About FUND Detroit

One Week Virtual Bootcamp for Detroit, MI Small Businesses

Navigating your financing options as a small business owner can be challenging. Ladies Who Launch is here to help you access capital and scale your business. We are hosting a week-long small business funding bootcamp in Detroit, Michigan from August 21 - 25, 2023! Thirty women and non-binary small business owners across all industries, with gross annual revenue between $25,000 and $199,999, will be selected in the Greater Detroit Metropolitan area to participate in the FUND Bootcamp. The program will help you understand your small business’s financial status and the opportunities available to support you in your local community and beyond.

At the end of the program, FUND Detroit participants will have the opportunity to compete in a pitch competition with the chance to win a $5,000 cash prize to support their small business’s growth!

Applications are now closed.

Want to get involved?

 
 

FUND Detroit Session Speakers

 

Camery Abram

Business Development Officer,

Ascendus

 

Latifa Bradwell

Lender Relations Specialist,

Michigan District Office

U.S. Small Business Administration

 

Drusilla Fanning

AVP Banking Office Manager,

The Huntington National Bank

 

Bianca McGee

Founder & CEO,

Plan Profit Grow

 

Stephanie Peoples

Vice President, Senior Business Consultant,

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

 

Angelia Sharp

Senior Loan Officer,

Detroit Development Fund (DDF)

 

Maggie Toole

Business Development Officer,

Michigan Women Forward (formerly Michigan Women’s Foundation)

 

Rachel Williams

Founder,

ScaleUp Financial Solutions

 

FUND Detroit Pitch Winners

 

$5,000 Grand Prize Winner

Angela Buccellato

 

$1,500 Runner Up Winner

Brittany Waters

Founder,

Behold Beauty

 
 
 
 
 

Finalists

Halla Horn

Chantele Jones

Shelly Watts

Founder,

Muirneen

Why FUND?

FUND Bootcamp Benefits

The FUND Bootcamps, which will include two-hour sessions, over five days, will feature small business financing experts, entrepreneurs, and more to help small business owners answer these important questions:

  • What financing options are available?

    Bootstrapping isn’t your only option to grow your business! The FUND Bootcamp will introduce you to various funding options like loans and lines of credit.


  • What funding is right for my business?

    The FUND Bootcamp will help you understand and evaluate your funding options to scale and grow your business. We’ll help you learn how to assess your financing options and understand high-risk vs. low-risk funding opportunities, the terms of the loans, and more. We’ll even discuss the emotions behind finances and how your personal relationship with money can impact your business’s growth.


  • What resources are available in my community?

    Throughout the program, you’ll have the chance to get to know the resources available to you in your city! From your local SBA to grant programs and loans, the FUND Bootcamps will help you find the funding resources your business needs.

  • How can I find community as a small business owner?

    Being a business owner can be lonely. Whether a solo founder or co-founder, navigating challenges and evaluating your financing options is daunting. The FUND Bootcamp is more than an educational program, it’s an opportunity to make this journey less lonely by building a safe community with like-minded small business owners in your city!

Join Our Community!

About Ladies Who Launch

The FUND Bootcamps will help you build authentic relationships in Detroit—both with other small business owners who understand the challenges of small business ownership and with local financial institutions who can help you find the resources and funding you need.

Since 2020, Ladies Who Launch has supported 40 women and non-binary small business owners through grants and mentorship with the Launch Program. Participants in the FUND Bootcamps will now be a part of our diverse, accepting community of entrepreneurs! Ladies Who Launch is a place where women and non-binary small business owners can show up as their authentic selves, even on their toughest days.

 

Not Based in Detroit?

FUND Bootcamp is also visiting these cities:

 

Atlanta, GA

Program Dates:

October 23 - 27, 2023

Pitch Competition:

November 2, 2023

Baltimore, MD

Program Dates:

September 11 - 15, 2023

Pitch Competition:

September 21, 2023

Denver, CO

Program Dates:

July 31 - August 4, 2023

Pitch Competition:

August 10, 2023