ANN ARBOR, Michigan (April 19, 2024) – Washtenaw Community College (WCC) will host its inaugural Start-Up Week May 6-9 to celebrate and promote entrepreneurship among students, aspiring business owners and the local community.

Start-Up week will run in conjunction with the college’s annual Pitch@WCC competition in which new and aspiring business owners compete for cash prizes to launch or grow their companies.

The public is invited to join the events of the week to support and celebrate visionary entrepreneurs from the community and learn what goes into building a business.

All events are free and open to the public. Click for a map to buildings on the WCC campus.

Pitch@WCC 2024 began in February and is a month-long entrepreneurial training program for new and aspiring business owners from throughout the community. Pitch@WCC culminates with a competition on May 8-9, during which participants pitch their business plans to expert judges for an opportunity to secure funding for their businesses.

Start-Up Week is heavily focused on educating those interested in starting a business about community.

Events during the week:

May 6 – Education Day

Start-Up week kicks off with Education Day. In the morning, area middle and high school students will visit the WCC campus to learn about starting a business while developing their entrepreneurial mindset and skills. 

In the evening (6-8 p.m.), community members and WCC students are invited to four mini-workshops covering important topics such as “options for setting up your business (Chase),” “free applications to start your business on a budget (Google)” and “cybersecurity awareness for startup business owners (SensCy).” Education Day will kick off in the Crane Liberal Arts and Science Building, Room 240 (check-in). The session is free and open to the public.

There will also be a vendor expo, which will include information on WCC’s new Start-Up Incubator. The WCC Start-Up Incubator is a two-year program that helps launch and support new businesses in our community. The next incubator starts June 12. More information can be found here: Entrepreneurship Center at WCC.

For Education Day (evening workshops) advance registration is suggested: Register here.

May 7 – Breakthrough: In the Mind of the Entrepreneur

The public is invited to attend a unique theatrical performance titled "Breakthrough: In the Mind of the Entrepreneur” from 6-8 p.m. at the Crane Liberal Arts and Science Building, Room 240, offering a thought-provoking discussion on entrepreneurship and the experiences that shape entrepreneurs. Admission is free.

May 8 – Day 1: Pitch@WCC The first day of the Pitch competition highlights entrepreneurs in the Student, Art & Skilled Trade categories. The competition is from 5-8 p.m. in Garrett’s on the ground floor of the Student Center Building at WCC. WCC Start-Up Incubator resident The Corn Beef Queen’s food truck will be outside the Student Center, offering delicious menu items for purchase.

May 9 – Day 2: Pitch@WCC

The final day of the Pitch competition highlights entrepreneurs in the Build, Start, Social Impact and Returning Citizen categories. The competition will be from 5-9 p.m. in the Morris Lawrence Building, Room 101-121, at WCC.

For more information on any of these events, visit the Entrepreneurship Center at WCC.

About Washtenaw Community College

Washtenaw Community College (WCC), Ann Arbor, Michigan, educates students through a wide range of associate and certificate programs in areas such as health care, business, STEM and advanced transportation and mobility. The college also works through community, business and union partnerships to develop highly specialized training programs to meet the region’s workforce talent needs.

For more information about Washtenaw Community College, visit www.wccnet.edu.