The Importance of Financial Literacy for Micro-Businesses
The need for financial literacy is clear in both our personal lives and in business, but perhaps the highest stakes for personal financial adeptness is in micro-business. Build Institute defines a micro-business as a small company, usually made up of less than five employees. These ultra-small operations often rely on one or two key individuals to make decisions that affect every aspect of the business. With that, micro-business entrepreneurs have to know their business and it’s financials inside and out. Unfortunately, too many of them are operating with poor or incomplete numbers, or even worse -- operating in the...
Build Speaks at South By Southwest (SXSW)
In March 2017, Build was invited by Michigan House to speak on the panel about equity and inclusion in communities. Exploring the strategies employed by Michigan’s communities to build an inclusive future that encourages opportunity for all. Panelists include: April Boyle of Build Institute Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss James Chapman of Rock Ventures LLC Pamela Lewis of New Economy Initiative South By Southwest (SXSW) dedicates itself to helping creative people achieve their goals. Founded in 1987 in Austin, Texas, SXSW is best known for its conference and festivals that celebrate the convergence of the interactive, film, and music industries. The event, an essential destination...
Build Institute Honored by Bank of America
Build Institute is honored to be selected as a 2016 Neighborhood Builder from Bank of America. The recognition awards high-performing nonprofits that have made a significant impact in the community working in the bank’s priority funding areas of housing, jobs and hunger relief. The Neighborhood Builder program is a strategic investment that pairs leadership training with a $200,000 unrestricted grant over two years so leaders gain valuable skills while applying funding where it is most needed. Build Institute has been recognized for its work in improving financial lives through entrepreneurship and its alignment to Bank of America’s work to address...
Kiva Zip Detroit Update
We’re delighted to announce that after four years of exciting growth and inspiring impact in and around Detroit, Kiva Zip is graduating out of beta! This means that our Kiva Zip loans will be moving to the main Kiva.org website. Merging Kiva Zip into the main Kiva website will make it possible for us to expand Kiva's impact in communities across metro Detroit, while continuing to grow our international network of borrowers and lenders. There are several reasons for this change, but mainly, it is to streamline the application process. Currently Kiva Zip lenders have separate Kiva Zip and...
Hundreds Learn About Launching a Social Enterprise in Detroit
“Doing well while doing good.” “Profit with a purpose.” These were the type of phrases bantered about on Wednesday, May 5, at Social Entrepreneur Day, part of Detroit Entrepreneur Week, May 2-7, 2016. The day was presented in partnership with Build Institute, which is a strong advocate for social enterprise and small business support. For the 120 Social Entrepreneur Day attendees, who filled a spacious room at TechTown Detroit, the day started off with an overview of social entrepreneurship (the pursuit of a social mission using commercial means). Marcus Harris, Build’s facilitator of Build Social, small business taskmaster, and one of social entrepreneurship’s...
Welcome Wayne: Alumni Manager
We're very excited to welcome Wayne Ramocan to our Build team as our new Alumni Manager! He's a fellow 2013 Build graduate and a man of many talents who will strengthen our growing community of Builders. Get to know Wayne a bit more in this Q&A. Where were you born and raised? I was born in Baltimore, Maryland and raised in Detroit. What made you want the position of Alumni Manager at Build Institute? There is a lot of small business activity in the city right now. Build plays an important role in preparing entrepreneurs to take their next step and it's an honor to be a part of...
Welcome Yolanda: Registration Manager
We're so excited to welcome Build graduate and Etsy class facilitator Yolanda Curry to our Build team as our new Registration and Recruitment Coordinator! She will manage all the registration process for our Build classes as well as outreach to more aspiring and established entrepreneurs. Get to know Yolanda a little bit more in this Q&A. Where were you born and raised? The D baby! I'm proud to be from Detroit, MI. What made you want the position of Registration Manager at Build Institute? I love working with people and business ownership is near and dear to me. I share as many resources as I can with aspiring entrepreneurs;...
Welcome Madalyn: Brand Strategy Manager
We're so thrilled to welcome fellow Build graduate Madalyn Knebel to our Build team as our Brand Strategy Manager! She will handle all design, marketing, and social media needs for our organization to keep us looking our best. Get to know Madalyn a little bit more in this Q&A. Where were you born and raised? I was born in California, raised in Michigan, but I've grown the most in Detroit. What made you want the position of Brand Strategy Manager at Build Institute? Five years ago when I moved to Detroit I discovered D:hive and loved how friendly and helpful the organization was. I wanted to produce design work for them...
Get to Know Nikki: Alumni Coordinator
Though she's been assisting us since 2015, we're thrilled to officially welcome Build graduate Nikki Pardo to our Build team as the Alumni Coordinator! She will manage communications with Build graduates to keep them engaged in our community. Get to know Nikki a little bit more in this Q&A. Where were you born and raised? I was born in Detroit and raised in Lathrup Village, Michigan. However, my heart will always be with Southwest Detroit, where I lived for several years. What made you want the position of Registration and Recruitment Coordinator at Build Institute? I wanted the position as the Alumni Coordinator because having been a Build...
A Spirit of Detroit: Build grad reflects and thanks those that have helped
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 passionate and involved in something to create a stronger Detroit – whether it’s working with youth, rehabbing a home, starting a business, organizing a block club, volunteering in spare time, and much more. Doing all these things is not the unique part, but it’s...