DETROIT – DTX Launch Detroit is an intensive 10-week summer accelerator for college students and recent graduates aspiring to launch a technology startup. Participants will receive a stipend of $2,500 per individual (up to $7,500 per venture team) to test out their entrepreneurial dreams. The deadline to apply is April 21.

The program covers

  • Designing, testing and evaluating your value proposition
  • Finding the right product/market fit
  • Developing your business model canvas
  • Conducting customer discovery
  • Team building
  • Pitch coaching
  • Subject matter expert speakers

Structure

Launch Detroit follows the Lean Startup approach, a step-by-step business development method popularized by famed serial entrepreneurs Steve Blank and Bob Dorf. Enrolled teams will be given extensive assignments in preparation for weekly workshops. They also will be directed to get out of the building and talk to potential customers to test their various hypotheses. The curriculum is augmented with guest speakers, business coaches and mentors, as teams attempt to validate their value proposition and business models. Other components include meet-and-greets with experienced entrepreneurs and tech start-up founders. The program will culminate in a showcase day, giving participants the opportunity to make a pitch to potential strategic partners, advisers and investors.

Eligibility requirements

  • Undergraduate and graduate students, or recent graduates from any Michigan college or university, seeking to launch a technology-based business. If you are a Michigan resident but attend college out of state, you are still eligible.
  • Teams of at least two people are required; teams that demonstrate a complementary skill set or include members with different majors or from different departments or schools are likely to receive more favorable consideration.
  • Must be able to make a full-time commitment to the 10-week program

Past Participants

A number of the teams that have graduated from DTX Launch Detroit are actively working to move their business ideas forward. To learn more about these teams, see this summary of DTX Grads.

Information Sessions

TechTown Detroit will host two information sessions for those wanting to learn more about the program. The sessions will be held at TechTown on Tuesday, February 21 and Wednesday, March 22. Admissions is free, but please register here so that we bring in enough pizza to feed the crowd.

Application process

Applications are now being accepted for the 2017 program, but only through April 21, so click here now to apply.

For more information

Questions? Please email [email protected].

DTX Launch Detroit is a program of the Detroit Technology Exchange (DTX), a programmatic partnership between TechTown Detroit, the Detroit Creative Corridor Center, Grand Circus, the Henry Ford Innovation Institute, Invest Detroit, and NextEnergy, is designed to recruit and groom talent for tech entrepreneurship opportunities and convert innovative technologies into Detroit-based startups. It is supported by the Michigan Economic Development Corp.’s Michigan Strategic Fund and the New Economy Initiative for Southeast Michigan.