20 founders. Six months. One shared address inside Michigan Central's newest innovation space.

The inaugural cohort residency inside The Mezz brings together founders building across AI, education, fashion, mobility, real estate, and more.

BTS X MICHIGAN CENTRAL MEMBERSHIP COHORT

2026 COHORT
Meet The Founders
Learn About The Residency 
20 founders | 6 months | the mezz
A NEW CHAPTER

Before this cohort ever gathered, local and national attention was already building. Because this is not simply another entrepreneurship program.

It is a new model for founder growth rooted in proximity, community, and shared momentum.

Inside The Mezz at Michigan Central, founders gain daily access to ambitious peers, industry leaders, and one of the most influential innovation ecosystems in the country.

MORE THAN A PROGRAM

"Founders don't just need resources.
They need proximity."

  • Learn Together

    Founders gain access to peers navigating similar challenges in real time.

  • Grow Faster

    Shared experiences accelerate learning and reduce unnecessary mistakes.

  • Open Doors

    Relationships become introductions, partnerships, customers, and opportunities.

the residency experience

  • MONTH 1

    Vision, goals & strategic alignment

  • MONTH 2

    Product development & validation

  • MONTH 3

    Customer growth & market expansion

  • MONTH 4

    Capital readiness & fundraising

  • MONTH 5

    Visibility & brand positioning

  • MONTH 6

    Operations, scale & sustainability

2026

MEET THE COHORT

  • Marc Alexander

    Lite Raise

  • Nkemdilem Bernard

    Detroit Finds

  • Ebony Cochran

    Detroit Wealth Club

  • Lauren Daniels

    Digital Rich Technologies

  • Nishant Dixit

    Alisio FI AI

  • Briaca Duesette

    Animation Discovery Studio

  • Britney Epps

    House of Both Rows

  • Andrew Germann

    Tinker Labs L3C

  • Farai Gundan

    Bhadala

  • Jalena Gillette

    Amora Renae Collection

  • Myca London

    M. L. Events Management & Production

  • Darrell Marshall

    Total Analysis

  • Brittany McGee

    OptimizeEV

  • Nick Murphy

    Paira Technologies, Inc.

  • Brittany Rhodes

    Math Equals Me

  • Amanda Sweet

    The Revamp

  • Shawn Thornton

    Smart Biz iT

  • Donyale Walton

    Mobb Accessories

  • Chris Waston

    EdLoop

  • Kierra Woodger

    Kie2Lavida Properties LLC

INDUSTRIES REPRESENTED

Different industries.
Different stories.
Different stages.
One community.

the mezz

The Mezz is Michigan Central's newest 17,000-square-foot innovation space designed to bring founders, startups, and innovators into closer proximity with opportunity.

"The higher the ceiling, the bigger your thoughts."

Inside these walls, founders are surrounded by possibility, collaboration, and momentum.

BUILT FOR BIGGER THINKING

  • WHAT BTS WAS BUILT FOR

    Black Tech Saturdays exists to remove barriers between talent and opportunity. This cohort represents a belief that community is not a support system for innovation.

    Community is the infrastructure that makes innovation possible.

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