Ultimate Guide of Michigan Startup Resources

Michigan is growing its startup community. 

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Many Bamboo members are building software, cybersecurity, mobility, and e-commerce companies out of Bamboo. 

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As a startup founder it’s important to tap into resources that will fuel your launch. Whether it’s finding pre-seed capital to get started or tapping into Michigan’s founder community our team has compiled a list of resources available to you. 

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This will be updated periodically, so please reach out with additions: info@bamboodetroit.com. 

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Idea Stage & Seed Stage Companies 

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Build Institute - for those seeking early stage help with a business plan 

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313 Ventures - a resource for mico-grants and investments to get from first idea to first round

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Invest Detroit Fam Funding Program - $5K-$25K seed funding for “post idea - mvp stage”  

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U of M Entrepreneurship Legal Clinic - free legal support forming your company 

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Wayne Stage Legal Clinic - free legal support forming your company 

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Varnum Law - free legal services forming and preparing your company for investment via Mi Springboard 

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Black Tech Detroit - a community online and in person that meetups and supports new ideas 

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Michigan Founders Fund - a founder network for support at any stage 

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Founders Boost - Pre-accelerator by Techstars that’s virtual but available in Detroit

Bamboo - virtual memberships get you a professional mail address and monthly perks 

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Accelerators & Incubators

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Techstars Detroit - a global accelerator based in Detroit offering $125K investments

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Ann Arbor Spark - an accelerator that grants startups $25,000-150,000 to help you launch

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TechTown Startup Studio & Incubator - help to get you to a revenue driving MVP

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Start Garden - community grants to help launch your startup

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Desai Accelerator - Seven month program for tech-enabled startups

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100K Ventures - ideas accelerator in Flint, Michigan 

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Centropolis - accelerator for hardware and mobility

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Lean Rocket - Jackson, Michigan’s entrepreneur and incubator hub

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Conquer Accelerator - Michigan State’s accelerator 

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Seamless Accelerator - Helps startups, businesses, and governments work together

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Velocity - Sterling Heights accelerator and incubator

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20 Fathoms - Traverse City tech hub and incubator 

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10,000 Small Businesses - Goldman Sachs' free mini MBA program for small businesses in Detroit area 

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Plug n Play Detroit - an accelerator for mobility startups connecting with OEMs & Tier 1 suppliers

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Bamboo - startup programming with fellow operators scaling up, space that’s turnkey

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Piloting Stage & Mobility Companies

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Michigan Central - space and community for piloting a mobility startup 

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MEDC Mobility Grants - grant funding to pilot your mobility technology

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Centropolis - an accelerator for hardware and mobility

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Automation Alley - membership community and support for manufacturing/mobility

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Mobility Meetup - go to event for connecting with the mobility community 

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Plug n Play Detroit - for mobility startups connecting with OEMs & Tier 1 suppliers

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Hiring Talent for Startups in Michigan

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Purpose Jobs - a resource for fast growing & hiring companies 

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BairdTech - an expert recruitment firm for tech startups in Michigan

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Amy Cell Talent - expert recruiter in technology leadership

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Apple Academy - in Detroit a school training coders and working on startup projects

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Additional Resources - via Ann Arbor spark guide

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Venture For America - program for hiring talent to work at startups

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Angel & Venture Capital Investors in Michigan

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Michigan Angel Community - resource for becoming and connecting with angels 

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Woodward Angels - monthly group investing based in Detroit

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Detroit Venture Partners - active VC in the Detroit and Michigan space

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K Zoo Angels - group investing based in Kalamazoo 

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Pointe Angels - group investing based in grosse pointe

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Flint Angels - group investing based in Flint 

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Blue Water Angels - group investing based in Mid-Michigan

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Birmingham Angels / Cityside Ventures - group investing based in Birmingham

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Grand Angels - group investing based in Grand Rapids

Michigan Venture Capital Investors - database of VCs in Michigan or investing in Michigan

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Other Funds via Ann Arbor Spark - https://annarborusa.org/spark-services/funding/

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Growth Stage Companies 

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Endeavor Great Lakes - the leading community for growth stage startups with Detroit presence

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Michigan Founders Fund - can participate in this founder network at any stage

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Bamboo - startup programming with fellow operators scaling up, space that’s turnkey

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Pitch Practice & Competition Opportunities

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Ann Arbor New Tech - Ann Arbor’s meetup for presenting new ideas and companies

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Detroit New Tech  - Metro Detroit’s meetup for presenting new ideas and companies 

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New Enterprise Forum - Based in Ann Arbor, regular pitches and support 

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Startup Detroit Meetup - pitch opportunities twice a year with small awards

Women Founders Group - a bi-monthly peer support group for founders hosted by Bamboo 

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B2B SaaS Founders Group - a regularly peer support group for founders hosted by Bamboo

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Michigan Tech Week - an annual conference with several different pitch track opportunities, open every fall

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UnDemoDay - an annual conference setting up 1:1 introductions and fast networking with investors

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Start Garden's Demo Day - 100 companies can participate for funding their startup or small business venture

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Tech Meetups 

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Startup Detroit Meetup - variety of events for the greater startup community

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Startup Detroit Happy Hour - the go to social event for startups in Detroit area 

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Detroit User Experience Meetup - going on ten years of meetups for design and user experience

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Detroit X Product Meetup - posted on Linkedin for monthly events

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Swift Meetup - regular meetups for all things Swift

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Tech Tuesdays in Detroit - coworking, office hours, meetups for tech community in Detroit 

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Black Tech Saturdays - Saturday meetups inspiring black joy, innovation, and community

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Startup Detroit Meetup - monthly meetups for the greater startup community

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Integral Detroit - hosts regularly software and product related meetups

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