunately, many vendors underestimate the value that well-executed visual merchandising can have on gaining new customers and increasing sales. If your display is boring or unattractive, customers will keep walking by, but if you can gain their attention, you have an opportunity to convert them to a customer for life.The effort you put into your pop-up display can have a significant impact on your bottom line. Visual merchandising is an art. It doesn’t need to be complicated, simply make thoughtful and purposeful choices and create a set of tools to convey your brand story to potential customers.TechTown now offers a custom fixture library to vendors at our monthly pop-up, The SHOP, to help entrepreneurs learn and practice these three tips for next-level pop-up merchandising:
How to identify the right Microloan for your business
Most people believe that when you apply for a microloan the “one fits all” concept will be the norm. With microlending, this is not true. Microlenders lend up to $50,000 with slightly higher interest rates than bank loans; however, they have a much more flexible underwriting criterion. Are microlenders lending in Detroit? Absolutely. They are providing access to much-needed capital for entrepreneurs throughout the city. Microlenders usually will lend to entrepreneurs if they don’t qualify for traditional small business loans, but what we are seeing in Detroit is that microlenders and traditional lenders are partnering on loan deals with entrepreneurs. Community lenders are filling in the lending gap between microlenders and traditional lenders (i.e. Detroit Development Fund, Invest Detroit and other similar lenders).
Ariya’s Apparel & Accessories
“Just learning about TechTown and Retail Boot Camp, to me, was just an eye-opener of just knowing the type of resources that we have available in the city.” Ariya’s Apparel & Accessories, a women’s boutique that opened in April in Grandmont Rosedale Workplace, specializes in modern, modest apparel for women ages 25 and up.