BUILD THE STORY

Highlighting founders, organizations, innovators, and community leaders driving change through technology, business, and culture.

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FEATURED STORIES •

BUILD THE STORY – FOUNDERS

Detroit founder Jackie Spencer launched Vylvet after a 2021 traffic jam revealed a gap no one was closing. Now 59 merchants are selling digitally because of it.

Jackie Spencer Built Vylvet So Small Businesses Can Sell Online.

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  • Sonita Lewis Is Building the Bridge Detroit's Patients Have Been Waiting For.

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  • Arion Long Is Building Infrastructure for the Maternal Health System That Failed Her.

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  • Renee King Is Making Start Capital a Birthright

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  • Denzell Turner Built a Pathway to Black Entrepreneurship From a Detroit Living Room

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  • Cinnamon Ashford Is Building the Pathways Detroit's Tech Learners Need

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  • Dr. Darrell Marshall Is Building Tech That Stops Infections Before They Start

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More Founder Stories

  • Why Detroit's Black Tech Saturday Matters

    Bloomberg • April 2024

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  • Wakanda In Real Time: Black Tech Saturdays Empowers Communities Through Innovation

    Ebony • June 2024

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  • Black Tech Saturdays brings Detroit startup network to Grand Rapids

    Crains Grand Rapids Business • May 2026

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  • Black Tech Saturdays, U-M Launch ‘Bridge to Success’ to Connect Detroiters to Innovation Economy

    Michigan Chronicle • May 2026

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BTS In The News
Johnnie and Alexa Turnage’s inspiring Detroit tech rise
Johnnie and Alexa Turnage’s inspiring Detroit tech rise
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Black Tech Saturdays Named a Finalist for the 2026 MVCA Community Impact Award
Black Tech Saturdays Named a Finalist for the 2026 MVCA Community Impact Award
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Golf tech meet for youth expo ahead of Rocket Classic
Golf tech meet for youth expo ahead of Rocket Classic
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Detroit students explore golf and technology at Youth Golf and Tech Expo
Detroit students explore golf and technology at Youth Golf and Tech Expo
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Better Things Podcast: From 5 People to Millions Invested: Detroit's Tech Movement with Interview Johnnie Turnage
Better Things Podcast: From 5 People to Millions Invested: Detroit's Tech Movement with Interview Johnnie Turnage
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Black Tech Saturdays brings Detroit startup network to Grand Rapids – Crains
Black Tech Saturdays brings Detroit startup network to Grand Rapids – Crains
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Black Tech Saturdays, U-M Launch ‘Bridge to Success’ to Connect Detroiters to Innovation Economy 
Black Tech Saturdays, U-M Launch ‘Bridge to Success’ to Connect Detroiters to Innovation Economy 
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As covered by Crain's Detroit Business, Black Tech Saturdays is bringing new energy to the city by launching a fresh cohort inside the new innovation space at Michigan Central.
As covered by Crain's Detroit Business, Black Tech Saturdays is bringing new energy to the city by launching a fresh cohort inside the new innovation space at Michigan Central.
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Groundbreaking Innovations Emerge from Black Tech Saturdays
Groundbreaking Innovations Emerge from Black Tech Saturdays
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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!
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Black Tech Saturdays to host National Digital Empowerment Summit in Detroit.
Black Tech Saturdays to host National Digital Empowerment Summit in Detroit.
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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
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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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CBS News Detroit: Black Tech Saturdays leverages golf for business growth
CBS News Detroit: Black Tech Saturdays leverages golf for business growth

CBS News Detroit: Black Tech Saturdays leverages golf for business growth

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Urban Geekz: Black Tech Saturdays Awarded $1M To Expand Tech Workshops In Detroit
Urban Geekz: Black Tech Saturdays Awarded $1M To Expand Tech Workshops In Detroit

Black Tech Saturdays has received a $1 million grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corp. to grow its model.

The funding is the largest single grant out of $6.8 million that the MEDC allocates across 23 organizations as part of the Trusted Connector Grant program.

The Detroit-based tech meetup for creatives and entrepreneurs will use the funding to expand its operations. 

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pocit: Black Tech Saturdays Receives $1M To Expand Tech Workshops In Detroit
pocit: Black Tech Saturdays Receives $1M To Expand Tech Workshops In Detroit
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Bridge Detroit Black Tech Saturdays cultivates a community of Detroit creatives
Bridge Detroit Black Tech Saturdays cultivates a community of Detroit creatives
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Michigan Chronicle Detroit’s Black Tech Community Leads AI Innovation at The Belonging Blueprint Summit
Michigan Chronicle Detroit’s Black Tech Community Leads AI Innovation at The Belonging Blueprint Summit
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MORE BTS NEWS

  • Founder Stories

    Capturing and amplifying the voices, wins, and journeys shaping the Black tech ecosystem. From founder spotlights to community moments, we turn the work happening across Black Tech Saturdays into stories that build visibility, momentum, and connection.

    Explore Their Stories

  • Tech in The D with Fox 2 News

    Hosted by Emmy award-winning journalist Josh Landon, each episode dives into engaging conversations, live demos, and powerful stories from the city’s thriving tech community.

    Watch The Series

  • BTS Songs

    From Detroit’s hustle to the global stage, these songs capture the spirit of Black Tech Saturdays; where innovation meets rhythm, and purpose meets power.

    Explore BTS Songs

  • Event Rewinds

    Over the years, we’ve hosted thousands of attendees across Detroit and beyond through immersive events. Re-live the magic and explore our past events below.

    Explore Past Events