TechTown Capital Program

About

TechTown’s Capital Program assists companies who have completed a TechTown program, or who are part of the TechTown community, with access to capital to grow their businesses. The Capital Program also helps emerging angel investors who identify as Black, Latinx, and women learn how to invest and use their expertise to support startup companies. Recognizing that funding and navigating the investment process is often a barrier to companies’ growth and investors’ participation, we are committed to providing content, resources, and tangible tools to access and allocate funding that will assist in propelling start-up businesses forward.

Programs / Opportunities -

CATALYST ANGEL PROGRAM

BECOME A CONTRIBUTOR. A CONNECTOR. A CATALYST.

TechTown’s Catalyst Angel Program helps emerging angel investors in the Great Lakes region who identify as Black, Latinx and/or women gain knowledge about investing, engage in curated courses through partner organizations and connect with other investors in local and national angel communities. Participants have the opportunity to maximize investment strategy and expand capital in the ecosystem with the goal of creating economic opportunities for startup companies.

Advantages of Angel Investing

  • Contribute to job growth in your community and beyond by investing in startup companies locally and nationally
  • Learn about angel investing as an asset class
  • Expand individual capital through angel investing
  • Mentor startup founders
  • Strengthen deal flow
  • Engage with, and learn from, other angel investors and processes

Get Started

Complete the interest form. The Catalyst Angel Program accepts participants on a rolling basis through August 31, 2024.

Questions?

Email growthcapital@techtowndetroit.org

Program Requirements

  • To be considered for Catalyst Angel Program, applicants must:
  • Be an accredited investor
  • Have two years or less of angel investing experience
  • Reside in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio or Wisconsin
  • Self-identify as Black, Latinx and/or a woman
  • Commit to completing the six required Angel Capital Association basic courses

In partnership with Angel Capital Association, Ann Arbor Spark, and VentureWell.

This program is made possible by the U.S. Economic Development Administration.

THE BUSINESS ACCELERATOR FUND (BAF) –

The Business Accelerator Fund (BAF) is available to participating business accelerators in Michigan’s statewide SmartZone network. These funds are used toward the delivery of specialized services that are not otherwise available from these business accelerators to assist advanced technology companies, regardless of the company’s geography. A participating business accelerator will engage a third party specialist to help advance the client’s path to commercialization, company success and economic impact for the state of Michigan.

BAF requests are reviewed and awarded through a competitive process.

A company may not receive more than $50,000 in BAF services, though most engagements are in the $7,000 to $15,000 range.

TechTown is a participating partner and administrator of BAF Funding.

BAF Workshop Series ( Required to apply for BAF through TechTown)

TechTown has worked with hundreds of emerging and premier tech-based and tech-enabled organizations. The Tech-Client Portfolio highlights the variety of tech businesses we’ve served and collaborated with. Check out the organizations by category. Visit their sites to learn about their specific offerings and impact.