Workshop & Expo for Small Businesses: New Opportunities for Creating Equitable Enterprises in Detroit

Open to all community members thinking about starting a business, nonprofit, or co-op, particularly those looking into green energy. This workshop will introduce equitable models of business and employment. Community members, business owners, scholars, students, and industry experts will discuss models that empower employees, foster community development, promote democratic decision making and participatory management, and provide an avenue for broad-based wealth distribution.

The event will begin with a hands-on design exercise to introduce the key steps to launching a business including researching customer needs, defining opportunities, brainstorming solutions, prototyping a business model, and testing its feasibility. Expert overviews of new business opportunities in Detroit will be provided that have been enabled by recent innovations in the building blocks of business and policy changes such as the Inflation Reduction Act. Resources developed at the University of Michigan will be shared, followed by a resource fair featuring no-cost providers at the University of Michigan and beyond to help with the startup process. The event will also have catered food and drink.

Event Details
Thursday, September 14th
2:00 pm – 6:00 pm

About the University of Michigan +Impact Studio
The University of Michigan +Impact Studio is a collaborative design community for impact creators and innovators at the University of Michigan and beyond. Housed at the Ross School of Business, their mission is to bring impactful ideas to life that build a world that is sustainable and just for all, using business knowledge, design tools, and research expertise.”