BUILD Institute

?? MARCH 28th DETROIT SOUP IDEATOR ANNOUNCEMENT ?? ?? We are excited to announce the entrepreneurs who will be pitching at Detroit Soup this Friday, March 28th, at the Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation! Buy a ticket to attend and help fund Detroit’s next great business idea - Link to the Eventbrite page: https://lnkd.in/ey9FEsxi Ideators: ?? LaNika Hampton – Aura Vibez Studios - @auravibezstudios ?? Jose Robinson – COMSA Detroit - @comsadetroit ?? Christian Hawkins – The Self-Care Self-Love Tour: A Regeily Wellness Experience - @regeilyskincare ?? Kayla White – Pyth Circles - @properkayla Caterer: ?? The Mushroom Hub - @themushroomhub Artist/Performer: ?? Dr K. (Sound Bowl Session) - @dr.kwashington_ Come spend an evening with us on Friday to support local business, local food, and local community – buy your tickets today! #Detroit #StartWithBuild #DetroitSOUP #SupportLocal #PitchCompetition

?? Think you need a nonprofit to change the world? Think again. Too many entrepreneurs believe they have to choose between profit and purpose—but what if you didn’t? What if your business could make a real impact AND generate revenue? Join us for Mission: Possible on April 11, 2025, 5-8 PM at BUILD Institute to learn how to scale your social impact without the nonprofit headache. ???? ?? Spots are limited! Register now: https://lnkd.in/ek7UF6Bi #SocialImpact?#EntrepreneurMindset?#MissionPossible?#LLCvsNonprofit?#StartwithBUILD

Our team is perpetually in AWE of the ingenuity and creativity of the entrepreneurs who go through BUILD programs ?? We recently had the absolute privilege of visiting BUILD Alumni Gabrielle Soltis at her workshop in the Russell Industrial Center. A graduate of BUILD Basics in 2024, Gabrielle is a brilliant artisan who owns a bespoke footwear and leather goods company based in Detroit ???? Check out our latest Alumni Spotlight to hear more about her incredible business, goals for 2025, the artist collective Cave (@cavedetroit), and her experience as a BUILD Alumni ?? Follow Gabrielle on social media (@gabriellesoltis) or visit her website (gabriellesoltis.com) to learn more about her process and how you can commission a pair of bespoke shoes! #StartWithBuild #Build #Detroit #SupportLocal

Register now for BUILD Social Impact starting in April! ???? Link to register: https://lnkd.in/dGiyC5Fb More so than ever, entrepreneurs strive to make an impact on their communities -- but they also have to make a living! BUILD Social Impact is designed for business owners who want to balance profit with purpose ? This 8-week course takes our BUILD Basics business development program and views each step through the lens of achieving a social mission through a for-profit business model. Write (or revise) your comprehensive business plan with community improvement firmly in mind with BUILD Social Impact ?? This year, BUILD Institute is THRILLED to introduce our new BUILD Social Impact facilitator, Margo Dalal. Margo is a social and economic justice advocate in Detroit, Michigan. For over a decade, she has provided technical assistance and support to entrepreneurs in the city. She has co-founded several nonprofits, including the Detroit Community Wealth Fund (DCWF), where she served as Executive Director. Margo has played a key role in developing programs supporting worker-owned businesses' launch and has helped countless entrepreneurs through partnerships with TechTown, the University of Michigan Center for Entrepreneurship, and Practice Space Detroit. She holds a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor’s from Hampshire College. She is a co-owner of Public Thrift in Hamtramck and lives in East English Village. Program details: ?? April 30 – June 28 ?? In Person @ BUILD ?? 6pm – 8:30pm on Wednesdays ?? $350 or less – sliding scale in effect! #SocialImpact?#Detroit?#StartWithBuild?#SupportLocal

Hey Detroit ???? We have been proudly serving entrepreneurs in the city and beyond for over a decade. With that said, we just had nice new team portraits taken so please allow us this opportunity to reintroduce ourselves: We are BUILD Institute and we are ?? Open for (your) Business ?? Check out our website (buildinstitute.org), social media pages, and Linktree or reach out to us at [email protected] to learn more about how we can help *your* business launch, grow, and thrive. ?? The BUILD Team ??: @nguyenncreative #StartWithBuild #Build #Detroit #Team

?? St. Patrick’s Day is all about community, and Corktown was built by hardworking entrepreneurs. Show them some love today! Stay safe and celebrate responsibly. ?? #Detroit #StartWithBuild #Corktown #SupportLocal #StPatricksDay

Congratulations to Michael for securing a $10,000 Kiva loan to elevate their business! With this funding, they’ll be able to invest in new equipment, expand their services, and continue capturing Detroit’s stories through their lens. At BUILD Institute, we’re proud to support local entrepreneurs in accessing the resources they need to grow. Borrower: Michael Business Name: Hyena Ent Presents, LLC Loan Amount: $10,000 www.hyenafilmz.com Business Story: After serving 10 years in a federal prison I came home and completed a four-year bachelor program at Los Angeles films school. Since earning my degree, I started a business that provides wedding photography, sports highlights for the youth and other videography services. My plan is to start an afterschool film program, teaching youth about digital filmmaking. My goal is to show our youth that a person can make a mistake, but also change their life around and become a positive influence. My business is Hyena Ent Presents, LLC. We are a production company that provides professional photography services for weddings, graduations, events and sports events. My business operates online and also out of the Metro Detroit, MI and Cleveland, OH areas. I started my business in October 2020. The reason I started my business is to provide professional photography and videography services. I am applying for this loan to purchase equipment to better serve my clients. Also, I have experienced an increase in customers and these contracts require me to hire employees. #StartWithBuild #Kiva #Loans #Photography

?? Are you wondering what it’s like to pitch at Detroit Soup? Hear about the experience straight from our February Soup ideators ?? February Detroit Soup was a BLAST ?? and we are not slowing down anytime soon. Are you interested in pitching at Detroit Soup for the chance to win some funding for your business? ?? The application deadline is *Monday, February 17th* to be considered to pitch at our March 28th event ?? Be a part of a storied Detroit entrepreneurial legacy ?? Links to apply: https://shorturl.at/bO5KQ Purchase tickets: https://shorturl.at/4wDxX #Detroit?#StartWithBuild?#DetroitSOUP?#PitchCompetition

???? Sign up now for our AI for Entrepreneurs Master Class, hosted virtually on Saturday April 12! Link to sign up: https://lnkd.in/eaRX7hNd As an entrepreneur, you are expected to do and know EVERYTHING related to your business – curate engaging marketing, schedule appointments, have all the answers, produce every product, and serve every person ?? Take some pressure OFF of yourself by learning how to utilize AI tools to streamline your business processes ? Our AI for Entrepreneurs Master Class will introduce you to accessible AI platforms and teach you the basics so that you can take a breather and free up some time in your busy schedule. Take the time to learn now so that you HAVE the time you need in the future ???? #StartWithBuild #Detroit #ArtificialIntelligence #OpenAI #MasterClass

A big congratulations to BUILD Institute board member Portia Powell on her induction into Michigan Chronicle’s Women of Excellence Class of 2025! ???? As the President & CEO of One Detroit Credit Union, Portia is a true leader dedicated to financial empowerment and community impact. We’re proud to have her on our board and to celebrate this well-deserved recognition! https://lnkd.in/eMBxPmum #StartWithBuild #Detroit #MichiganChronicle #WomenOfExcellence