Startup
Our flagship offering is the Startup program and we built it with our mission in mind.
Startup is absolutely free. Students will learn the fundamentals of the startup process, taking an idea and building a business. Throughout our eleven workshops, students will learn entrepreneurial and business concepts as they develop their presentation, interpersonal, persuasive, and analytical skills. Our innovative curriculum is tailored to high school students with relevant examples and advice from college students. At the end of the program, you’ll take your pitch and present at our Final Showcase.
Our Startup program targets growth in three key areas: your ideas, your network, and your learning.
YOUR IDEAS
To succeed, your business must be something you're passionate about. We center Startup around your ideas. We want to give you the skills to build your fashion boutique, high tech start-up, taco truck–whatever it is that you'd love to build. And no, you don't need to have an idea to enroll in the program. Come along and we'll help you get those gears turning!
YOUR NETWORK
You can't do it all on your own. You need help from others to start a business. DEN’s network is full of talented, motivated students from high schools all around metro Detroit. We also have awesome college student mentors from the University of Michigan. We take full advantage of our network by engaging them in Startup. You’ll have the opportunity to work with amazing people and build professional relationships. Guest speakers frequent our workshops to give their insight and experience. They are excited to meet you and help aspiring entrepreneurs. From peers to college students to community leaders, there are plenty of opportunities to build connections that will help your business grow.
YOUR LEARNING
We have developed the Startup curriculum to guide you through the startup process effectively. Our program consists of a series of engaging workshops comprised of team building activities, group and individual tasks, discussions, and guest speakers. As you venture through the startup process with your own idea, the theme of our workshops parallels your journey. Workshop themes include ideation, product, marketing, finance, and pitching. Our proprietary curriculum is a curated collection of lessons, lectures, and activities derived from University of Michigan professors, professionals in Detroit, literature, research, and our own experiences.
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