The Gilbert Family Foundation is putting another $6.4 million into Detroit's startup ecosystem. The grant extends Venture 313, the citywide initiative that routes capital, coaching, and technical assistance to founders across nearly every stage of development. Crain's Detroit Business reported the commitment Monday.
The new money runs through Venture 313's partner organizations and reaches entrepreneurs directly. The foundation disclosed the $6.4 million figure but has not released a public breakdown by partner or program line.
Venture 313 was built on three founding partners: TechTown Detroit, Invest Detroit, and the Detroit Development Fund. The division of labor tracks by stage. TechTown, a nonprofit serving early- to growth-stage businesses and tech entrepreneurs, covers the earliest ground — grants between $500 and $25,000 for founders moving from idea to minimum viable product. Invest Detroit, a community development financial institution, works the growth end, with equity-like investments between $25,000 and $250,000 for venture-ready companies looking to scale.
The track record supports the continued bet. TechTown's 2025 impact report shows Venture 313 deployed capital to 22 companies that year and helped catalyze roughly $1.91 million in follow-on funding. Program alumni have since closed additional rounds or inked strategic partnerships.
The foundation's original $10 million commitment launched the program in 2022. The new $6.4 million extends the runway past that initial term, keeping the infrastructure intact for founders still working toward a first product.
Caleb Conley, TechTown's Growth Capital Manager and a Venture 313 partner, is a Detroit native and Venture For America alumnus. He came into the program as a Community Manager overseeing founder progression and has since moved into coordinating capital access across the initiative.
The Gilbert Family Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Dan and Jennifer Gilbert, has made Detroit's entrepreneurial ecosystem a sustained focus. That includes more than $4 million targeted at Black-led businesses and community developers. Jennifer Gilbert, the foundation's co-founder, has pointed to the venture capital gap — noting that only one percent of funds reach Black founders — as core rationale for the program's existence.
Program details are at Venture313.com.
