- Black Tech Saturdays (BTS) fosters connections within a vibrant community of professionals, entrepreneurs, and tech enthusiasts.
- Working to reshape Michigan’s tech narrative is crucial to increase funding for Black and Brown founders and to position Detroit as a hub for startups.
- BTS is evolving into a comprehensive solution for founders, employers, and policymakers.
How Black Tech Saturdays is Transforming Michigan’s Tech Landscape
January 23, 2025
Key Takeaways
View the full session recording below.
During the 2025 Detroit Policy Conference, Black Tech Saturdays’ (BTS) Founders Alexa and Johnnie Turnage joined Michigan Chronicle’s Ebony JJ Curry for a discussion about BTS, its impact in the Detroit Region, and its work with the State of Michigan to build innovation and influence other companies to move to Michigan.
From Five to Thousands: Ensuring the Success of Black Entrepreneurs
Johnnie began the conversation by highlighting that much of BTS’ work revolves around empowering founders to “be the strongest version of themselves.”
“It’s a lot about access, opportunity, and us, as an organization,” he said. “How we connect to the greater ecosystem; how we are putting pipelines to opportunities to pilot, opportunities for mentorship, and really getting people as many swings at bat as possible.”
Alexa added that BTS’ work is deeply rooted in its beginnings: a small team of five on Michigan Central’s campus, exchanging ideas and strategies to help entrepreneurs thrive. Fast forward two years, and BTS has grown into an organization that has successfully supported thousands of startups.
“We’ve been able to bring hundreds of classes, and recently with our pitch competitions, give out prize money. It’s been an amazing thing to see and witness and watch our founders grow,” she said. “That’s the most important part of it: the people growing into the resilient people that we know they can be. It’s a true evolution, and it’s continually thriving, which is why we’re here today.”
Creating Sustainable Pipelines for Black-owned Tech Startups
Curry transitioned the discussion by highlighting that one of the most impactful aspects of BTS is its ability to guide startups from “idea to IPO.” Johnnie cited the driving force behind this is the concept of community wealth, which he described as “a necessary platform, or trampoline, to get to generational wealth.”
“We love to present people with different business models, different opportunities,” he said. “What are the new doors that need to be opened? And how are we going to make sure they can figure it out?”
Beyond helping founders, BTS is instrumental for students and recent graduates. Alexa shared a story of a graduate struggling to find a job. After volunteering as a greeter for a BTS event, she made meaningful connections and landed an internship.
“We have so many professionals [and] retirees from all the organizations in Detroit that come to BTS every week,” Alexa said. “She got an internship that turned into a job just by being in the community. By just placing [herself] in this garden of entrepreneurs, professionals, and tech-curious people.”
Johnnie expanded on the metaphor of BTS as a “garden,” saying, “A garden keeps growing, so we have to plant seeds that allow for people to grow and understand that we all bring gifts to the garden, and sometimes you’re going to plant seeds that you might not see the return immediately, but once you plant that seed, it blossoms into something else.”
Dismantling Barriers for Black Founders in Tech
When discussing the challenges faced by Black-owned tech startups, Alexa highlighted a stark statistic: less than 1% of venture capital funding goes to Black and Brown founders. This lack of access to capital is one of the biggest obstacles they face.
As an economic mobility organization, BTS helps founders overcome barriers such as this. One of its most impactful approaches is reshaping the narrative of innovation within Michigan’s tech ecosystem.
“Michigan is open for business,” Alexa said. “We’re welcoming founders who are really building some of the dopest innovations in the country…. we [have] to show other people what’s possible.”
In addition to increasing capital access for Black and Brown founders, showcasing Michigan’s innovation is crucial for positioning the state as a national leader in tech entrepreneurship. Cities like Detroit are often overlooked in favor of hubs like Silicon Valley, despite their growing potential to cultivate groundbreaking startups.
“As a city and as a state, too often, people have counted Detroiters out, Michiganders out,” Alexa said. “As we continue to build innovation here in Detroit and Michigan, all of us together are the calling card. All of us coming together to really shape what innovation can do here.”
Building a Collaborative Ecosystem
As the conversation wrapped up, Alexa and Johnnie highlighted that while BTS serves as an invaluable resource for founders, it is steadily evolving into a more comprehensive solution, providing pathways to opportunities, digital upskilling, and entrepreneurial programs.
The organization is committed to bridging gaps by communicating opportunities to employers, categorizing entrepreneurs to match them with the right resources, and engaging policymakers to address systemic challenges and barriers.
“We’re very, very gritty here,” Johnnie said. “If you can do it with a little, imagine what happens when you have a lot.”