Motor City Multipliers - Become a Client for a UMich Student Team

No other University in the country does this.

For 10 years, DNEP has been the University of Michigan’s Small Business Hub for Detroit entrepreneurs. We give students the transformational learning experience of becoming professional service providers for Detroit entrepreneurs, at no cost to businesses.

We do it by bringing together 10 U-M units and 50 Detroit community partners and then leveraging supervised student talent. DNEP supports the organizational spine of Detroit businesses, by first addressing their financial, technology, legal, and data challenges, and then graduating businesses to other types of wrap-around support.

Want to Become a Client for a U-M Student Team?

2026-2027 Catalog of DNEP Classes & Programs Coming Soon!

View our catalog to see what we’re recruiting for now. If we can’t place you, we will try to refer you to someone else who can help.
Ready to apply? Complete a Client Intake Form.

Step 1: Complete a Client Intake Form

How it Works

University of Michigan faculty with Detroit roots and/or a commitment to community and economic development design action-based learning classes where their students will gain the real-world experience of working with real Detroit entrepreneurs as consultants-in-training.
DNEP recruits businesses who can narrow a specific business challenge into a “project” that 4-5 students can take on over a 13 week semester.
University of Michigan students enroll in the for-credit class, so they can apply their classroom knowledge to a real client.
At the end of the semester, DNEP staff and faculty make referrals to more services throughout U-M or in Detroit.

What University of Michigan Students Can Offer

Professionally-supervised consulting services in strategy, finance, law, technology, operations, data management, branding, or design
Fresh perspectives trained in the latest business approaches, as taught to them in class by U-M’s award-winning faculty
Practical solutions to drive real growth
Thought partnership that builds your capacity over time

entrepreneur voices

Katrina Cross

founder, katrina cross photography

“The Detroit Neighborhood Entrepreneurs Project (DNEP) has been an invaluable resource for me and my business. The students at the Ross School of Business excelled at identifying my specific needs and provided remarkable support. I am immensely grateful to DNEP for their assistance throughout my business journey. I eagerly anticipate continuing my partnership with this exceptional team of students and program management.”