Venture 313

Day 1 at SXSW was one for the books! ?? Venture 313 x Transparent Collective brought together bold conversations, game-changing speakers, and hands-on whiteboard sessions designed to turn problems into solutions. This is what happens when innovation meets community. Stay tuned—there’s more to come! Tag a familiar face you see! ?? ??: 888 Creative #SXSW #Venture313 #FoundersFirst" James Norman Lara McKeithan Isaac Caballero Niles Heron Caleb Conley Jeff Ponders II Belvin Liles III DeCarlos Love Harold Hughes Lander Coronado-Garcia TechTown Detroit Invest Detroit Gilbert Family Foundation

I’m official like a referee with a whistle, LinkedIn! I’m (belatedly) excited to share that I’ve joined?TechTown Detroit?as?Senior Director of Tech-Based Entrepreneurship. After more than a decade as a?founder, mentor, investor, advisor, consultant, and builder, I’m grateful for the opportunity to now help lead forward the work of an organization that’s been a pillar in Detroit for 20+ years. From?our Founder and Product Programs (Start and Scale Studios), Mobility and Health Innovation (MAIN and MedHealth), Capital Access (Catalyst Angels & Venture 313)?as well as?our community-and-capacity-building?work in emerging sectors, the opportunity to support?Detroit’s founders as they build, grow, and change the world is humbling. I officially started late last year, though I’ve been around quietly since?August 2024,?rethinking how we show up for an evolving ecosystem as supporters, disruptors, and zealous advocates?for the visionaries we serve. In just a few months, I’ve been?blown away and excited?by the work. I'm grateful to be even a?mustard seed-sized?part of how we keep finding ways to move the proverbial needle—both marginally and exponentially. Coming back to TechTown feels poetic. From?working in the DTX Accelerator (shoutout to Paul Riser, M.B.A. & Ned Staebler)?back in 2015–16 to?mentoring in Retail Bootcamp (shoutout Paul Thomas, M.D. & Plum Health DPC), TechTown played a huge role in my own startup journey. Without those opportunities, I may or may not have kept a roof over my head—but I wouldn’t have been anywhere near “ready” for what came next. (And let’s be real,?“ready” was a wild exaggeration—shoutout to everyone at Loaded and Open World?for riding with me through it all) Speaking of… the seven years there were a ride I didn’t even know I could?pray?for.?Building a company, changing an industry, forging life-changing relationships, and learning lessons that only experience teaches—it was surreal. It was amazing. We raised?twice, we made acquisitions. Our?total economic impact is closing in on $1B. Crazy. Even though I’m no longer in those daily trenches, I still can’t bring myself to call?Loaded?a “them.”?It’s always we. Always us... might always be. I still wear my?Loaded backpack every day.?And I’m so damn proud of what we did, what we’re doing, and what’s still ahead for us in gaming.?Thank you Josh Swartz, Kyle DeWitt, Brandon Freytag,?and the entire team for continuing to push toward greatness. Lastly, I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge I’m stepping into this role at a?critical moment. The funding landscape is shifting?fast—nationally, regionally, and locally—and our work?has to?keep pace.?TechTown, despite public perception, is a?non-profit?reliant on?forward-thinking benefactors?to believe progress is an imperative. If it were easy, it’d already be done. But, we're up for it. To my new team—I believe in us. To the founders we serve—I believe in you. Let’s get to it. DMs open. Detroit + Everybody

Venture 313 is taking SIX powerhouse founders to SXSW 2025! Detroit’s innovation is hitting the global stage in Austin, and these trailblazing entrepreneurs are leading the way: ?? Paris Plain, Founder of Ultrium – revolutionizing AI-driven data security. ? Brittany M., Founder of OptimizeEV – making EV charging smarter and more accessible. ?? Jameson Detweiler, Founder of Strut Motors – redefining urban mobility with electric microcars. ?? Sam S Cerwin, Founder of BeReworn – fostering a sustainable fashion community through clothing swaps and upcycling. ?? David R. Medina álvarez, Founder of Livaq – transforming off-roading with high-performance electric ORVs. ?? Farai Gundan, M.B.A. M.P.A (Harvard), Founder of Bhadala – streamlining mobility with a MaaS platform for seamless, accessible transit. From clean tech to fashion, mobility, and AI, these founders are shaping the future. Stay tuned as we take Detroit to SXSW 2025 and show the world what the 313 is made of! Gilbert Family Foundation Invest Detroit TechTown Detroit Detroit Development Fund #Venture313 #DetroitToSXSW #FoundersOnTheRise #InnovationInMotion #SXSW2025

Detroit's entrepreneurial spirit was on full display at TechTown Detroit’s Social & Spades night part of Detroit's Black Business Reunion series! We enjoyed coming out to capture the scene! A night of strategy, storytelling, and celebration, this gathering brought together founders, creatives, and community members over cards, conversation, and connection. Big love to everyone that brought a piece of them that night. Let's keep building! ??: Devankar Mukhi

ID Ventures portfolio company CircNova, Inc raised a $3.3M Seed round! Check out this fantastic TechCrunch article showcasing their journey to revolutionize the development of novel therapeutics. #venturecapital #investor ID Ventures, Michigan Rise, South Loop Ventures, Kalamazoo Forward Ventures, Union Heritage, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Venture 313, TechTown Detroit, MaasVentures https://lnkd.in/gEgfTWfF

The Venture 313 Scale Stage delivered real, unfiltered conversations on what it takes to build, fund, and sustain a thriving business—especially in Detroit. Kicking off with Rishi Moudgil of Michigan Founders Fund, the message was clear: we must put founders forward with more than just capital—real education, support, and ecosystem access. From Venture 101 with industry experts to breaking down what accelerators are missing, these discussions weren’t just inspiring—they were a blueprint for real growth. If you missed it, swipe through for key takeaways and stay tapped in as we continue pushing the Detroit entrepreneurial ecosystem forward. #We313 #detroitentrepreneurs #detroit #michiganstartups #michigantech

From vision to execution—this weekend, we brought the Venture 313 Scale Stage to life, powered by CircNova, at the 2025 Belonging Blueprint. Our space was designed for bold conversations and the knowledge to scale. The room was unmatched, the insights were game-changing, and the connections? Next level. Swipe through for a recap of the moments that made this stage the place to be! TechTown Detroit Invest Detroit Detroit Development Fund Gilbert Family Foundation Black Tech Saturdays ??: karl bake // 888 Creative #detroit #techevent #startupevent #techecosystem #michiganfounders #innovation #michigantech

Join us for the Venture313 Stage powered by Circnova at Black Tech Saturdays’ Black Innovation Summit on February 15th! Get ready for impactful discussions on: ?? Venture Capital ?? Accelerators ?? Local Resources Plus, a chance to share your voice and connect with innovators shaping the future! Don’t miss this incredible day of insights, networking, and inspiration. ?? Mark your calendar and meet us there — it’s going to be epic! Gilbert Family Foundation TechTown Detroit Invest Detroit CircNova, Inc Black Tech Saturdays Newlab Detroit Development Fund Michigan Founders Fund adrian fortino Alison Todak Christina Drake Stefon Crawford Monica Wheat Shane Kelly Belvin Liles III Caleb Conley Niles Heron Jeff Ponders II #Venture313 #BlackInnovationSummit #PoweredByCircnova

Yesterday marked a historic milestone as Governor Whitmer signed the bipartisan Michigan Innovation Fund and R&D Tax Credit bills into law! These initiatives will attract investments to Michigan, drive research and innovation, and create thousands of jobs. We’re incredibly proud that one of Venture 313’s very own founders, Crystal Brown, had the opportunity to share why this legislation matters and highlight the importance of investing in early-stage founders. This is a big win for Michigan’s startup ecosystem, and we’re excited for what the future holds! #Innovation #MichiganStartups #JobCreation #ResearchAndDevelopment #Venture313 #EconomicGrowth

The Lions weren’t the only team winning in Houston! We had incredible success taking over Houston for AfroTech this year! Not only did we bring Detroit founders to this national stage, but one of our own took the official AfroTech stage to share her journey. Another secured a first-place cash prize at the BLCK VC competition. Beyond the wins, the networking was unmatched, with founders forming connections that will fuel their ventures for years to come. We’re proud to see Michigan shining on a national level and thrilled about the continued collaboration to elevate our Michigan ecosystem. The future is going to be exciting! #afrotech