Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest reveals 10 semifinalists competing for $100,000 to launch storefronts in Detroit, Hamtramck, and Highland Park.
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| 2025 Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest by TechTown semifinalists (left to right): Courtney Hamilton (For the Love of Cheesecake), Centurium Frost (Detroit Culture & Clay), Evelyn Stokes (Evelyn’s Midtown Kitchen), Lauren Ellis (Walter Pat’s Bakery Cafe), Halie Conyers (Halie & Co), Dominique Hankins (The Spiced Bar), Sherrie Savage (The Coloring Museum LLC), Que Shebley (Que Shebley), Myra Thomas (Livy’s Sweet Rolls) and Ellen Donnelly (Cone Vecinos). Image: Comerica Bank |
Detroit, USA — May 16, 2025:
The Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest by TechTown has announced its Top 10 semifinalists competing for a $100,000 grand prize to open or expand brick-and-mortar storefronts across Detroit, Hamtramck, and Highland Park. This annual competition, known for boosting Detroit’s small business ecosystem, opens public voting on May 16 at noon, running through May 23 at 11:59 p.m. Residents can vote once daily at HatchDetroit.com to help their favorite entrepreneurs advance.
The contest will reveal four finalists on May 27, with a final public vote and pitch competition, the “Hatch Off,” set for June 11 at Wayne State University’s Industry Innovation Center. Christianne Malone, TechTown Detroit’s Chief Program Officer, emphasized the vital role of community support in fostering Detroit’s entrepreneurial spirit and neighborhood revitalization.
Since its founding, Hatch Detroit has helped launch some of Detroit’s most iconic small businesses, including Sister Pie, Batch Brewing Company, and G.L.A.M Body Scrubs. This year’s semifinalists include diverse ventures such as The Coloring Museum, a community art space promoting mental wellness through mural coloring; Cone Vecinos, an inclusive neighborhood ice cream shop; Detroit Culture & Clay, a ceramics studio and art supply hub; Evelyn’s Midtown Kitchen, offering culturally rich cooking classes; For the Love of Cheesecake, which empowers local women and food entrepreneurs; Halie & Co, a handmade jewelry and home fragrance store with interactive workshops; Livy’s Sweet Rolls, crafting wholesome cinnamon rolls; Que Shebley, a luxury fashion brand blending bespoke tailoring with innovation; The Spiced Bar, Detroit’s first full-service flavor destination; and Walter Pat’s Bakery Cafe, a black woman-owned bakery highlighting seasonal Michigan flavors.
Comerica Bank and its Charitable Foundation have invested over $1.3 million in Hatch Detroit since 2012, fueling economic growth and job creation. The contest’s culminating “Hatch Off” event will feature finalists pitching to expert judges and a live audience, with the winner determined by a combination of public votes and judge deliberations.
Comerica Bank, with roots in Detroit dating back to 1849, remains a key supporter of Michigan’s economic development. TechTown Detroit, Wayne State University’s entrepreneurship hub, continues to empower small businesses through education, resources, and capital access across Southeast Michigan.
The Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest remains a powerful platform driving Detroit’s small business success and neighborhood revitalization forward.