Posts In "Build Grad Story"


A Spirit of Detroit: BUILD grad reflects and thanks those that have helped


October 16, 2015

I’m a relative newcomer to Detroit, having moved here in 2012 to teach elementary school on the west side of the city. When I tell my friends and family on the east coast why this city is so special to me, the spirit of Detroiters always stands out in my mind. Everyone I meet is …more

Read more

Woodbridge Bikes and Coffee: The story of partnership through BUILD


August 31, 2015

For many of our graduates, BUILD Institute is a place to toss around a business idea, find support in an entrepreneurial environment, and get connected to a network of doers that welcome collaboration. For some, BUILD becomes the place where they found exactly what they needed to launch their idea – a business partner. Jonathon …more

Read more

Kiva Zip’s Impact: Three borrowers share their experience, growth, and success


Kiva Zip, a 0% interest, crowdfunded micro-loan program, has been in Detroit for 3 years and has had tremendous positive impact on small business owners. This program, now powered by BUILD Institute,  fills a gap in Detroit for entrepreneurs trying to access capital to take their business to the next level, and creates community where individuals …more

Read more

Lapel Bar: From running a family business to opening my own


August 10, 2015

Think about it, it’s pretty safe to say that we as people have encountered someone that has said the words “I hate my job.” But typically, these same individuals that create these harsh statements rarely find themselves leaving this particular job of theirs until something pushes them over the boiling point. No, this is not …more

Read more

It Takes a Village: A case study of collaborative entrepreneurship in Detroit


July 28, 2015

  On the eastside of Detroit, minutes past the buzz of the city’s freshly developing urban sprawl, sits the quaint neighborhood of West Village. The streets are quieter – the loudest sounds those of saws grinding from renovation sites screeching, “The revitalization is here. It has taken root.” In the last few years, new storefronts …more

Read more

BUILD Institute Welcomes New Alumni Coordinator


July 21, 2015

BUILD Institute, a program of Downtown Detroit Partnership, is proud to announce and welcome Nikki Pardo as alumni coordinator. Pardo will oversee the BUILD Next program, which is exclusively dedicated to BUILD graduates and provides support and resources they need to launch and grow. BUILD Next is a very important component to the success of …more

Read more

Three helpful tools for getting your business to the next level


July 20, 2015

As an urbanist, I see entrepreneurs as the lifeblood of cities. They are what give cities their own unique identity and sense of vitality. And as an entrepreneur myself, I know how hard it can be to get your business going. Along the way, I’ve picked up a few tricks that have helped take my …more

Read more

Etsy in Detroit using 3 #hashtags


July 17, 2015

#Etsy In 2007 a friend introduced me to Etsy; I was hooked (and not only as a seller). Have you shopped on the site? Yesss honey! Independent designers. Local designers. Makers around the world. I could deliver a piece of Detroit near and far! I planned to hunker down, sell lots of jewelry, and be …more

Read more

Left-Handed Brand: From New York to Detroit and growing


July 16, 2015

​Left-Handed Branded creates custom clothing using sustainable fabrics and fashion accessories that are made from up-cycled materials such as 35 mm film. Our motto is “Make a big statement, leave a small carbon footprint!” Left-Handed Branded just cleared a year in Hamtramck after being in NYC for the past 6 years.  So much has happened in …more

Read more