Ultimate Guide of Michigan Startup Resources

June 1, 2023

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