Applications now open for the 13th annual
entrepreneurial contest to find the next winning brick-and-mortar
small business
DETROIT, March 3,
2025 /PRNewswire/ -- TechTown Detroit and Comerica
Bank announce the return of the Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest by
TechTown, a small business competition that awards $100,000 in startup funding as well as support
services to one entrepreneur seeking to open a brick-and-mortar
storefront in Detroit,
Hamtramck or Highland
Park. The competition, first launched in 2011, bolsters small
business development in Detroit
and will take place over the next four months, with the winning
business crowned in June.
Applications, available on HatchDetroit.com, open
Monday, March 3, at noon and will
close on Friday, April 4.
Entrepreneurs with a retail concept looking to establish their
first brick-and-mortar location in Detroit, Hamtramck or Highland Park are eligible to apply.
"Detroit's small business
community is built on the strength of its entrepreneurs,
and TechTown is proud to support these business innovators
through the Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest," said Christianne Malone, Assistant Vice President for
Economic Development at Wayne State
University and Chief Program Officer of TechTown Detroit.
"We strive to inspire and cultivate Detroit's small business development through
top-notch entrepreneurial resources, financial support, and
valuable partnerships."
Information sessions for interested applicants will be held the
week of March 17.
The small business contest includes two rounds of public voting
to determine the Top 10 and Top 4 entrepreneurs, allowing the
community to vote for their favorite business.
The competition culminates June 11
with the annual Hatch Off, where the Top 4 entrepreneurs present
their business plans to a panel of judges and a live audience.
There, the winner will receive the $100,000 grand prize that also includes a
business support package from TechTown Detroit, Wayne State University's entrepreneurship hub.
Comerica Bank and Comerica Charitable Foundation Increase
Support
As a proven launching pad for aspiring business
owners, Comerica Bank and the Comerica Charitable Foundations are
increasing their commitment to TechTown's Hatch Detroit program to
amplify the impact on Detroit's
small business economy.
Recognizing the cost of starting and sustaining a business has
increased, and to further their commitment to ensuring the success
of the Hatch Detroit program, Comerica Bank and the Comerica
Charitable Foundation have increased their financial support to a
combined total of $200,000 this year,
a $50,000 increase from the previous
three years.
"Comerica Bank was founded in Detroit more than 175 years ago, and we remain
dedicated to supporting the city's entrepreneurship and the
development of small businesses that make up the lifeblood of this
community," said Meghan Storey,
Comerica Bank Senior Vice President and Michigan Director of Small Business
Banking.
In addition to its financial commitment, Comerica works
alongside TechTown to provide in-kind support, such as technical
services for contestants, during the contest.
Since 2019, Comerica Bank has provided the $100,000 grand prize for the Comerica Hatch
Detroit Contest by TechTown winner and will do so again this year.
This year, Comerica Bank will also be contributing an additional
$50,000, in tandem with a
$50,000 grant from the Comerica
Charitable Foundation, to TechTown for organizational support of
the Hatch Detroit program to assist with its ongoing incubation of
small businesses.
"Working closely with small businesses, we see extraordinary
entrepreneurs rich in ideas and passion who have dedicated their
lives to launching and growing a business but remain in need of
resources and mentorship. Year after year, TechTown and Hatch
Detroit has provided a platform of extensive technical services and
guidance needed to help entrepreneurs succeed, creating a strong
foundation for Detroit's small
business ecosystem," said Storey.
Including this year's contributions and grants, Comerica
Bank and the Comerica Charitable Foundation have collectively
committed over $1.3 million into
Hatch Detroit since first supporting the small business program in
2012.
TechTown's Commitment to Small Businesses and Hatch
Detroit
Last year, TechTown celebrated 20 years serving
Detroit as a vital incubator for
small businesses and entrepreneurs, dedicated to revitalizing the
city through sustainable growth by supporting tech startups and
small businesses.
In 2022, Hatch Detroit was integrated into TechTown's suite
of entrepreneurial programs and services.
Adding Hatch Detroit to its small business platform strengthened
one of the city's most popular and successful entrepreneurial
programs designed to transform neighborhoods through new
brick-and-mortar retail shops.
Since then, Hatch Detroit alumni have opened their
brick-and-mortar locations in five different neighborhoods,
including: Craig's Coffee (Midtown), JP Makes and Bakes (New
Center), K Walker Initiative (Midtown), Lily's & Elise
(Livernois Avenue of Fashion), Next Chapter Books (East Indian
Village), Shell Shock'd Tacos (Midtown), and Sepia Coffee Project
(Highland Park).
The Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest by TechTown has helped
create some of Detroit's most
successful and well-known businesses, including winners G.L.A.M.
Body Scrubs (2024), Bouncing Around The Motor City (2023), Little
Liberia (2022), 27th Letter Books
(2019), Baobab Fare (2017), Meta Physica Massage (2016), Sister Pie
(2014), Batch Brewery Company (2013) and La Feria (2012).
Under TechTown's services and support, Bouncing Around the Motor
City, Little Liberia and G.L.A.M. Body Scrubs are scheduled to open
in 2025, along with Hatch Detroit alum Ice Cream Detroit.
In 2024, Tiffany Cartwright,
founder and owner of G.L.A.M. Body Scrubs, won the Comerica Hatch
Detroit Contest by TechTown . G.L.A.M. is a certified woman- and
minority-owned business based in Detroit that specializes in natural, organic
body scrubs. It provides jobs, training and mentorship to
underserved individuals, especially women who have been victims of
domestic violence and human trafficking, as well as returning
citizens.
Together, Hatch Detroit alumni have opened more than 50
businesses, employ more than 500 people and have invested more than
$7 million in their businesses.
KEY COMERICA HATCH DETROIT CONTEST DATES:
March 3: Applications open
at noon
Week of March 17: Information
sessions take place
April 4: Applications
close
April 14: Top 25 contestants
notified
May 15: Top 10 contestants
revealed
May 16-23: Top 10 public
voting takes place
May 27: Top 4 announced
June 2-11: Top 4 public voting
takes place
June 11: Winner announced at
Hatch Off
Comerica Bank, a subsidiary of Comerica Incorporated, has served
Michigan longer than any other
bank with a continuous presence dating back more than 175 years to
its Detroit founding in 1849. It
is the largest bank employer in metro Detroit and has more than 4,300 employees
(FTE) statewide. With one of the largest banking center networks in
Michigan, Comerica nurtures
lifelong relationships with unwavering integrity and financial
prudence. Comerica positively impacts the lives of Michigan residents by helping customers be
successful, providing financial support that assists hundreds of
charitable organizations, and actively participating in
Detroit's downtown revitalization.
Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA) is a financial services company
strategically aligned by three business segments: The Commercial
Bank, The Retail Bank, and Wealth Management. Follow on
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Comerica,
X: @ComericaBank and Instagram: @comerica_bank.
TechTown Detroit, Wayne State University's entrepreneurship
hub, is a nonprofit business service organization that
provides programs, education and resources for early- to
growth-stage small businesses and tech entrepreneurs. By
building bridges for entrepreneurs to succeed, TechTown is
accelerating an inclusive economy for Detroit and Southeast Michigan. Since 2007, TechTown has
supported more than 6,090 companies, which created 2,277 jobs and
raised more than $406 million in
startup and growth capital. For more information, visit
techtowndetroit.org.
Hatch Detroit supports both
existing and new retail initiatives in the cities of Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park. Hatch Detroit was founded in 2011 to give residents
and aspiring entrepreneurs an opportunity to have a voice in
neighborhood retail development and joined TechTown Detroit's suite
of entrepreneurial programs and services in 2022. Beyond the
contest, Hatch Detroit provides funding, exposure and mentoring in
support of its alumni entrepreneurs. With support from Hatch
Detroit, 50 alumni have opened businesses. They employ over 500
people and have invested over $10
million in economic development. To learn more, visit
hatchdetroit.com.
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