Ultimate Guide of Michigan Startup Resources
Michigan is growing its startup community.
Many Bamboo members are building software, cybersecurity, mobility, and e-commerce companies out of Bamboo.
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.
This will be updated periodically, so please reach out with additions: [email protected].
Idea Stage & Seed Stage Companies
Build Institute - for those seeking early stage help with a business plan
313 Ventures - a resource for mico-grants and investments to get from first idea to first round
Invest Detroit Fam Funding Program - $5K-$25K seed funding for “post idea - mvp stage”
U of M Entrepreneurship Legal Clinic - free legal support forming your company
Wayne Stage Legal Clinic - free legal support forming your company
Varnum Law - free legal services forming and preparing your company for investment via Mi Springboard
Black Tech Detroit - a community online and in person that meetups and supports new ideas
Michigan Founders Fund - a founder network for support at any stage
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
Accelerators & Incubators
Techstars Detroit - a global accelerator based in Detroit offering $125K investments
Ann Arbor Spark - an accelerator that grants startups $25,000-150,000 to help you launch
TechTown Startup Studio & Incubator - help to get you to a revenue driving MVP
Start Garden - community grants to help launch your startup
Desai Accelerator - Seven month program for tech-enabled startups
100K Ventures - ideas accelerator in Flint, Michigan
Centropolis - accelerator for hardware and mobility
Lean Rocket - Jackson, Michigan’s entrepreneur and incubator hub
Conquer Accelerator - Michigan State’s accelerator
Seamless Accelerator - Helps startups, businesses, and governments work together
Velocity - Sterling Heights accelerator and incubator
20 Fathoms - Traverse City tech hub and incubator
10,000 Small Businesses - Goldman Sachs' free mini MBA program for small businesses in Detroit area
Plug n Play Detroit - an accelerator for mobility startups connecting with OEMs & Tier 1 suppliers
Bamboo - startup programming with fellow operators scaling up, space that’s turnkey
Piloting Stage & Mobility Companies
Michigan Central - space and community for piloting a mobility startup
MEDC Mobility Grants - grant funding to pilot your mobility technology
Centropolis - an accelerator for hardware and mobility
Automation Alley - membership community and support for manufacturing/mobility
Mobility Meetup - go to event for connecting with the mobility community
Plug n Play Detroit - for mobility startups connecting with OEMs & Tier 1 suppliers
Hiring Talent for Startups in Michigan
Purpose Jobs - a resource for fast growing & hiring companies
BairdTech - an expert recruitment firm for tech startups in Michigan
Amy Cell Talent - expert recruiter in technology leadership
Apple Academy - in Detroit a school training coders and working on startup projects
Additional Resources - via Ann Arbor spark guide
Venture For America - program for hiring talent to work at startups
Angel & Venture Capital Investors in Michigan
Michigan Angel Community - resource for becoming and connecting with angels
Woodward Angels - monthly group investing based in Detroit
Detroit Venture Partners - active VC in the Detroit and Michigan space
K Zoo Angels - group investing based in Kalamazoo
Pointe Angels - group investing based in grosse pointe
Flint Angels - group investing based in Flint
Blue Water Angels - group investing based in Mid-Michigan
Birmingham Angels / Cityside Ventures - group investing based in Birmingham
Grand Angels - group investing based in Grand Rapids
Michigan Venture Capital Investors - database of VCs in Michigan or investing in Michigan
Other Funds via Ann Arbor Spark - https://annarborusa.org/spark-services/funding/
Growth Stage Companies
Endeavor Great Lakes - the leading community for growth stage startups with Detroit presence
Michigan Founders Fund - can participate in this founder network at any stage
Bamboo - startup programming with fellow operators scaling up, space that’s turnkey
Pitch Practice & Competition Opportunities
Ann Arbor New Tech - Ann Arbor’s meetup for presenting new ideas and companies
Detroit New Tech - Metro Detroit’s meetup for presenting new ideas and companies
New Enterprise Forum - Based in Ann Arbor, regular pitches and support
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
B2B SaaS Founders Group - a regularly peer support group for founders hosted by Bamboo
Michigan Tech Week - an annual conference with several different pitch track opportunities, open every fall
UnDemoDay - an annual conference setting up 1:1 introductions and fast networking with investors
Start Garden's Demo Day - 100 companies can participate for funding their startup or small business venture
Tech Meetups
Startup Detroit Meetup - variety of events for the greater startup community
Startup Detroit Happy Hour - the go to social event for startups in Detroit area
Detroit User Experience Meetup - going on ten years of meetups for design and user experience
Detroit X Product Meetup - posted on Linkedin for monthly events
Swift Meetup - regular meetups for all things Swift
Tech Tuesdays in Detroit - coworking, office hours, meetups for tech community in Detroit
Black Tech Saturdays - Saturday meetups inspiring black joy, innovation, and community
Startup Detroit Meetup - monthly meetups for the greater startup community
Integral Detroit - hosts regularly software and product related meetups