Aug 29, 2012
DETROIT / August 29, 2012 - Hatch Detroit today announced the top 10 semi-finalists for the 2012 Comerica Hatch Detroit contest. This year's competition brought in more than 250 business plan submissions, representing a 25 percent increase over last year's contest. From a vegan café with a soulful twist to a business that seeks to bring kayak rentals to the riverfront, this year's semi-finalists represent Detroit's creative entrepreneurship at its best.
The 10 semi-finalists include:
• Detroit River Sports - Kayak rentals to city-goers,
offering tours through the canal districts of Belle Isle,
Downtown and other parts of the city.
• Detroit Vegan Soul Café - Vegan food with a soul twist,
currently operating as a catering and food delivery
business, looking to open a store in Midtown.
• La Feria - A wine bar featuring authentic Spanish tapas
in a relaxed yet upbeat setting, looking to open in
Midtown.
• Motor City Design - A custom denim specialty retail
store featuring Made in Michigan products where customers
can watch garments be made right in the store, looking to
open Downtown.
• Pho da Nang - A Vietnamese restaurant based in Clawson
looking to open another location in Midtown.
• Rock City Pies - A handmade pie company specializing in
unique combinations such as Salty Apple Carmel Pie and
Blueberry-Custard Pie, looking to open in Midtown.
• Tashmoo Biergarten - Based on the biergartens in
Germany, operating as a pop-up in West Village, looking
to open a permanent space in the neighborhood.
• The Collective Tap - High-end beer retailer offering
classes and food parings, looking to open Downtown.
• Vividbraille Studio Boutique - Fuses high-end fashion
and design with USA manufacturing in a retail setting,
offering customers some of the finest Made in the USA
fashion goods, currently operating in Chicago and looking
to expand to Detroit.
• Whip Hand Cosmetics - A cosmetic company, currently
operating online, looking to open its manufacturing and
retail facility Downtown.
To read full biographies of each company visit www.hatchdetroit.com.
"We're impressed by the volume and quality of this year's
submissions," said Nick Gorga, co-founder of Hatch
Detroit. "Our board had the tough task of narrowing down
the pool of applicants to the top 10. We're excited to
introduce the semi-finalists and invite the public to
cast their vote for Detroit's next retail development
beginning September 10."
"Entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of any successful
region," said Thomas D. Ogden, president, Comerica
Bank-Michigan. "The passion and creativity represented by
these semi-finalists sets the tone for Detroit's retail
revitalization, and Comerica is thrilled to be a part of
it."
Public voting opens September 10 at 12:01 AM and
continues through September 17 at 11:59 PM at
www.hatchdetroit.com. The top four vote-getters will be
announced September 19 and compete in a Hatch Off event
on September 26 Comerica Bank will provide the full prize
amount of $50,000 for the winning business idea, which
will be revealed September 27.
Hatch Detroit is a Michigan-based 501(c)(3) organization
that champions and supports independent retail businesses
in Detroit through funding contests, education, exposure,
and mentoring. Hatch Detroit was co-founded by Nick Gorga
and Ted Balowski, metro Detroit natives who are
passionate about the revitalization of the city and
inspiring others in the community to create change.
Comerica Bank, with 218 banking centers in Michigan, is a
subsidiary of Comerica Incorporated. Comerica made a $17
million investment in Detroit with the renovation of its
building at 411 W. Lafayette, which has been renamed
Comerica Bank Center and is now the bank's Michigan
Market headquarters. Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA) is
a financial services company strategically aligned by
three business segments: The Business Bank, The Retail
Bank, and Wealth Management. Comerica focuses on
relationships, and helping people and businesses be
successful. To find Comerica on Facebook, please visit
www.facebook.com/ComericaCares. Follow Comerica Chief
Economist Robert Dye on Twitter at @Comerica_Econ.
Hatch Detroit Media Contact
Vittoria Katanski
(248) 766-6485
vittoria@hatchdetroit.com
Comerica Media Contact
Kathleen Pitton
(313) 584-4523
kapitton@comerica.com
Alternate Media Contact
Sara Bloomberg
(313) 567-5016
bloomberg@franco.com
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