PITTSBURGH, PA, January 2025 – The Mansmann Foundation’s flagship program, Entrepreneurs Forever, has partnered with BUILD Institute for an innovative collaboration to empower minority small business owners in Detroit. This joint pilot program will provide up to 36 entrepreneurs with access to Entrepreneur Forever’s three-year proprietary peer-learning program and resources, delivered under the leadership of BUILD Institute, Detroit’s premier small business support organization.
The program, named “BUILD Grow Evolve” by BUILD Institute, organizes participants into three peer groups to foster collaboration and mutual growth. The first cohort, led by long-time BUILD facilitator Aaron Jackson, kicked off on November 1. Jackson received specialized training at Entrepreneur Forever’s headquarters in Pittsburgh, equipping him with the tools, curriculum, and software to effectively guide the group.
“BUILD Institute has always been a vital resource for early-stage minority entrepreneurs in Detroit,” said Camille Walker Banks, Acting CEO of BUILD Institute. “Partnering with Entrepreneurs Forever allows us to extend our support and offer these business owners a structured pathway to sustainable growth and long-term success.”
Entrepreneurs Forever’s monthly peer support program is a natural progression for entrepreneurs who have completed BUILD’s foundational programs. Over 30 applicants expressed interest in the first group, with 12 exceptional individuals selected to participate. The program focuses on peer-driven learning, fostering accountability, and addressing real-world challenges in small business ownership.
“This partnership represents the best of both organizations,” said AJ Drexler, CEO of Entrepreneurs Forever. “By combining BUILD’s deep-rooted connection to the Detroit entrepreneurial community with Entrepreneur Forever’s proven peer-learning model, we’re creating a transformative opportunity for minority small business owners to grow, thrive, and achieve lasting success.”
Participants in the Evolve program may also be eligible for grants to further support their business endeavors, adding a layer of impact to this initiative.
The collaboration underscores a shared commitment to providing equitable resources and fostering economic empowerment among Detroit’s minority small business community.
About Entrepreneurs Forever
Entrepreneurs Forever is growing nationally to help small businesses identify and overcome challenges. Our mission is to empower all owners to grow and thrive to sustain their families and support their communities. Many entrepreneurial support programs are designed to help start-ups or offer peer groups that are exclusively for leaders of mature, high-revenue businesses, while Entrepreneurs Forever uniquely offers a critical, but previously missing, piece: peer support for existing businesses with revenues under a million dollars ready to grow beyond the “startup” phase. Entrepreneurs Forever is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by generous donors, and is the premier program of the Mansmann Foundation.
About BUILD Institute
We help people turn their business ideas into reality by providing them with the necessary tools, resources, and support network in Detroit. To date, we have graduated over 2600+ aspiring and experienced entrepreneurs from our classes, many of whom have gone on to start, grow, and scale successful businesses in the city. In addition to classes, we offer networking events, mentorship, connections to resources and a nurturing community that allows ideas to develop and flourish over time. With a little support, a lot of hard work, and a friendly nudge, you’ll be ready to hit the ground running. Do you have an idea? Want to be your own boss? Dream of starting a business? Join us and get BUILDing! To learn more, visit www.BUILDinstitute.org.
The Mansmann Foundation’s Entrepreneurs Forever and BUILD Institute are partnering to empower minority small business owners in Detroit with a three-year peer-learning program and resources, benefiting up to 36 entrepreneurs through this innovative p
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