STEEP

There is no cost to participants for STEEP Detroit. We are grateful to General Motors and the National Science Foundation for their generous support of this program.

STEEP Detroit is designed with deliberate considerations of the fullness of schedule of modern women. Generally, most sessions will be early evening, with the potential for occasional weekend sessions. Participants are expected to attend regular weekly sessions and occasional monthly ‘highlights’ event. Weekly sessions focus on tools and topics to position your business for things such as sustainable growth and capital investment. Monthly networking and highlights events provide exposure to successful business owners, access to networks of individuals and organizations that can support your business, and provide additional space for “real talk” on topics particular to Black/African-American women entrepreneurs. In total, this is an approximately 25 hr/month commitment. In early 2021 (late January/early February), STEEP Detroit will host a kick-off for all participants. (Date to be determined.) In early fall of 2021, STEEP Detroit will host a boot camp for all participants. The boot camp will be over 2 days. (Date to be determined.)

While we acknowledge scheduling challenges of participants, it is critical that participants engage in all training sessions for STEEP Detroit to have its intended impact on the growth and increased sustainability of your business. Participants must attend 85% of all training sessions synchronously with their colleagues. For participants who must miss a session due to scheduling conflict, all virtual sessions will be recorded and in-person sessions will either be recorded or summarized in written form. Participants who miss a session must review recording or notes of each missed session. The boot camp includes personalized encounters with coaches. Therefore, the boot camp will not be available as a recorded or noted session and must be attended in its entirety.

This program has been planned with both virtual and in-person options, and will be executed with the safety of our participants and our trainers, coaches, and experts in mind. The first 4 months of the program is confirmed as virtual and all trainings and special sessions will be live and interactive online. We will review the science of the pandemic, the rules and protocols of the state of Michigan and all participating partners every 2 months to determine if in-person options will be used.

STEEP defines a small business broadly as a business positioned for growth whose owner-operators will benefit from intensive, informed training that supports increased sustainable growth, preparation for capital investment, and broadened network building designed to support Black/African-American women entrepreneurs in STEM, science, technology, and technology-enabled businesses.

We do not define a small business strictly by its age or size. Particular industries may require more daily operating or growth capital than others, but STEEP recognizes that the need for support in sustainable growth tools, networks, and capital access is not as simple as calculating daily operating costs or current staff levels. We also recognize that business of any age can be considering the use of a new technology, refreshing a previous innovation, or pivoting to a tech-enabled platform – and be considered “young” because of these shifts. Additionally, STEEP recognizes that the intersection of race and gender in business ownership has unique implications that may nullify traditional age and size definitions of “small business.”

If you think your business is “too big” or “too small,” please reach out directly at programs@techtowndetroit.org. We are happy to talk with individual applicants prior to submission.

STEEP aims to support current businesses. If you are still in the idea stage, we recommend exploring other programs provided by STEEP program partners that support idea-stage entrepreneurs.

STEEP defines Black/African-American woman-owned business as a business that is 51% owned and operated by a Black/African-American woman or Black/African-American women.

STEEP honors each of our rights of ethnic and racial self-identification and description. In seeking Black American and African-American applicants, STEEP welcomes applications from American women of the African Diaspora and/or women who self-identify as Black American or African-American, inclusive of those of African, Caribbean, and South American heritage.

STEEP honors each of our rights of gender self-identification and description. In seeking women applicants, STEEP welcomes applications from those who identify their gender as woman or female.