Building the Nation's Leading Network for Tech Founders, Builders & Innovators.

Workshops. Mentorship. Community. Real Impact.

ATTEND AN EVENT
PARTNER WITH US
Group of eight people at an award ceremony, with three women holding framed certificates, and one man sitting in a wheelchair also holding a certificate. They are smiling and posing for the photo.

Nominate A Changemaker

•

Nominate A Changemaker •

Nominations are open!

Celebrate the leaders, innovators, and changemakers driving impact in Detroit’s tech ecosystem! The BTS Change Maker Award recognizes individuals and organizations who are creating opportunities, fostering innovation, and empowering our community.

Nominations close on Friday, October 31st, and awardees will be formally honored at the Black Tech Saturdays Holiday Celebration on December 13th.

Nominate a Change-maker: Know someone making a difference in tech, entrepreneurship, or community impact? Submit your nomination today!

Recognize Excellence: Help us highlight the contributions of those shaping the future of tech and digital empowerment in Detroit.

Submit a Change-maker

VIRTUAL AI SERIES

•

VIRTUAL AI SERIES •

The Virtual AI Series

Designed to equip innovators, entrepreneurs, and professionals with the practical tools and insights needed to grow their skill set, business, or corporate toolkit. Through interactive sessions and real-world applications, participants will learn how to integrate AI to streamline workflows, enhance creativity, and make smarter, data-driven decisions. Whether you're building a business, leading a team, or exploring new career opportunities, this series will help you harness the power of artificial intelligence to work smarter and scale faster.

Learn more

UPCOMING EVENTS

BTS Featured Events

Events
Virtual AI Series: Foundations & Mindsets: AI 101 for Entrepreneurs & Builders
Nov 4
Virtual AI Series: Foundations & Mindsets: AI 101 for Entrepreneurs & Builders
Virtual AI Series: Finance & Budgeting with AI: Forecasting, Cost Savings & Modeling
Nov 6
Virtual AI Series: Finance & Budgeting with AI: Forecasting, Cost Savings & Modeling
Black Wealth Summit hosted in partnership with MBBA and LEAP
Nov 8
Black Wealth Summit hosted in partnership with MBBA and LEAP
Virtual AI Series: Marketing with AI: Story-Driven Branding
Nov 8
Virtual AI Series: Marketing with AI: Story-Driven Branding
Virtual AI Series: AI Research Deep Dive: Market Scans, Competitive Insights & Best Practices
Nov 11
Virtual AI Series: AI Research Deep Dive: Market Scans, Competitive Insights & Best Practices

Workshops, Happy Hours & More

Stay Tuned…

IN THE NEWS

In the News
Groundbreaking Innovations Emerge from Black Tech Saturdays
Groundbreaking Innovations Emerge from Black Tech Saturdays
Read More →
Students take over Michigan Science Center for Black Tech Saturdays Tech Empowerment event!
Students take over Michigan Science Center for Black Tech Saturdays Tech Empowerment event!
Read More →
Black Tech Saturdays to host National Digital Empowerment Summit in Detroit.
Black Tech Saturdays to host National Digital Empowerment Summit in Detroit.
Read More →
Detroit gets $19.8M from Knight Foundation to boost art, technology and community projects
Detroit gets $19.8M from Knight Foundation to boost art, technology and community projects
Read More →
Knight Foundation announces nearly $20M in grants for Detroit organizations
Knight Foundation announces nearly $20M in grants for Detroit organizations

(WXYZ) — The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation announced nearly $20 million in investments across Detroit to help fuel the city's continued economic growth.

The foundation made the announcement on Sunday at Michigan Central during a community celebration, and it's the latest commitment from the foundation.

Read More →
Detroit Couple Empowering Black Professionals And Entrepreneurs In Technology Awarded $2M From Knight Foundation
Detroit Couple Empowering Black Professionals And Entrepreneurs In Technology Awarded $2M From Knight Foundation

Tech and business efforts in Detroit have received a significant investment.

The Detroit Free Press reports that the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation (Knight Foundation) has committed $19.8 million in grants to support 12 Detroit projects to create a “vibrant and thriving city,” according to Maribel Pérez Wadsworth, the foundation’s president and CEO. Established in 1950, the foundation has deployed $215 million in grants to support Detroit with a focus on downtown revitalization. The latest commitment brings attention to the city’s “inner-ring neighborhoods,” to uplift art, public spaces, tech, and business.

Read More →
Nearly $20M in grants to support Detroit neighborhoods, Joe Louis Greenway, tech economy
Nearly $20M in grants to support Detroit neighborhoods, Joe Louis Greenway, tech economy

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation is expanding its grant-making in Detroit’s neighborhoods with a new $19.8 million round of grants.

Read More →
Detroit Couple Empowering Black Professionals And Entrepreneurs In Technology Awarded $2M From Knight Foundation
Detroit Couple Empowering Black Professionals And Entrepreneurs In Technology Awarded $2M From Knight Foundation

Tech and business efforts in Detroit have received a significant investment.

The Detroit Free Press reports that the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation (Knight Foundation) has committed $19.8 million in grants to support 12 Detroit projects to create a “vibrant and thriving city,” according to Maribel Pérez Wadsworth, the foundation’s president and CEO. Established in 1950, the foundation has deployed $215 million in grants to support Detroit with a focus on downtown revitalization. The latest commitment brings attention to the city’s “inner-ring neighborhoods,” to uplift art, public spaces, tech, and business.

Read More →
CITY OF DETROIT: DETROIT LAUNCHES FIRST OF ITS KIND $700,000 STARTUP FUND
CITY OF DETROIT: DETROIT LAUNCHES FIRST OF ITS KIND $700,000 STARTUP FUND

Mayor Mike Duggan today joined with Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC) officials, City Council President Mary Sheffield, and startup ecosystem leaders announced the launch the first-of-its-kind Detroit Startup Fund. More than 200 members of Detroit’s tech community gathered at Newlab at Michigan Central to celebrate the announcement.

Read More →
UNMISSABLE MOMENTS FROM GLOBAL CITIZEN NOW DETROIT
UNMISSABLE MOMENTS FROM GLOBAL CITIZEN NOW DETROIT

It may be summertime in Detroit, Michigan, but what brought the real heat was Global Citizen NOW: Detroit, which took place on July 10 and sparked fresh momentum for building sustainable cities where everyone can thrive. 

Cities are engines of economic growth, centers of innovation, and increasingly, the frontlines in the global fight against poverty. From Detroit to Dhaka, London to Lagos, urban centers face urgent questions about their futures and are making bold, long-term investments that will either reduce or reinforce inequality.

Read More →
View All
A large group of diverse people smiling, cheering, and raising their fists in celebration on a staircase indoors.

Founders Fuel

Spotlighting grants, competitions, and all things funding.

BTS: Creator Competition

Renaissance Storyteller Challenge

📆 Submissions close October 31.

🏆 Finalists announced: The week after November 1st

LEARN MORE

Why Join BTS?

For Members

Becoming a BTS member means unlocking access to mentorships, grants and exclusive BTS events designed to help tech professionals, founders, and innovators thrive. Join Now

“When you join BTS, you’re not just signing up, you’re stepping into a community that’s rewriting what success looks like for innovators in tech.”

For Sponsors & Partners

Partnering with Black Tech Saturdays means investing in innovation, equity, and community impact. Sponsors gain access to a thriving network of tech leaders, national brand visibility, and the opportunity to drive measurable change through mentorship, funding, and groundbreaking programs.
Learn More