The City of Detroit took another step to strengthen its innovation economy and retain local entrepreneurial talent with the launch of the Detroit Tech Founder Residency Fellowship, a new initiative designed to help startup founders live, work, and grow their companies in the city.
Announced on Oct. 28, the year-long fellowship offers $2,000 monthly stipends for living expenses and free coworking space at three of Detroit’s leading innovation hubs—TechTown, Bamboo, and Newlab at Michigan Central. The goal is to make Detroit a more accessible and appealing home for Michigan’s emerging startup founders, especially recent graduates looking to stay in the state and build the next generation of high-growth companies.
Funding for the initiative comes from a $210,000 Make MI Home grant awarded in May 2025 by the Michigan Growth Office, a statewide agency focused on business retention and talent attraction. Administered by the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC), the fellowship is targeted toward early-stage, venture-backable startup founders who graduated from a Michigan college or university after May 2022 and who commit to living in Detroit for 12 consecutive months. Applications are now open on MakeMyMove.com, a national relocation platform that connects professionals with opportunities in cities seeking to grow their talent base. The deadline to apply is December 1, and selected fellows will begin their residency in early 2026. The inaugural cohort will include up to eight founders.
“The City of Detroit is committed to keeping young innovators in Detroit and attracting new talent,” Mayor Mike Duggan said in a statement. “Michigan already produces top-level startup talent, and we want founders to know that they have a home in Detroit.”
The fellowship reflects a growing recognition across Michigan that talent retention is central to the state’s economic future. Over the past several years, state leaders have emphasized the need to keep young graduates from leaving for other tech hubs by creating local opportunities that make staying in Michigan more attractive. The Michigan Growth Office’s Make MI Home program is part of that effort, supporting communities that create environments where skilled professionals can thrive.
In Detroit, that means connecting founders not only to financial support but to a broader ecosystem of innovation that includes established industry leaders, startup investors, and a growing network of coworking and maker spaces.
“Detroit is where great ideas create jobs and change the world, and we are deeply appreciative to the State Growth Office for providing these grant funds,” said Justin Onwenu, Director of Entrepreneurship and Economic Opportunity for the City of Detroit. “With this fellowship, we’re helping ensure that Michiganders and expats across the country choose Detroit to launch and scale startups that solve tough challenges and create jobs for generations to come.”
Detroit’s effort builds on years of public and private investment in its startup ecosystem. Initiatives such as Motor City Match, the Detroit Startup Fund, the Detroit Legacy Business Program, and the Detroit Capital Hub have all contributed to building an environment where small businesses and tech companies can grow. The addition of the Tech Founder Residency Fellowship now adds a new layer of targeted support focused on tech-based founders who are often at the earliest and most vulnerable stage of company building.
“Strong startup ecosystems run on talent,” said Kevin Johnson, President and CEO of the DEGC. “We’re removing the housing and workspace barriers so Michigan’s next generation of founders can build innovative companies right here in Detroit.”
The program also connects with community-driven initiatives that have gained national attention, including Black Tech Saturdays, a movement that began in Detroit and has expanded across the country as a model for building inclusive tech ecosystems.
Founded by local entrepreneurs Johnnie and Alexa Turnage to create space for Black tech professionals, founders, and investors to connect and collaborate, Black Tech Saturdays have become a cornerstone of Detroit’s innovation culture. By aligning with that community and others centered at TechTown, Bamboo, and Newlab, the new fellowship aims to give founders not only financial assistance, but a sense of belonging in a collaborative network that values inclusivity and shared growth.
“The Detroit Tech Residency Fellowship gives startup founders more than funding—it gives them community,” said City Council President Mary Sheffield. “We’re proud to continue making Detroit one of the best cities in America to start and grow a business, including the high-tech startups of tomorrow.”
City and state leaders alike view programs like the fellowship as part of a larger strategy to position Michigan as a destination for innovation rather than a stepping stone to other regions. With major investments in areas like mobility technology, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing, the state has been working to link its universities, industries, and startup communities more closely. Detroit, in particular, has emerged as a focal point for that effort, anchored by developments at Michigan Central and the growth of spaces like Newlab that provide founders with access to labs, prototyping equipment, and mentorship.
By offering both the physical and financial means for founders to stay in Detroit, the fellowship reduces the cost barriers that often force early-stage entrepreneurs to relocate elsewhere. It also ties into Detroit’s broader economic inclusion goals, ensuring that local talent—especially graduates from Michigan’s colleges and universities—can find meaningful opportunities to build the future here at home.
“Programs like this are how we make sure Detroit continues to lead in innovation, not just in Michigan but across the country,” Onwenu said. “We’re not just supporting startups—we’re building the foundation for the next generation of Detroit’s economy.”
As Detroit continues its resurgence as a hub for creativity, mobility, and technology, initiatives like the Detroit Tech Founder Residency Fellowship demonstrate how targeted investments in people can shape a city’s economic trajectory.
