GREAT IDEAS START WITH BUILD

We help people turn their business ideas into reality by providing them with the necessary tools, resources, and support network in Detroit. To date, we have graduated over 1800 aspiring and experienced entrepreneurs from our classes, many of whom have gone on to start successful businesses in the city. In addition to classes, we offer networking events, mentorship, connections to resources and a nurturing community that allows ideas to develop and flourish over time. With a little support, a lot of hard work, and a friendly nudge, you’ll be ready to hit the ground running. Do you have an idea? Want to be your own boss? Dream of starting a business? Join us and get building!

History

BUILD was started in January 2012 as a program of D:hive, a welcome center and resource hub located downtown. The classes, called BUILD Basics, are based on national standards for entrepreneurship education. The first class in Detroit was offered in the spring of 2012 and since then demand has grown tremendously. Classes are now offered every season and have expanded beyond the core curriculum to include BUILD Impact, Co.Starters, and Digital Marketing, with classes offered throughout the City of Detroit, Metro Detroit, and beyond.

Mission

As passionate, thought leaders our mission at BUILD Institute is to empower people to launch ideas and grow businesses. With a primary focus on Blacks, Latinx, under-represented, and under-resourced community businesses, we provide access to an equitable (w)holistic support system for ideators and early-stage business owners. We offer a safe and diverse co-working and meeting space. We can provide early-stage capital, continuous education, and access to customers. Head-quartered in Detroit, we serve Detroiters, other cities in Michigan, and we now have a national footprint.

Vision

We are a diverse culture with a creative and flexible work environment. Whether in the office or on the moon, we are leaning into support for small businesses. We believe that small businesses are the anchors for community revitalization and quality of life.  We exist to strengthen the Black, Latinx, women-owned, and the minority microbusiness community.  We provide support with state-of-the-art entrepreneurial education, capital access, and expert resources, tailored for sustainability and growth. One business at a time, our impact will result in vibrant commercial corridors in every neighborhood, where people love, live, work, and play.

 

We envision a world revitalized through entrepreneurial success – built one person and one micro-business idea at a time.

Our Team
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Regina Ann Campbell – President and CEO

Regina Ann Campbell is the President and CEO of BUILD Institute, the nonprofit small business hub for the Detroit Region. As a national expert, Regina has proven track record of creating economic growth by developing and implementing innovation programs and resources to support scaling micro-businesses through acceleration, incubation and capital programs, working with hundreds of entrepreneurs, and assisting in the launch of multiple startups.

Regina has led teams and initiatives that provided access to $31.4M+ in funding and resources for small business owners.  As a culture advocate, Regina champions entrepreneurship to drive economic empowerment and mobility for women and minorities, and leverages shared cultural experiences to serve the “whole entrepreneur.”

Regina understands the ripple effect of entrepreneurship in urban/local communities and how local business revitalizes neighborhoods to create vibrant and thriving communities. Regina is also a social entrepreneur as co-founder and partner of 901 ROC Development, LLC.

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Aisha R. Tillman – Vice President

Aisha Tillman is the Vice President at BUILD Institute. Aisha has a breadth of experiences across sectors to include government, both city and state as well as in North Carolina and Wisconsin in the corporate and non-profit sectors. With over two decades of work experience in the corporate, non-profit, and legislative capacities, she has worked with individuals, traditionally marginalized groups, small businesses and local community-based organizations to develop award-winning programming and strategy-based solutions to BUILD successful outcomes. Aisha helped manage the City of Detroit down payment assistance program which leveraged $6 million to city residents.

As a proud Flint, Michigan native, Aisha uses her lived, worked and educational experiences to enhance and advocate for those that do not have a voice. Aisha’s mission as a first-generation college graduate was to obtain knowledge, gather resources and establish relationships that would equip her to BUILD a sustainable community back home and in the places she has lived.

Aisha is a proud two-time graduate of Western Michigan University, and an entrepreneur. As a proven leader, Aisha recognizes she doesn’t have the answers-especially at home where the leaders are her two teenage children—DJ and Londyn & her Yorkie, named ‘Diezel’. All three keep her moving (literally) and motivate her to keep BUILDING for the future!

Michelle Parizon - Marketing and Communications Director

Michelle Parizon is the Marketing and Communication Director for BUILD Institute. Michelle studied telecommunication at Michigan State University and has a degree in Mass Communication from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. Her career includes her tenure with WDIV TV as a promotions associate, serving as Gannet Broadcasting’s top selling account executive , and serving as the former Public Affairs Director for WXON TV, Detroit.

Michelle’s experience in corporate training includes UAW Chrysler, and she has developed training modules for Comcast and McDonalds. She is an author, and adjunct professor at Wayne County Community College District.

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Marisa Launstein – Programs Director

Marisa Launstein is the Programs Director at BUILD Institute. Marisa is a graduate from the University of Michigan where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and German, and her Master of Social Work with a specialization in Management and Leadership and Policy and Political Social Work. Marisa has worked in a variety of different programs to include at the Detroit Regional Chamber, Detroit Promise, and Let’s Detroit, a talent attraction a retention program for young professionals.

Marisa is an equity-driven professional with a deep passion for the Detroit community. At BUILD Institute, she focuses on ensuring equitable access to educational resources for underrepresented and underresourced small business owners through BUILD’s programming.

She plays an integral role in streamlining processes for designing, implementing, and evaluating BUILD’s programs for continued growth and scale.

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Onni Stone – Capital Access Manager

Onni Stone is the Capital Access Manager of BUILD Institute. Onni is passionate about empowering marginalized people, specifically economically and through financial literacy.

Onni is a lifelong Michigan native, now resident of Detroit. Onni has worked for and started a number of small businesses over the years and understands the micro and macro impact of providing resources for entrepreneurs. Onni manages BUILD’s capital programs to include Kiva Detroit Hub. Onni is integral to strategy and implementation of BUILD’s capital innovation programs for small business owners.

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Janae’ Griggs – Entrepreneur-In Residence

Janae’ Griggs is the Entrepreneur-In-Residence at BUILD Institute. She is a Business Growth Strategist who helps people with ideas and small business owners develop “out of the box” strategies and solutions to increase their capital and customers. Janae’ has been a serial entrepreneur for the past 10 years and her work is rooted in helping women of color breakthrough barriers of systemic inequity. Janae’ started a 501(c)3 nonprofit mentoring organization for at-risk young girls in the Metro Detroit area called P.I.N.K. Detroit.

Janae’ uses this knowledge to help educate small business owners on industry leading best practices and techniques that they could use to improve and scale their respective businesses.  As an avid learner, she spends her free time reading books related to new strategies that business owners could implement in their businesses.

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Gabriel Silver – Development Coordinator

Gabriel is the Development Coordinator for BUILD Institute. After graduating from Northern Michigan University he moved to Detroit. Gabriel is passionate about helping marginalized communities by promoting BUILD’s mission to give resources and education to microentrepreneurs in Detroit. As the Development Coordinator he works on grant management and marketing to support BUILD programs. Gabriel loves to tell the individual stories of BUILD’s entrepreneur-alumni and promote their businesses.

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Noah Kaminsky – Programs Manager

Noah Kaminsky is the Programs Manager at BUILD Institute. Noah grew up in metro Detroit and spent his formative years experiencing Detroit through arts, volunteerism, and music. After graduating from the University of Michigan with a degree in environmental science and urban planning, he moved to Detroit to begin his professional life doing work in environmental advocacy and community development. At one point, Noah worked for D:hive, the Detroit resource hub where the concept for BUILD Institute was incubated and launched. After several years working in small business development, music education, and for various non-profits around the city, Noah decided to pursue his MBA in Marketing from Wayne State University.

Noah brings his expertise in event management, small business development, and community BUILDING to BUILD. He finds great satisfaction in helping passionate Detroit entrepreneurs develop their dreams and ideas into sustainable businesses.

Torrance Campbell – Programs Assistant

Torrance Campbell is the Programs Assistant at BUILD Institute. Torrance is a creative that values diversity, innovation, and quality service. Torrance supports the programs team with BUILD Classes, BUILD Alumni, engagement, social media, and technical things. Torrance has lived in Detroit, Michigan most of his life with the exception of three years in Memphis, TN where he attended the first accredited TSTEM High School.

Torrance loves global experiences and traveled to Japan for animation, gaming, and culture. Torrance currently lives in Detroit, MI where he attends the College for Creative Studies as an animation major. Torrance has a CompTIA ITF+ Certification, during his spare time he supports users with the ability to use the digital technologies they need to do their jobs regardless of the devices.

Matthew Roedel – Office Coordinator

Matthew is the Office Coordinator at BUILD Institute. Matthew is a Michigan native, and has lived in the state for most of his life, as well as, lived several years in Los Angeles, California, where he worked in the film industry. Upon returning to Michigan, Matthew channeled his creative energies into a love for the culinary arts and all things hospitality. Having spent several years in the food & beverage industry, Matthew has worked for, and alongside, a great number of small businesses in Detroit and throughout SE Michigan. This has been instrumental in developing a deep appreciation for entrepreneurship and the independent spirit.

Matthew is passionate about empowering microentrepreneurs, helping them find their voice and share their gifts with others in order to improve both their communities, and their own lives.

Our Impact
+ aspiring entrepreneurs graduated from BUILD
BUILD grads represent + zipcodes across metro Detroit
% of BUILD participants are people of color
% of BUILD students are female
Our Partners

Downtown Detroit Partnership

Adcraft

Detroit Development Fund

Detroit Economic Growth Corporation

Fifth Third Bank

Google

Hatch Detroit

Invest Detroit

MSU Product Center

Opportunity Detroit

Patronicity

ProsperUS

Rock Ventures

TechTown

Wayne State Law Clinic

WEDGE Marketing

& countless other community professionals.