Public voting begins as Top 10
entrepreneurs vie for $100,000 prize
from Comerica Bank
DETROIT, April 11,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The wait is over! The
Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest by TechTown, the small business
competition responsible for launching some of the city's most
popular neighborhood storefronts, is ready to unveil its Top 10
semifinalists. These businesses are now in the running to win
$100,000 in startup funds from
Comerica Bank to open a brick-and-mortar storefront in Detroit, Hamtramck or Highland Park.
Public voting to narrow down the 10 semifinalists to four
finalists will begin Friday, April
12, at noon and run through Thursday,
April 18, at noon. Community members can vote for their
favorite businesses once per day by visiting HatchDetroit.com.
The four finalists of the 2024 Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest
will then be announced on Monday, April
22, with the final round of public voting beginning on
Wednesday, May 1 at noon and running
through the completion of the pitch competition at the Hatch Off on
Thursday, May 9.
"Community support is the cornerstone of success for budding
entrepreneurs. Part of what makes Detroit's small business landscape so
incredibly special is the community's shared vision for vibrant
neighborhoods and unwavering dedication to see local businesses
thrive," said Christianne Malone,
assistant vice president for economic development at Wayne State University and chief program officer of
TechTown Detroit. "Through initiatives like the Comerica Hatch
Detroit Contest by TechTown, we witness the power of public
engagement in shaping the city's small business ecosystem."
Over the years, the Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest has helped
launch some of Detroit's most
successful and well-known businesses, including 27th
Letter Books (2019), Baobab Fare (2017), Meta Physica
Massage (2016), Sister Pie (2014), and La
Feria (2012).
Below are the Top 10 businesses competing to win the 2024
Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest:
- Amarra Products: a certified woman- and minority-owned
business based in Detroit,
specializing in natural, organic body scrubs. They provide jobs,
training and mentorship to underserved individuals, especially
women who have been victims of domestic violence and human
trafficking, as well as returning citizens.
- Estella's Vegan Dessert Boutique: Detroit's premier vegan bakery. While known as
the "home of the vegan poundcake," Estella's dessert offerings
stretch beyond cake, with a made-from-scratch menu that includes
cookies, pies, cobblers and more.
- Harry Rich Clothier: creates custom garments for
individuals, using fashion as a tool to inspire, liberate and
educate people to think beyond the status quo.
- Khana: a Pakistani-inspired food pop-up based in
Detroit. Their dishes are derived
from the owner's family's traditional Pakistani recipes and
influenced by both their American and South Asian upbringing in the
city.
- Nada Dry Bar: a woman-founded community bar offering
non-alcoholic beverages and light fare, aiming to provide moments
of connectivity and joy.
- Natural Living by Design II: a certified minority,
female and family-owned enterprise dedicated to delivering holistic
solutions for the cultivation of optimal health and wellness. Their
curated selection of premium supplements and herbs promote overall
well-being.
- Pique Earth: a woman-owned food manufacturing
company with a mission to develop chemical-free, 100% organic,
locally grown products for the well-being of Earth, ecosystems and
humanity. On one acre of land, they cultivate premium gourmet and
medicinal mushrooms, as well as veggies, fruits, and fresh and
dried herbs and spices.
- Roller Skate Detroit: will provide the metro
Detroit area with an entertainment
facility focused on healthy fun. Their vision is to become a
complete lifestyle brand that combines enjoyment, wellness,
enrichment, sophistication, technology and community
engagement.
- The Gentleman's Oasis: a sanctuary devoted to the
physical and mental wellness of men. They cultivate an atmosphere
of tranquility, nurturing healthier lifestyles and empowering men
to prioritize their well-being without stigma.
- Unity Community Barbershop: an inclusive barbershop
that cultivates a sense of safety and belonging for members of the
transgender and LGBTQIA+ communities.
With this year's investment, Comerica Bank and the Comerica
Charitable Foundation will have committed more than $1.1 million to Hatch Detroit in direct funding
since Comerica's partnership began, along with additional in-kind
support that includes technical services. The program is one of
Detroit's most successful small
business incubators since it first began in 2011 with Comerica
partnering with Hatch beginning in 2012.
"Comerica Bank is honored to aid an initiative that cultivates
the dreams of local entrepreneurs and contributes to the vibrant
tapestry of Detroit's economic
landscape," said Meghan Storey,
senior vice president, Michigan
director of small business at Comerica Bank. "We believe in the
power of entrepreneurship to drive positive change, fuel economic
growth, and create opportunity. As a proven launching pad for local
small businesses, the Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest by TechTown
embodies the essence of entrepreneurial spirit and nurtures the
economic revitalization of Detroit."
This year, Comerica Bank is celebrating 175 years of serving its
communities, making it Michigan's
longest-serving bank. Comerica was founded in 1849 in Detroit during a time when all banks in the
city were exclusive to the business community. This was the
motivation behind Comerica's decision to gear its banking for the
people and for those who wanted to secure their personal and
financial future. Since its inception, Comerica has grown in
Michigan and throughout the
country by focusing on the customer first and offering personal,
small business and commercial banking services, as well as wealth
management services.
2024 Hatch Off
On May 9, the Contest will
culminate with the annual "Hatch Off" where the Top 4 entrepreneurs
present their business plans in front of a panel of expert judges
and live audience and the winner is announced. The winner of the
2024 Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest will be chosen through a
combination of the public's vote and judges' deliberations.
Tickets are now available to witness the Top 4 business pitches
and see the winner of the Hatch Off competition crowned. The Hatch
Off takes place on Thursday, May 9 at
6 p.m., at the Wayne State University Industry Innovation Center
at 461 Burroughs Street in Detroit. To purchase your ticket to the Hatch
Off, visit HatchDetroit.com.
Comerica Bank, a subsidiary of Comerica Incorporated, has
served Michigan longer than any other bank with a
continuous presence dating back 175 years to
its Detroit founding in 1849. It is the largest bank
employer in metro Detroit and has approximately 4,500
employees (FTE) statewide. With one of the largest banking center
networks in Michigan, Comerica nurtures lifelong relationships
with unwavering integrity and financial prudence. Comerica
positively impacts the lives of Michigan residents by
helping customers be successful, providing financial support that
assists hundreds of charitable organizations, and actively
participating in Detroit's downtown revitalization.
Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA) is a financial services
company strategically aligned by three business segments: The
Commercial Bank, The Retail Bank, and Wealth Management. Follow on
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Comerica, X (formerly known as
Twitter): @ComericaBank and
Instagram: @comerica_bank.
TechTown Detroit, Wayne State
University's entrepreneurship hub, is a nonprofit business
service organization that provides programs, education and
resources for early- to growth-stage small businesses and tech
entrepreneurs. By building bridges for entrepreneurs to succeed,
TechTown is accelerating an inclusive economy for Detroit and Southeast Michigan. Since its inception,
TechTown has supported more than 6,000 companies, which created
2,340 jobs and raised more than $408
million in startup and growth capital. For more information,
visit techtowndetroit.org.
Hatch Detroit supports
both existing and new retail initiatives in the cities of
Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park. Hatch Detroit was founded in 2011 to give residents
and aspiring entrepreneurs an opportunity to have a voice in
neighborhood retail development and joined TechTown Detroit's suite
of entrepreneurial programs and services in 2022. Beyond the
Contest, Hatch Detroit provides funding, exposure and mentoring in
support of its alumni entrepreneurs. With support from Hatch
Detroit, 50 alumni have opened businesses. They employ over 500
people and have invested over $10
million in economic development. To learn more, visit
hatchdetroit.com.
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SOURCE Comerica Bank