What Build Institute does

Build Institute is a Detroit-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2012 that operates as an inclusive innovation hub and small business accelerator for under-represented and under-resourced entrepreneurs. Its core programming is structured around four pillars — Learn, Launch, Fund, and Connect — delivered primarily in person at The Corner in Corktown (the historic Tiger Stadium site) and seasonally across Metro Detroit, Traverse City, and Indiana. Since inception it has graduated 2,600+ entrepreneurs, supported 560+ operational businesses, and reports 1,700 jobs and $56 million in annual labor income generated by alumni businesses.

The product surface is educational and community-based rather than technology-based. Core cohorts include the 8-week BUILD Basics business planning class, the 8-week BUILD Social Impact program for mission-driven ventures, and the multi-year BUILD Grow track for established businesses, supplemented by free BUILD Master Classes and alumni programming. There is no proprietary software platform; registration runs through a third-party booking system (startupspace.app) and the organization distributes downloadable Google Sheets templates for financial statements. Capital access is delivered through third-party partnerships rather than BUILD's own balance sheet: Kiva 0% microloans ($1,000–$15,000) via BUILD's role as Kiva's longest-standing combined Hub/Trustee, the BUILD Alumni 3C Funding microloan program ($2,500–$10,000 at 3% interest, administered by Michigan Women Forward), and Detroit SOUP micro-granting dinners.

The business model is a nonprofit hybrid of foundation/corporate grants, sliding-scale course fees, and event-space rentals ($75–$150/hour). Major funders include the New Economy Initiative, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, Bank of America, Ralph C. Wilson Junior Foundation, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Comerica, PNC, and Lake Trust Credit Union. Core staff is approximately four people, led by Executive Director Aaron W. Jackson (appointed 2024). In late 2025 the Board announced an end-of-year pause of operations to reassess programming, partnerships, and long-term sustainability, while honoring scheduled programming through December 2025.

Name

Build Institute

Legal name

BUILD Institute

Website

https://buildinstitute.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Detroit-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2012 that operates an inclusive entrepreneurship hub offering cohort-based business education, capital access partnerships, and co-working and event space for under-represented and under-resourced small business owners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Entrepreneurship Education and Small Business Development

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Venture Creation Centers (EDAHAHAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics (EDAMAHAA), Entrepreneurship, Startup Incubation & Pitch Programs (EDAMAKAK), Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education (EDAAAFAK)

Keywords

• Entrepreneurship education programs
• Small business support services
• Co-working space rentals
• Microloan facilitation
• Nonprofit business accelerator

Headquarters

HQ city

Detroit

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Course Fees: BUILD Institute offers paid courses including BUILD Basics, BUILD Social Impact, and BUILD Grow programs. Uses sliding scale pricing based on household size and annual income to ensure accessibility.
2. Space Rentals: Generates revenue from renting conference rooms ($75/hour or $50/hour for nonprofits/alumni) and Main Event Space ($150/hour or $125/hour for nonprofits/alumni) at their Corktown location.
3. Foundation and Corporate Funding: Supported by foundation grants and corporate funding from New Economy Initiative, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, Bank of America, Ralph C. Wilson Junior Foundation, Comerica, PNC Bank, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Michigan Central, Detroit Regional Chamber, and Lake Trust Credit Union.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Build Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers an entrepreneurship education and small business support ecosystem for under-resourced entrepreneurs in Detroit. Core offerings include multi-week business planning curricula (BUILD Basics, BUILD Social Impact, BUILD Grow), free master classes, alumni engagement, co-working space, event venue rentals, and facilitated access to capital through partnerships with Kiva (0% microloans), Michigan Women Forward (BUILD Alumni 3C Funding), and Detroit SOUP micro-grants.

Product overview

Build Institute is a Detroit-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates as an inclusive innovation hub for entrepreneurs, offering a multi-tiered educational ecosystem and funding support. The core offerings include BUILD Basics (8-week business planning), BUILD Social Impact (social entrepreneurship focus), BUILD Master Classes (free topic workshops), and BUILD Grow (growth-oriented cohort programs for established businesses). Funding access is provided through partnerships with Kiva (0% microloans), BUILD Alumni 3C Funding, and Detroit Soup micro-grants. Additional services include alumni networking, 1:1 coaching, and event space rentals at their Corktown location.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BUILD Basics: Core 8-week business and project planning class for aspiring and established entrepreneurs.
• BUILD Social Impact
• BUILD Master Classes
• BUILD Grow
• Detroit SOUP
• Kiva Detroit
• BUILD Alumni 3C Funding

Products and services

• BUILD Basics 8-week business and project planning class for aspiring and established entrepreneurs, taught by local experts and covering licensing, financial literacy, market research, and cash flow, with a completed business plan upon graduation.
• BUILD Social Impact 8-week class that trains, develops, and coaches social entrepreneurs on using a for-profit business model to achieve a social mission, with focus on double and triple bottom line business practices.
• BUILD Master Classes Free workshops covering topics and skills needed to launch and grow a business, including AI for Entrepreneurs, Digital Marketing, Sales Strategy, Mental Health and Wellness for Entrepreneurs, and Accessing Capital in Detroit.
• BUILD Grow Programming for established entrepreneurs ready to grow and scale, including BUILD Grow Focus (10-week cohort with weekly peer meetings, SME training, and 1:1 sessions) and BUILD Grow Evolve (3-year deep-dive program with grant funding access).
• BUILD Alumni Program Ongoing post-graduation support for BUILD alumni including educational workshops, networking events, weekly profile-based marketing, weekly open office hours, co-working access, and local business deals.
• Kiva Loans 0% interest crowdfunded microloans ranging from $1,000 to $15,000 with 12- to 36-month terms, focused on character rather than credit, facilitated by BUILD Institute as Kiva's local Hub/Trustee partner for Wayne, Oakland, and Washtenaw counties.
• Detroit SOUP Micro-granting dinner where entrepreneurs pitch ideas to a local crowd for vote-based funding, celebrating and supporting creative projects in Detroit.
• BUILD Alumni 3C Funding Micro-loan program for BUILD Alumni with loans of $2,500 to $10,000 at 3% interest over 36 months, with year-3 repayment cleared by a BUILD Institute contribution grant if years 1 and 2 are paid on time; loan administration handled by Michigan Women Forward.
• Event Space Rentals Rental of conference rooms ($75/hour or $50/hour for nonprofits and BUILD Alumni, capacity up to 10 people) and Main Event Space ($150/hour or $125/hour for nonprofits and BUILD Alumni, capacity up to 50 seated or 120 standing) at The Corner in Corktown.
• 1:1 Coaching One-on-one coaching sessions with small business experts who help answer questions and develop growth strategies for entrepreneurs (235 unique businesses served in 2023).
• Co-Working Space Quiet workspaces and meeting/event spaces for entrepreneurs, residents, and local organizations at The Corner location in Corktown, Detroit.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2600+ entrepreneurs graduated with completed business plans
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Honeycomb CreditcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBUILD Institute and Honeycomb Credit partnered to expand lending options for entrepreneurs in Metro Detroit. The mission is to ensure main street businesses are thriving through buy/local, shop/local initiatives. This partnership brings another lending product to Detroit small business owners.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SCORE: SCORE is the largest U.S. nonprofit network of volunteer business mentors providing free education, workshops, and 1:1 mentoring to small business owners. Comparable to BUILD as a community-driven small business education and mentorship nonprofit, though national in scope.
• Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses: Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses is a tuition-free business education and cohort program targeted at growth-oriented small business owners, often with a focus on underrepresented founders. Closely mirrors BUILD's cohort + capital + alumni model.
• Village Capital: Village Capital runs entrepreneurship development programs and peer-selected investment funds for impact-oriented and underrepresented founders. Overlaps with BUILD's focus on access, equity, and supporting founders historically excluded from capital networks.
• Women's Business Centers (SBA): Women's Business Centers provide business training, mentoring, and capital access to women entrepreneurs — mirroring BUILD's 83% women participant base and integrated education+capital model. Operated nationwide through SBA funding.
• Accion Opportunity Fund: Accion Opportunity Fund is a nonprofit CDFI providing small business loans, coaching, and education to underserved entrepreneurs across the U.S. Directly comparable to BUILD's micro-lending, coaching, and educational programming model.

Broad incumbents

• Kauffman Foundation: Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a major national philanthropy focused on entrepreneurship education, research, and ecosystem building. A broader incumbent funder/researcher that shapes the small business support landscape BUILD operates in.
• Babson College (Lewis Institute / entrepreneurship programs): Babson College is widely regarded as the leading U.S. institution for entrepreneurship education, with executive education and ecosystem-building programs for practitioners. Comparable to BUILD as a source of entrepreneurship curricula and facilitator training, though at higher education level.

Emerging players

• Bunker Labs: Bunker Labs is a nonprofit supporting military veteran entrepreneurs through education, networking, and capital access. Comparable to BUILD in targeting an underrepresented founder segment and combining cohort learning with capital pathway programs.

Regional players

• TechTown Detroit: TechTown Detroit is a Wayne State University-affiliated small business incubator and accelerator in Detroit, providing co-working, mentoring, and capital access to local entrepreneurs. Direct regional peer to BUILD in the Detroit ecosystem.
• Hatch Detroit: Hatch Detroit supports independent retail and small business development in Detroit neighborhoods through grant competitions and community engagement. A regional peer with overlapping mission to strengthen Detroit's small business base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/StartWithBuild
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCWQjBid53aS40FkNF37u5Cg
• Facebookfacebook.com/StartWithBuild
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/9270225/admin
• Instagraminstagram.com/StartWithBuild

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Build Institute