Recruiting Now! DNEP Adds New Classes, Expands Community Tech Consulting Services for 2025-2026 Year

You have a vision. We’ll Help You Multiply It.

Since 2016, the University of Michigan’s Detroit Neighborhood Entrepreneurs Project (DNEP) has matched 900+ businesses with faculty-supervised teams, in succession, at multiple U-M schools to provide Detroit businesses with wrap-around, long-term support via what is now known as its Motor City Multipliers program. Working under faculty supervision, students conduct research, analyze data, and provide business owners with recommendations to address business’ legal, financial, marketing, operational, design, and technological needs. DNEP is NOW RECRUITING for the 2025-2026 academic year.

How it Works: University of Michigan students enroll in various “action-based learning” or “practical learning” courses, where they apply their classroom knowledge to actual business challenges. Many of those classes are taught by faculty with Detroit roots and a commitment to community and economic development. DNEP unites those faculty to form a multidisciplinary network, and then recruits small businesses to be clients in their classes. Together, we provide the wrap-around support businesses need to create anchor businesses in Detroit neighborhoods.

What Businesses Gain:

• Professionally-supervised consulting services in strategy, finance, law, marketing, technology, operations, or design – at no financial cost to them
• Fresh perspectives from bright minds trained in the latest business approaches
• Practical solutions to drive real growth
• Ongoing partnership that builds your business capacity over time

What Students Gain From Business Owners:

• Real-world experience applying classroom knowledge to actual business challenges
• Professional development through meaningful client relationships
• Cultural humility working with Detroit’s diverse business community
• Career-building connections that often inspire them to invest their futures in Detroit

A True Partnership: Our work is collaborative and rooted in reciprocity. Together, we’re building a stronger Detroit.  

New This Year:

• A course for non-profits to work with School of Social Work students to create fund development or board development strategies;
• Expansion of the Business+Tech pilot successfully implemented last year for businesses seeking to implement technology to improve efficiency or resolve an operations pain point;
• A tripling of DNEP’s Community Tech Consulting program, created with Jefferson East, Inc. to add additional Community Tech Consultants from Live6 Alliance, the School of Education’s LEAPS program, and the School of Information;
• New AI Show & Tell workshops for small businesses and nonprofits
• CFO Boot Camp                

VIEW the catalog of DNEP classes for the 2025-2026 Academic Year, including our year-round services and workshops and then Complete the Client Survey to Apply for a Match!