IMPACT (Saturdays)

Build IMPACT 9
Day/Time:  Saturdays, 10:00 a.m - 3:00 p.m.
Dates:  October 12, October 26, November 9, November 23, and December 7

Location:  Build Institute - 1620 Michigan Ave., Suite 120, Detroit, MI 48216 (We are on the Trumbull Ave. side of the building!)

Build Impact trains, develops, and coaches social entrepreneurs in Detroit’s small business community. By empowering local entrepreneurs to affect real change in their communities, Build Impact helps bolster the growing social entrepreneurship movement in Detroit. The class follows a 9-week timeline and offers a curriculum with a strong focus on double and triple bottom line business practices.

What is social entrepreneurship?
Social entrepreneurship is any pursuit of a social mission using commercial means.

Who should take this program?
This program is for innovative individuals who are seeking to start a for-profit company to address Detroit’s social and/or environmental issues, or nonprofit organizations seeking to advance and support their missions using a commercial business model to complement their philanthropic operations.

*It is highly recommended that you have either taken Build Basics or have the basic understanding of how to write a business plan as well as run a business.

What’s the difference between Build Basics and Build Impact?
Build Basics takes you through the basics of writing a business plan. Build Impact is a theory based class focused on what it means to be a social enterprise and we will teach you how to define the mission of your business.

It is suggested that students purchase the Understanding Social Entrepreneurship textbook.

What to expect during the course:

• Courses are facilitated by experienced entrepreneurs who provide resources and necessary tools and are available to answer questions regarding your business plan. You are entitled to two 1 hour meetings with your factilitator outside of class.
• Cohorts consist of 12-16 participants, bringing a diverse range of business and project ideas. 
• Participants are at varying degrees of business development and best efforts are made to meet everyone where they are. 
• Expect to spend at least 3 hours each week outside of class working on your business plan, doing market research, creating projections, etc.
• Class time is spent on the curriculum provided. Subject matter experts also attend several sessions to speak in depth on specific topics.
• Given a participant brings a working business plan to the course, and completes all necessary work, one should expect to finish the course with a solid business plan (Build Institute does not write business plans).

Registration Portal Instructions:

1. Click on the registration link for your class of choice and fill in your personal information. Please register as an INDIVIDUAL. Business partners will need to register and pay separately. You will be asked to create an account with Build Institute. You can log into your account at any time and update your personal information.

2. Once your information is submitted you will be taken to the class payment page.

Class fees are determined based on a sliding scale, and applicants may be asked to submit income verification.

Payments can be made via credit card (MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover). If you would like to pay via check/money order please contact us at yolanda@buildinstitute.org or (313) 265-3590.

We want to make our classes accessible to everyone. If you need to discuss a payment plan, please contact yolanda@buildinstitute.org or (313) 265-3590. A $50 nonrefundable deposit is required for payment plans. Unless prior authorization is given, all class fees shall be paid in full by week 4.  

Please note that class fees are not refundable, but are transferable towards other Build classes and opportunities.

3. Once your application has been processed you will receive an email confirming your class details within 7-10 business days.  Add hello@buildinstitute.org to your contact list to avoid emails being marked as spam.