TechTown releases 2025 impact report

TechTown, Wayne State University's entrepreneurship hub, released its 2025 Impact Report, which showcased the transformative role the organization plays in Detroit and Southeast Michigan's entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem. The data highlighted TechTown's local impact: in 2025, the organization served more than 1,200 entrepreneurs, created and sustained more than 2,000 jobs, and helped its clients generate $49 million in revenue.

"TechTown shows what happens when entrepreneurs are surrounded by the right mix of capital, coaching, and community. Behind every number in this report is a founder who took a leap, hired their neighbors, and contributed to the region's long-term economic momentum," said Ned Staebler, president and CEO of TechTown and vice president for economic development at Wayne State. "Together, we're not just supporting businesses, we're strengthening neighborhoods, growing talent, and proving what Detroit can do when we invest in the people who power its future."

"As Wayne State's entrepreneurship hub, TechTown serves as a critical bridge between academic expertise, emerging talent and the broader economic life of our region," said Richard Bierschbach, president of Wayne State. "As we look ahead, we remain dedicated to sustaining an environment where research, education, entrepreneurship and community engagement intersect in powerful ways. Together, we continue to strengthen a platform where ideas move from concept to impact and where Michigan's innovators shape our region's future."

The report illustrated how TechTown's substantial impact extends throughout all its main offerings: small business services (SBS), tech-based programs, business support, and coworking and event space.

• Overall impact: In 2025, TechTown served more than 1,200 entrepreneurs, helped sustain and create more than 2,000 jobs, and helped its clients generate approximately $49 million in revenue.
  • Of the 1,200-plus entrepreneurs, 70% were based in Wayne County, 60% were female, and 34% were new to the TechTown ecosystem.

"TechTown continues to advance a vision that lies at the heart of our mission: ensuring that every entrepreneur has access to the resources, relationships, and support they need to succeed. The outcomes reflected in this report are a direct result of that commitment," said Valencia Stoudamire, chair of TechTown's board of trustees. "The founders represented in these pages demonstrate what's possible when barriers are removed, opportunities are shared, and innovation is made accessible to all."

Other program-specific highlights include:

• Tech-based programs: TechTown's tech-based programs supported 177 startups, 77% of which were led by historically underrepresented founders - a proportion mirroring Detroit's Black population. These startups generated $9 million in revenue and earned $2 million in mobility prototyping grants.
• SBS: These programs - which include Retail Boot Camp (RBC), The SHOP, and more - supported 1,014 small business owners, who generated $40 million in revenue collectively. RBC graduated 26 people and held 15 grand openings.
  • Tech-based programs and SBS held 1,266 coaching sessions and 837 strategy sessions, totaling more than 90,000 minutes of support.
• Business support: The client list of the Ops+ program grew 700% compared to 2024 totals. Alongside Ask an Expert, the two programs helped manage nearly $34 million in client revenue.
• Coworking and event space: TechTown welcomed 76 new companies to its coworking and office space in 2025, and its 924 active members represent an occupancy rate of more than 95%. The TechTown building welcomed more than 90,000 visitors through its doors.

Founded in 2000 in a joint partnership between Wayne State, the Henry Ford Health System, and General Motors, TechTown supports all types of small businesses and entrepreneurs in Detroit, drives economic revitalization, and creates equitable opportunities for residents in Southeast Michigan and beyond. For more than two decades, it has helped launch and grow more than 8,000 businesses, ranging from tech startups to neighborhood shops. Its clients have collectively raised and leveraged more than $500 million in startup and growth capital and created more than 3,500 jobs.

Read the full TechTown 2025 Impact Report. Learn more about TechTown and its offerings: small business services (SBS), tech-based programs, business support, and coworking and event space.

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Since 2007, TechTown Detroit has helped more than 8,000 companies create and sustain thousands of jobs and raise over $500 million in capital. As Wayne State University's and Detroit's entrepreneurship hub, TechTown is a nonprofit that connects early- to growth-stage small businesses and tech founders with programs, education, and resources that open doors. By building an inclusive economy, TechTown is helping Detroit and Southeast Michigan compete and win. Visit techtowndetroit.org.