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Monday 10am - 6pm Tuesday 10am - 5pm Wednesday 10am - 5pm Thursday 10am - 5pm Friday 10am - 5pm

Build Institute

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Build Institute

Do you have an idea? Want to be your own boss? Dream of starting a business? Join us and get Building!

We help people turn their business ideas into reality by providing them with the necessary tools, resources, and support network in Detroit. To date, we have graduated over 1100 aspiring and experienced entrepreneurs from our classes, many of whom have gone on to start successful businesses in the city. In addition to classes, we offer networking events, mentorship, connections to resources and a nurturing community that allows ideas to develop and flourish over time.

10/23/2025

Open City: Sleigh the Season is TONIGHT @ The Congregation ✨

RSVP now:
https://techtown.zohobackstage.com/OpenCitySleightheSeason

Join BUILD Institute and Tech Town Detroit at 5:30 pm to learn about holiday season sales strategies from some of Detroit’s heaviest hitters in the small business community.

Panel Moderator 📣

Lawrielle West – Founder, KwanzaaMe | +

Panelists 🎁

Sean Williams – Chief Executive Officer, Detroit VS Everybody |

Lauren Stovall – Business Lead & Legacy Preserver, Hot Sam’s Detroit | +

Jennyfer Crawford – Founder, AskJennyfer & All Things Detroit | +

Ronier Golightly – Owner, Motor City Popcorn |

We’ll see you there!

10/20/2025

Join us TONIGHT at BUILD Institute for our FREE Email Marketing Master Class, facilitated by the prolific Cierra Seay, marketing maven and founder of The Revive Group.

Link to register: https://startupspace.app/v2/dynamic-survey/view/210/1956

Are you using your email list to its fullest potential?

✅ Start an email list if you don’t already have one
✅ Turn subscribers into paying customers
✅ Write engaging marketing emails (even if you don’t like writing or using AI)

Email Marketing Master Class Details:

📅 Monday, October 20th, 2025
🏬 In-person @ BUILD
🕕 6pm – 8pm
💲 FREE
📚 Facilitated by Cierra Seay

10/16/2025

We invite you to join us at the final Detroit Soup of 2025 🎤🥣 November 20th, 6 – 8:30pm at The Congregation ⛪☕

Apply to pitch: https://startupspace.app/dynamic-survey/MzcxOA== (en)

Purchase a ticket: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/november-2025-citywide-detroit-soup-tickets-1815793109069?aff=oddtdtcreator

For the uninitiated, Detroit Soup is a community-centric pitch competition where 4️⃣ ideators have 4️⃣ minutes to pitch their business, project, or idea, before taking 4️⃣ questions from the audience.

For those in the audience, $10 gets you dinner and a vote on which of the four you want to see take home the funding 💰 The ideator with the most votes at the end of the evening goes home with all the money from the door and a matching grant from BUILD Institute and Lake Trust Credit Union (). A huge thank you to Lake Trust for their ongoing support of Detroit Soup and the small business economy.

Be there for a night of great ideas, strong community, and delicious food before the holiday season ramps up.

We’ll see you there!

10/14/2025

Thank you to everyone who attended last week’s Access to Capital Workshop and much gratitude to our partners at CIBC, the National Microloan Conference, and financial advisors who provided 1-on-1 coaching during the event 🙏🏽 This was an evening packed with community, conversations, and resources focused on funding for your small business.

For more information and resources around small business capital, be sure to sign up for the National Microloan Conference, here in Detroit, on November 5th and 6th at the Hollywood Casino-Hotel 💸 Details at microloanconference.com

10/13/2025

⛄🎁 OPEN CITY: Sleigh the Season 🎁⛄ presented by BUILD Institute and TechTown Detroit | NEXT Thursday, October 23rd @ The Congregation ⛪

Link to register:
https://techtown.zohobackstage.com/OpenCitySleightheSeason

Join BUILD Institute and TechTown Detroit next Thursday for an engaging panel with successful Detroit-based entrepreneurs as they discuss the proven processes, promotions, and preparations that will propel your small business to have a prosperous holiday season ✨

Panel Moderator 📣

Lawrielle West – Founder, KwanzaaMe | +

Panelists 🎤

Sean Williams – Chief Executive Officer, Detroit VS Everybody |

Lauren Stovall – Business Lead & Legacy Preserver, Hot Sam’s Detroit | +

Jennyfer Crawford – Founder, AskJennyfer & All Things Detroit | +

Ronier Golightly – Owner, Motor City Popcorn |

Space is limited – RSVP now!

10/10/2025

BUILD is thrilled that our resources, events, and programs are featured on the MI Small Business Helper! So much gratitude for the team and for designing this incredible platform – finding the right resource as a small business owner in Southeast Michigan has never been easier!

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MI Small Business Helper is a free to use, digital platform connecting Southeast Michigan entrepreneurs and founders to trusted local resources, guides, and programs — all in one easy-to-use place. Whether you’re starting out or scaling up, it’s your entry point into the small business support network!

The platform includes the following features and tools, all in one place for premium access:

✅ Searchable directory of resources
✅ Step-by-step business guides
✅ Curated events calendar
✅ Library of downloadable resources
✅ Regulatory considerations
✅ Live grant opportunities

Visit michigansmallbusinesshelper.com to start exploring today!

10/09/2025

🎉 Congratulations to the incredible culinary graduates of FoodBiz Growth Lab 🎉

This group of growth-stage Detroit food entrepreneurs spent the past 10 weeks immersed in designing an actionable and sustainable growth strategy to ensure long-term success in the food industry. The FoodBiz Growth Lab program comprised of expert-led workshops, tailored mentorship, peer collaboration, and capital-readiness coaching.

A massive thank you to our partners at the Michigan Good Food Fund, our program facilitator, Nezaa Bandele, and our team of Food Biz mentors (Heather Levine, Marcus Reliford, Lester Gouvia, and Joyce Suber)

Be sure to take note and support these remarkable food businesses as they continue to flourish:

The Good Food Truck -
Modern Maison Co -
More Life Foods -
Da Bomb Taco -
J.Elise Tea -
Lorraine’s Premium BBQ Sauce -
Sweet Potato Delights -

10/08/2025

Join us on November 3rd for the final PNC Small Business Finance Workshop on 🚨 Financial Emergencies 🚨

Link to register: https://startupspace.app/v2/dynamic-survey/view/210/2069

At this workshop, business owners will learn about types of financial emergencies that can occur and how these emergencies can impact their businesses. Participants will learn strategies they can use to protect themselves from financial emergencies before they occur as well as how to prepare for financial emergencies by creating a personalized financial plan.

Business owners will learn how to:

🚨 Understand the risks small businesses may face during a financial emergency
🚨 Prepare for financial emergencies by creating a personalized plan
🚨 Seek out and access resources provided specifically for small businesses

10/07/2025

THIS THURSDAY @ BUILD 📅 Join us for the Access to Capital Workshop presented by CIBC, the National Microloan Conference, and BUILD Institute 🙌🏼

🔗 Link to register: https://startupspace.app/v2/dynamic-survey/view/210/10192

We are looking forward to bringing you an evening of capital, coaching, and community leading up to the National Microloan Conference in Detroit (November 5 – 6). This event dedicated to small business funding will feature two workshops led by CIBC and National Microloan Conference Leadership.

Those workshops include:

💰 “Finance Your Business” – Marilyn Lawrence, CIBC, Associate Managing Director

and

📝 “How to Successfully Apply for a Microloan” – Warren Galloway, National Microloan Conference, President & CEO

Come out on Thursday from 6 – 8pm if you are a business owner seeking a supportive community and answers for how to fund your business, what type of capital is best for you, and which financial institutions are here to help.

10/03/2025

⛄🎁 OPEN CITY: Sleigh the Season 🎁⛄ presented by BUILD Institute and TechTown Detroit | Thursday, October 23rd @ The Congregation ⛪

Link to register:
https://techtown.zohobackstage.com/OpenCitySleightheSeason

Join BUILD Institute and TechTown Detroit for an evening of candid conversation with local entrepreneurs as they share proven strategies to maximize holiday sales. From creative promotions and customer engagement to operational planning and scaling, this panel will equip small business owners with actionable tools to finish the year strong and step into the holiday season with confidence.

Panel Moderator 📣

Lawrielle West – Founder, KwanzaaMe | +

Panelists 🎤

Sean Williams – Chief Executive Officer, Detroit VS Everybody |

Lauren Stovall – Business Lead & Legacy Preserver, Hot Sam’s Detroit | +

Jennyfer Crawford – Founder, AskJennyfer & All Things Detroit | +

Ronier Golightly – Owner, Motor City Popcorn |

Space is limited so RSVP now to reserve your space and SLEIGH the 2025 holiday season with BUILD Institute and Tech Town Detroit 🛷💪🏽

10/01/2025

BUILD is proud to continue working alongside St. Patrick Senior Center in Midtown, bringing vital small business education to older adult entrepreneurs across Detroit. This October, we’re offering TWO FREE cohorts of our 8-week BUILD Basics program, open to Detroit and Highland Park residents age 55 and up.

Details about both cohorts can be found in the post graphic, and you can register today with the link below:
https://startupspace.app/v2/dynamic-survey/view/210/2512?fbclid=IwY2xjawNKUsZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFnVTZuVVpoemM4Rk5sdTBEAR4HaWG6DaHfHdwbtmm4k77LnpBu8yCGMUJA9Mlu_LADWbDPFDbZx-fmRtewwQ_aem_t1u2O3Geau2Jw0gj_aqN9Q

After the success of our first cohort earlier this year, we look forward to watching a new batch of entrepreneurs develop their businesses this fall. 🍁

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Whether you’re finding your footing as an aspiring business owner or are a seasoned entrepreneur looking to restructure your foundation, BUILD Basics is an immersive 8-week business development program focused on writing (or re-writing) your comprehensive business plan.

Each week takes you through a different dimension of your business plan (legal structuring, market research, financial projections, etc.) and BUILD Basics gives you the expert facilitation, structure, and accountability you need to work ON your business while you’re working IN your business.

09/29/2025

✨🎉 Congratulations to Flip the Switch 529 for winning the $1,510 prize at Creative Arts Detroit Soup last Thursday at 🎉✨

The creative energy in the room was powerful and undeniable as it flowed through all four beautiful pitches, each note sang by , every bowl of chili served by , and through the spirit of our enthusiastic audience ⚡

Thank you to everyone who pitched their idea, supported their friends and family, performed, provided food, and opened their hearts and minds to make this event so special 🙏🏼

A special thank you to for your ongoing support in helping us provide Detroit artists and entrepreneurs with the knowledge, tools, funding, and opportunities to succeed in this creative economy.

The last Detroit Soup this year is on November 20th at The Congregation – mark your calendars, spread the word, and apply to pitch your business, idea or project 🎤

Address

1620 Michigan Avenue, Suite 120
Detroit, MI
48216

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 6pm
Tuesday	10am - 5pm
Wednesday	10am - 5pm
Thursday	10am - 5pm
Friday	10am - 5pm

Telephone

+13132653590

Website

http://www.buildinstitute.org/

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