In July 2009, the Wayne State University Research and Technology Park, commonly known as TechTown, received a grant of $4.975 million over three years to implement a comprehensive entrepreneur training and support program in partnership with the Kauffman Foundation and other regional entrepreneur and economic development support organizations.

The TechTown-based entrepreneurial programs will implement Kauffman Foundation’s suite of FastTrac programs and will leverage existing entrepreneurial and related programs in the region. TechTown has a three-year strategy that includes:

• Recurring mass intake sessions to identify and engage prospective program participants;
• Triage that will filter program participants into the appropriate FastTrac and/or partner programs;
• Ongoing training in the suite of FastTrac programs; and
• Ongoing training and case management through existing entrepreneurial and related programs in the region.

“Phase One” of the three-year strategy was expedited in June 2009 – September 2009. Over 1,200 individuals were assessed and 1,000 of these were directed into programs designed to help them start and grow new businesses. Phase One is estimated to lead to the creation of approximately 400 companies. Over three years, these intake sessions will be repeated at least three times each year to continually drive new entrepreneurs into the training and support programs.

The Kauffman Foundation’s FastTrac training programs address three levels of entrepreneurs: (1) individuals with no tangible experience or idea to build a company around; (2) individuals with non-technical company ideas; and (3) individuals with high-tech and high-growth opportunities and ideas. The FastTrac suite of programs are practical, hands-on business development programs designed to help entrepreneurs hone the skills needed to create, manage and grow a successful business. FastTrac participants work on their own business ideas or ventures throughout the courses – moving their ventures to reality or new levels of growth.

Kauffman and TechTown will also launch iBridge Southeast Michigan during Phase One. The iBridgeSM Network, a program of the not-for-profit Kauffman Innovation Network, Inc., provides transparency and access to university developed innovations through the Web site, www.iBridgeNetwork.org. The site aggregates research materials, technologies, and discoveries in an easy-to-search forum. Through the collaborations created via the site, unexpected advances may take place that lead to next-generation solutions across every field. As the site continues to develop, relationships will be enabled on a one-to-one basis or through communities focused on a specific subject matter in which colleagues may discuss innovations, compare ideas and notes, and, potentially, find unforeseen commonalities and synergies.

In addition to the partnership with the Kauffman Foundation, TechTown is utilizing this grant to engage and support other regional entrepreneur and economic development support organizations as additional partners in the proposed Entrepreneurial Programs such as Ann Arbor Spark and Automation Alley.

The TechTown-based Entrepreneurial Programs are complemented by the other two of the suite of grants endorsed by the NEI Governing Council at its May 14, 2009, meeting. Once approved by NEI, the TechTown Entrepreneurial Programs will run alongside the Urban Entrepreneurship Program (UEP) for minority auto suppliers and alongside the ShoreBank Detroit Business Innovation Development Fund. Together, these programs provide a solid base for advancing entrepreneurialism and business innovation in many forms in Detroit and Southeast Michigan.

Key Metrics and Indicators

• 550 new startup companies by 2011 as a result of phase one
• Increased residential and retail activity in the creative and entrepreneurial corridor
• Increased university technology transfer as a result of iBridge