• Presented by Rocket Community Fund and powered by Black Tech Saturdays - the 3-day event will feature a series of free tech events for everyone from startup founders to tech-curious individuals

• The event will feature two competitions that will award a total of $175K in funding for the next great tech ideas

• Applications are now open for event speakers, hosts, sponsors and volunteers

With a call to “own the dream” and join the movement shaping Detroit into the next great tech hub, the Detroit Digital Empowerment Summit, presented by Rocket Community Fund and powered by Black Tech Saturdays (BTS), will take place September 25–27, 2025. Established by Johnnie and Alexa Turnage, co-founders of Black Tech Saturdays, the summit is a three-day celebration of innovation and economic mobility, building on a movement that’s already impacted more than 25,000 people across Detroit and beyond.

“In a time of economic uncertainty, the message is clear: Detroit’s tech renaissance will include everyone,” said Johnnie Turnage, co-founder of Black Tech Saturdays. “Detroit has always been a city of reinvention. Now, with a generation of builders, founders, creatives, and technologists rising together – our city is stepping fully into its future. The Detroit Digital Empowerment summit will open the door for even more Detroiters of all ages to discover the transformative power of tech.”

The City of Detroit was also influential in putting this event together. "Detroit continues to connect our youth with technology, they are our future and the most critical part of our ecosystem.” Arthur Thompson, Chief Information Officer for the Department of Innovation and Technology for the City of Detroit said. “It’s great to have partners like BTS and the Science Center jump in to create exciting opportunities to connect our children."

Keonda Buford, the city’s Senior Data and Projects Manager cited the lack of youth programs centering the tech field. “Now that the City of Detroit has established the infrastructure within the tech community, it is up to us to cultivate opportunities for our youth—fostering creativity, education, and workforce development within the city.” Buford said, “The Youth Tech Fest is an opportunity not only for an introduction to tech, but for a full immersion experience that inspires and empowers the next generation.”

The Office of Innovation and Technology (DO-IT) at the City of Detroit pitched the program to Black Tech Saturdays and the Detroit Science Center to partner for a one-of-a-kind event. DO-IT also aided in gathering schools and vendors to participate.

“Exposure is one the most critical factors when it comes to adopting new technology. Youth Tech Fest is one of those rare opportunities to see it happen up close. The Office of Technology Adoption and Growth is so grateful to partner with Black Tech Saturdays to grow Detroit’s next generation of technology leaders, founders and learners. “Jennifer Onwenu, Senior Advisor, Community Outreach and Engagement for the Office of Innovation and Technology at the City of Detroit.

This year’s summit is free to attend, thanks to generous support from a powerful coalition of sponsors and funders who believe that access should never be a barrier to opportunity.

The summit will feature inspiring talks from industry trailblazers, workshops spanning a wide range of tech-related topics, and ample meetups where founders can connect with funders, mentors can find mentees, businesses can find talent, and “tech curious” individuals can find their tribes.

To see event tracks, speaker list, and to register, visit blacktechsaturdays.com/des25.

Hall went through Motor City Match’s Plan and Design tracks before being awarded a $70,000 cash grant in Round 27. The funding helped cover construction, equipment, furnishings and other startup costs, along with additional support from ProsperUs, Black Leaders Detroit and Kiva.

The spa is actively hiring and plans to build a team of 12 to 14 beauty professionals, including cosmetologists, makeup artists, estheticians, nail technicians and massage therapists. Hall has also partnered with local metro Detroit entrepreneurs — Stormie Lynn of House of Contour in Southfield and Chynna White of Dollhouse Beauty and Wellness in Dearborn — to expand services into medical weight loss and platelet-rich plasma hair restoration treatments, which use a patient’s own blood to stimulate hair growth.

“When you see two Motor City Match awardees stacked on top of each other like this, it’s a sign that the corridor is progressing in the right direction,” said Sean Gray, vice president of small business services at DEGC, which manages Motor City Match. “Vivacious Lady and Jessica Blair Beauty are helping to transform this stretch of Grand River. As a program, that’s the ripple effect we’re after.”

The 3-day event will take place across four flagship venues, with programming schedules announced closer to the September event date.

• Michigan Science Center – 5020 John R Street

• College for Creative Studies: Taubman Center – 460 W Baltimore Avenue

• Wayne State University Industry Innovation Center – 461 Burroughs Street

• 6001 Cass Avenue, part of WSU’s innovation corridor

Members of the media are invited to attend and cover any/all events. The lineup includes:

Youth Tech Summit

The event will kick off on Friday, September 25 with a Youth Tech Summit at Michigan Science Center (5020 John R St., Detroit), where more than 1,000 Detroit students will explore interactive tech demos, learn from real industry pros, and see what’s possible when they join the innovation economy.

Group applications are required for school participation. Visit blacktechsaturdays.com for updates.

The Big Bet $100K Pitch Competition

The summit’s marquee pitch competition – made possible by the Gilbert Family Foundation and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) – will feature a high stakes, bracket-style competition where businesses pitch LIVE their AI-powered tech ideas geared towards solving a real-world problem and improving quality of life for users.

Thirty representatives from different tech-informed companies will pitch on the second day of the event, with finalists advancing to a second round of live pitching on closing night. Three winners will walk away with $50K, $30K, or $20K to help bring their idea to life.

Applications are open here.

$75K Mass Tech Adoption Challenge

The summit will also feature the $75K Mass Tech Adoption Challenge, which is geared towards individuals with big tech ideas. Nine to thirteen finalists will be selected in early September to participate in the challenge and will receive a mentor, coach, and researcher to help develop their ideas.

At the summit, finalists will participate in an all day, in-person collaborative “Builders Lab,” where they will work with their team to develop their idea. On the final day of the summit, each finalist will pitch their idea to a panel of civic leaders, funders, and tech experts. Three winners will receive $25K each, plus six-months of ongoing BTS and partner support. The challenge is funded by the Rocket Community Fund.

Applications are open here.

New National Programs

The summit will also feature the unveiling of three new national BTS programs.

• Bridge to Success – Fast-track digital certifications and upskilling

• Built to Scale – A freelance & founder marketplace for Black-led talent

• Transform. Spotlight. – A media platform to amplify underrepresented stories in innovation.

Program details and how to get involved will be shared at the summit.

“We’re not just following trends. We’re defining the blueprint for a tech city that’s rooted in community, built with love, and scaled with brilliance,” said Alexa Turnage, co-founder of Black Tech Saturdays. “When one of us dreams, it’s just a dream. But when we all dream together, it becomes a reality.”

Detroit Digital Empowerment Summit supporters include: Rocket Community Fund, the Gilbert Family Foundation, Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), Michigan Science Center City of Detroit, Comcast, DTE Foundation, Kellogg Foundation, General Motors, and the Detroit Regional Chamber.