The Metro: Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest reveals top 4 finalists for $100K grand prize

For over a decade, the Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest by TechTown has positioned itself as a small business incubator in the Detroit area.

Each year, the contest awards a grand prize winner with a $100,000 grant to support the opening of a brick and mortar location for their business. A few well-known past winners include 27th Letter Books, Baobab Fare, Sister Pie and Little Liberia, which is opening a new brick and mortar location this year. Startups must be located in Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park to qualify for the competition.

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This year’s final four competing businesses include:

• Amarra Beauty Products/G.L.A.M. Body Scrubs: a certified woman- and minority-owned business based in Detroit, specializing in natural, organic body scrubs.
• Harry Rich Clothier: creates custom garments for individuals, using fashion as a tool to inspire, liberate and educate people to think beyond the status quo.
• Khana: a Pakistani-inspired food pop-up based in Detroit.
• Roller Skate Detroit: a metro Detroit entertainment facility focused on healthy fun.

Public voting for the final round begins Wednesday, May 1 and runs through Thursday, May 9, when a winner will be selected at a “Hatch Off” where the four finalists will pitch their startups to judges — like a local version of the TV show Shark Tank. 

TechTown Assistant Vice President for Economic Development and Chief Program Officer Christianne Malone joined The Metro on Tuesday to talk more about the contest. She says TechTown is helping all contestants with resources to turn their ideas into a business.  

“Anybody who’s come through the HATCH Detroit process has access to TechTown’s suite of services, you know, ranging from one-on-one coaching to our Professional Services Network, of course to additional trainings and workshops,” Malone said.

She says it’s small businesses that are changing and improving Detroit communities.

“In order to have a thriving community, and where all ships rise with the tide you know, we have to have our building owners — whether it’s city-owned or not city-owned — see that our small business community is a way to help those communities become more vibrant, as well as be that destination that they all seek out,” Malone said.

Use the media player above to hear the full interview with Christianne Malone, assistant vice president for economic development and chief program officer for TechTown.

More headlines from The Metro on April 30, 2024: 

• Home values have been on the rise in the years since Detroit’s bankruptcy, according to a new report from University of Michigan Poverty Solutions. Researchers found the value of all owner-occupied homes jumped 94% from a total of $4.2 billion in 2014 to $8.1 billion dollars in 2022, with Black homeowners realizing the vast majority of that gain in wealth. The study was led by Jeffrey Morenoff, a professor and associate dean at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy and professor in the Department of Sociology and Population Studies Center at U-M. Morenoff joined the show to discuss the report’s findings.
• Bridge Michigan capitol reporter Simon Schuster joined the show to discuss the race for U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow’s seat upon her retirement. There are currently four republicans and three democrats vying for the seat. 
• The Michigan Education Trust (MET) is a state-operated prepaid tuition program designed to help Michigan residents save for future college expenses at today’s prices. MET Executive Director Diane Brewer joined The Metro to explain how the trust works and its benefits.
• Despite the ongoing war, there is some hope of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. NPR’s Leila Fadel spoke with Brian Katulis, senior fellow for U.S. foreign policy at the Middle East Institute, about the latest round of Gaza ceasefire and hostage release negotiations. 
• As part of its climate goals, the state of Michigan wants to reach zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. But even as that’s happening, Michigan is growing its natural gas infrastructure. Climate reporter Izzy Ross investigated the ways a new natural gas project in northern Michigan fits into the debate.

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