Tech Event "Black Tech Saturdays" Secures $1 Million to Expand Tech Workshops in Detroit City
Detroit-Based Black Tech Saturdays Secures $1 Million Grant
Black Tech Saturdays, a Detroit-based initiative fostering a strong Black tech community, has received a significant boost with a $1 million grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). This grant is the largest single allocation out of $6.8 million issued across 23 organizations as part of the Trusted Connector Grant program.
The award-winning, Detroit-based tech meetup for creatives and entrepreneurs will utilize this funding to expand its operations. Black Tech Saturdays focuses on closing the racial wealth gap through various tech-focused initiatives, including pitch competitions, small group classes, and panel discussions.
Johnnie Turnage, one of the organization's leaders, envisions a vibrant Detroit tech scene not unlike that of Silicon Valley, where entrepreneurs discuss their projects in local coffee shops. The couple aims to achieve this by equipping more founders and entrepreneurs through micro workshops.
Part of the grant will also fund pitch competitions for founders attending monthly meetings at Newlab at Michigan Central. Over the summer, Black Tech Saturdays will run a pilot program of 25-30 micro workshops in Detroit and Lansing, offering focused programming for founders.
The MEDC's Trusted Connector Grant supports member-based organizations and chambers of commerce that engage with underrepresented small businesses and tech-based entrepreneurs. Other recipients include the Lansing Economic Area Partnership, Black Wall Street Kalamazoo, and Global Detroit.
Black Tech Saturdays officially opened its headquarters within Newlab at Michigan Central in December 2024, following a $1.25 million grant from the Gilbert Family Foundation. The founders used this grant to expand their team and host pitch competitions for founders attending monthly meetings.
This substantial investment is expected to accelerate the growth of Black Tech Saturdays members, providing them with valuable information, mentorship, and networking opportunities. As Johnnie Turnage noted, "We aim to create a scene where if you go to coffee shops here, there should be some entrepreneurs talking about what they're building, and people should be able to jump into that conversation."
- The $1 million grant awarded to Black Tech Saturdays, a Detroit-based tech community, will be used to expand their operations and focus on closing the racial wealth gap through various tech-based initiatives.
- Black Tech Saturdays plans to achieve a vibrant Detroit tech scene, similar to Silicon Valley, by equipping more founders and entrepreneurs through micro workshops.
- The grant will also fund pitch competitions for founders attending monthly meetings at Newlab at Michigan Central, while over the summer, Black Tech Saturdays will run a pilot program of micro workshops in Detroit and Lansing.
- The substantial investment in Black Tech Saturdays is expected to provide members with valuable information, mentorship, and networking opportunities, creating an environment where entrepreneurs can discuss their projects in local coffee shops.
