If you’re serious about your startup, have an innovative technology or want to play a larger role in the city’s burgeoning tech industry, TechTown is the place to start. We can help you with proof of concept, incubation and commercialization services.
Support for Local Businesses
We can help you start or grow a retail business like a bakery, coffee shop, clothing boutique or grocery store. We also support service-based or lifestyle businesses like fitness studios or hair salons, as well as small manufacturers.
How TechTown Supports Tech Startups
TechTown Business Incubation Center
TechTown Business Incubation Center (TBIC) provides customized support based on each tech startup’s unique business needs. Ideally, startups entering incubation have a business model based on demonstrated customer need and a technology in the early prototype stage, or will have graduated from a tech-focused accelerator program.
DTX Launch Detroit Student Accelerator
An intensive 10-week summer accelerator for college students and recent graduates aspiring to launch a technology startup. Participants will receive a stipend of $2,500 per individual (up to $7,500 per venture team) to test out their entrepreneurial dreams.
DTX D-Venture + DTX Fellows
The D-Venture entrepreneur-in-residence (EIR) program seats entrepreneurial-minded professionals to mine the underutilized and/or underdeveloped intellectual property developed in Detroit. The DTX Fellows program places high-quality, mid-level talent into Detroit’s startups and entrepreneurial support organizations.
Open Office Hours + Ask an Expert
Labs Open Office Hours
Want guidance on which TechTown program is right for you? Looking for feedback on a business idea or expertise on navigating the ecosystem? Sign up here for a Labs Open Office Hour session to talk to one of our entrepreneurs-in-residence.
Ask an Expert
TechTown also offers regular Ask an Expert consultations with members of our Professional Services Network. Attorneys, marketing and finance professionals, venture capitalists, tech firms, health industry professionals and others are available for one-on-one appointments to answer your questions.
Click here to see the list of available experts and schedule an appointment.
How TechTown Supports Local Businesses
Launch a Local Business
SWOT City is a customized support program for brick-and-mortar small businesses in Detroit neighborhoods.
Our staff of passionate, skilled professionals provides one-on-one assistance to help launch, stabilize and grow local businesses and strengthen neighborhood commercial districts.
Retail Boot Camp
At the heart of our Retail Services program is our Retail Boot Camp, an intensive, 10-week program that prepares serious entrepreneurs for the opening of their brick-and-mortar establishments in Detroit.
If you are preparing to open a small business in the city in the next six to 12 months, this is the program for you!
Retail Pop-Ups in Detroit
TechTown’s Retail Services help promising retail entrepreneurs prepare for the launch of their brick-and-mortar businesses. We provide a range of pop-up opportunities plus customized coaching and mini boot camp workshops.
Open Office Hours + Ask an Expert
Open Office Hours
Want guidance on which Blocks program is right for you? Looking for feedback on a business idea or expert guidance on navigating the ecosystem? Sign up here for a Blocks Open Office Hour to talk to a small business expert from our Blocks team.
Si prefiere conducir la consulta en español, por favor, haga la cita en la area de Southwest; la consulta se puede manejar en español o inglés en ambos vecindarios. Puede comunicarse con la Gerente Bilingüe de Proyectos de SWOT City directamente espanol@techtowndetroit.org para servicio en español.)
Ask an Expert
TechTown also offers regular Ask an Expert consultations with members of our Professional Services Network. Attorneys, marketing and finance professionals, business plan consultants and more are available for one-on-one appointments to answer your questions.
Click here to see the list of available experts and schedule an appointment.