A business incubator program supporting the need for greater inclusion of underrepresented women in STEM and STEM-enabled businesses
The Julian C. Madison Building LLC, WSU STEM Innovation Learning Center, TechTown and the Midwest I-Corps are pleased to announce STEEP: Supporting the Climb – A business incubator program for Black- and African-American women entrepreneurs in STEM, science, tech, and beyond as they aspire to increased growth, measurable sustainability, and capital investment in their businesses.
STEEP Detroit is a 15 week business incubator program for Black/African-American women entrepreneurs or small-business owners of science, tech, or tech-enabled companies. STEEP Detroit is designed to support the particular needs of Black/African-American female business owners and entrepreneurs in the science, tech, or tech-enabled sector in preparing their business to be sustainable, growth- and investment-ready, and customer-focused.
Applications will open on March 22, 2021 for the second round of cohort.
Sign up for STEEP Detroit:
Applications will open on March 22, 2021 for the second round of cohort.
Learn more about STEEP Detroit by completing this request form to listen to the Zoom audio recording from our March 23, 2021 Informational Session.
Questions or Concerns? Email programs@techtowndetroit.org.
Program Timeline:
- • March 22, 2021: STEEP Detroit cohort II application open
- • April 5, 2021: STEEP Detroit cohort II application due at 11:59 p.m.
- • April 19, 2021: Selected applicants will be notified
- • June 3, 2021: STEEP Detroit cohort II begins
Program Overview:
STEEP Detroit recognizes that from energy and construction to hair care to app-enabled personalized herbal supplements to intuitive UI supports for business or community needs, Black/African-American women are a necessary and underrepresented asset in science, tech, and tech-enabled industries – and these businesses exist within our community, ready to move to the next level.
STEEP Detroit supports early and mid-stage businesses with intensive training in customer discovery and refinement, business brand, traction and identity, personal brand and identity, and capital-ready and operations upgrade boot camp. STEEP Detroit also includes connections to powerful Black/African-American female business role models and decision makers, community and network capacity building among participants, and access to powerful entrepreneur support tools and network that extend beyond program.
Participants will engage in weekly training sessions, monthly networking and/or expert presentations opportunities, and a “boot camp” (2-day intensive) session. Additionally, participants will be expected to complete self-directed learning related to their specific business needs. STEEP Detroit includes a $500 participation stipend.
STEEP Detroit recognizes that in addition to the typical challenges of managing and growing a sustainable business, Black/African-American female entrepreneurs and business owners face additional challenges as they navigate the business impact of the intersectionality of race and gender on community, capital, and network. STEEP Detroit deliberately addresses these challenges by incorporating frank discussion, authentic navigation tools, and strategic network building opportunity, preparation for diverse capital investments that provide particularly powerful supports for Black/African-American female business leaders.