Digital Lakes
Digital Lakes is a Michigan-based nonprofit that runs the Micro-Internship Program, rotating students through paid month-long tech internships at Michigan companies. The organization is funded by tiered corporate investor partnerships, sponsorships, and donations from major Michigan employers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersDetroit Lakes, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Digital Lakes does
Digital Lakes Michigan is a Troy, Michigan-based nonprofit founded in 2018 that operates as a statewide collaborative initiative to attract, develop, and retain technology talent in Michigan. The organization's core offering is the Micro-Internship Program, which places high school graduates through college juniors in paid month-long rotations across multiple Michigan companies, with administrative functions (payroll, onboarding, background checks) handled centrally at no cost to participating firms. An advanced "Digital Lakes 2.0" internship places returning students with a single host company for a full summer, creating a multi-year student pathway. Supporting offerings include an annual Innovation Summit, Spring Educational/Networking events, and quarterly CIO/CXO and CHRO advisory groups that convene employer leadership around industry talent needs.
Digital Lakes does not develop proprietary technology products; its "platform" is fundamentally an operational program coordinating students, host companies, educational institutions, and economic development partners across Michigan. Revenue is generated through tiered corporate investor partnerships (Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Small Business, and Non-Profit), event sponsorships, advisory group sponsorships, and tax-deductible donations. The investor base includes major Michigan employers such as Magna International, Accenture, KPMG, Bosch, Ally Financial, DTE Energy, Consumers Energy, AM General, General Dynamics Land Systems, HAP, Delta Dental, AAM, and BAE Systems, alongside state agencies (MEDC, MDEC, Macomb County) and educational institutions (Oakland University, WGU). The organization is governed by a board of executives from these companies and is led by Co-Founder and Board Chair Ronia Kruse (also President & CEO of Optech), Co-Founder George Surdu (Chief Strategist at HTC Global), and Director Jennifer Champion.
Recent strategic activity includes a 2025 statewide expansion of the Micro-Internship Program and a 2025 strategic partnership with MICHauto and the Detroit Regional Chamber. The organization markets itself through its website, regional earned media, university recruitment events, and an annual showcase event, with reported outcome metrics including 95% of interns more likely to stay in Michigan, 98% reporting expanded professional networks, and 100% referring the program to others, alongside retention rates exceeding the 52.8% industry benchmark.
Digital Lakes firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Digital Lakes
- Legal name
- Digital Lakes Michigan
- Website
- https://digital-lakes.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Digital Lakes is a Michigan-based nonprofit that runs the Micro-Internship Program, rotating students through paid month-long tech internships at Michigan companies. The organization is funded by tiered corporate investor partnerships, sponsorships, and donations from major Michigan employers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Digital Lakes industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Workforce Development Services
- NAICS
- Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Computer Training (611420), Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Computer Training (61142)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Internship/Apprenticeship Matching & Work-Based Learning Platforms (EDAFAMAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Technical & Digital Skills Training (BPACANAB), Remote/Hybrid Work Readiness & Digital Collaboration (EDAAAKAL), Digital Learning Content Development (eLearning, Labs, Simulations) (BPAEANAD)
Keywords
Where Digital Lakes is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Detroit Lakes
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Digital Lakes business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Corporate Investor Partnerships: Digital Lakes generates revenue through tiered corporate investor partnerships. Companies become investors at various levels (Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Small Business, Non-Profit) to support the organization's mission of attracting tech talent to Michigan. Investor benefits include recognition, exclusive opportunities, and access to the talent pipeline. The Micro-Internship Program administration is provided at no-cost to investors.
- Event Sponsorship: Companies can sponsor Digital Lakes events throughout the year, including the annual Innovation Summit and Spring Educational/Networking events. Sponsorship opportunities are customizable to sponsor needs and provide access to high-quality professionals.
- Advisory Group Sponsorship: Organizations can sponsor the CIO/CXO and HR advisory groups, which meet quarterly. This provides unique engagement opportunities for organizational and individual participation.
- Donations: Digital Lakes accepts donations from individuals and organizations. Donations can be made via check or credit card, with QR codes available for $100, $500, and $1000 donation amounts. Donations are tax-deductible.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Diamond level corporate partnership for major investors |
| Subscription | Annual | Platinum level corporate partnership |
| Subscription | Annual | Gold level corporate partnership |
| Subscription | Annual | Silver level corporate partnership |
| Subscription | Annual | Small Business partnership for companies with less than 10 employees |
| Subscription | Annual | Non-Profit partnership |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Individual donations via QR codes |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Digital Lakes product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Digital Lakes operates a Micro-Internship Program that places Michigan college students into short-term, paid, project-based engagements with sponsoring Michigan companies, supported by advisory groups (CIO/CXO and CHRO/HR), a successor Digital Lakes 2.0 internship track, and recurring events such as the Innovation Summit and a Spring educational/networking event. The organization functions as a nonprofit convener aligning employer demand, university talent, and regional partners to grow and retain the state's technology workforce.
Product overview
Digital Lakes is a workforce development initiative, not a software product company. Its offerings consist of programs and services designed to attract, develop, and retain tech talent in Michigan. The core offering is the Micro-Internship Program, which rotates students through multiple Michigan companies for paid month-long internships. Advanced students can progress to Digital Lakes 2.0 Internships, which provides a single-company summer placement. Supporting these programs are the Innovation Summit (annual showcase event), Spring Educational/Networking Events, and two advisory groups (CIO/CXO and CHRO) that meet quarterly to address industry talent needs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Micro-Internship Program
Quantifiable outcome
- 95% of student interns more likely to consider staying and working in Michigan after program participation
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Digital Lakes
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Digital Lakes technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Digital Lakes partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- MICHautocoreStrategic partnership announced in 2025 for the Micro-Internship Program. MICHauto is the automotive and mobility talent initiative of the Detroit Regional Chamber, led by Glenn Stevens (Executive Director and VP Automotive & Mobility Initiatives) who serves on Digital Lakes board.
- Detroit Regional ChambercoreStrategic partnership for talent pipeline building. Detroit Regional Chamber works with Digital Lakes to connect Michigan companies with emerging tech talent through collaborative programs.
- Google (Detroit Office)supportingDigital Lakes organized visits to Google's Detroit office for members to learn about AI technology and its impact on Detroit's automotive industry. Provides industry knowledge and advice from Google leaders.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Digital Lakes competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Parker Dewey: Parker Dewey operates a micro-internship platform connecting college students with paid, project-based work at companies. Directly comparable to Digital Lakes' Micro-Internship Program in the micro-internship delivery model, though Parker Dewey is a national for-profit platform rather than a regional nonprofit.
Regional players
- Detroit at Work: Detroit's workforce development agency connecting residents to jobs and training. Comparable as a regional workforce development organization focused on Michigan, though it covers broader occupations rather than tech-specific talent pipelines.
- Workforce Intelligence Network (WIN): Michigan-based workforce development collaborative serving Southeast Michigan. Comparable as a regional talent pipeline convener connecting employers, educators, and training providers; overlaps with Digital Lakes' Michigan tech-talent mission.
Emerging players
- Year Up: National workforce development nonprofit providing training and internships to young adults, with strong corporate employer partnerships. Comparable model of employer-funded training-to-career pathway, though larger and broader in scope.
- Per Scholas: National nonprofit providing tuition-free tech training and career support to underserved adults. Comparable mission of building tech talent pipelines through employer partnerships; differs in being a training provider rather than an internship matchmaker.
- Apprenti: National tech apprenticeship nonprofit registered with the Department of Labor. Comparable in creating employer-funded tech talent pipelines through earn-while-you-learn models, though focused on apprenticeships rather than short-term micro-internships.
Broad incumbents
- Handshake: National career platform for college students and employers, owned by Blackstone. Adjacent as the dominant digital infrastructure for college recruiting and internships, against which Digital Lakes' Micro-Internship Program competes for student attention.
Others
- Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights Apprenticeship: Michigan-based union apprenticeship program. Tangentially comparable as a Michigan employer-led earn-and-learn model, though trade-focused rather than tech-focused.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Digital Lakes social profiles
Digital presenceDigital Lakes financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Digital Lakes leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Digital Lakes funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Digital Lakes M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Digital Lakes
What does Digital Lakes do?
Digital Lakes operates a Micro-Internship Program that places Michigan college students into short-term, paid, project-based engagements with sponsoring Michigan companies, supported by advisory groups (CIO/CXO and CHRO/HR), a successor Digital Lakes 2.0 internship track, and recurring events such as the Innovation Summit and a Spring educational/networking event. The organization functions as a nonprofit convener aligning employer demand, university talent, and regional partners to grow and retain the state's technology workforce.
Is Digital Lakes a public or private company?
Digital Lakes is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Digital Lakes founded?
Digital Lakes was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Digital Lakes based?
Digital Lakes is headquartered in Detroit Lakes, United States, in the North America region.
How does Digital Lakes make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Corporate Investor Partnerships are the primary driver. The others are event Sponsorship, advisory Group Sponsorship and donations.
Who are Digital Lakes's main competitors?
Parker Dewey is listed as a direct peer. Regional players are Detroit at Work and Workforce Intelligence Network (WIN). Emerging players are Year Up, Per Scholas and Apprenti. Handshake is listed as a broad incumbent. Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights Apprenticeship is listed as an others.
Does Digital Lakes have an API?
No public API is recorded for Digital Lakes.
What industry is Digital Lakes in?
Digital Lakes's product category is Workforce Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAFAMAL, Internship/Apprenticeship Matching & Work-Based Learning Platforms, with a secondary code of BPACANAB, Technical & Digital Skills Training. Its NAICS code is 611430 and its SIC code is 8200.