Michigan Business Beat | Mackinac Policy Conference 2026 - Ned Staebler, TechTown Detroit - #MPC26

Chris Holman speaks with Ned Staebler, from Media Row, at the Grand Hotel, while at the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference. Chris Holman of the Michigan Business Network interviews Ned Staebler, VP for Economic Development at Wayne State University and President/CEO of TechTown Detroit, at the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce's Mackinac Policy Conference. Staebler highlights TechTown's significant impact, having worked with over 9,000 entrepreneurs in eight years who collectively raised more than $500 million in startup capital, and notes the success of their retail boot camp program, where 85% of participating businesses remain open today. He explains that TechTown has diversified its funding to roughly equal thirds of grant funding, philanthropy, and earned income, the latter including a back-office services program called Ops+ that has grown to about 60 clients in just one year. Staebler also describes the close but financially independent relationship between TechTown and Wayne State, including a program called Warrior Impact that connects Wayne State students with early-stage companies for meaningful work experience funded through federal work study dollars. » Visit MBN website: http://www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/ » Watch MBN’s YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MichiganbusinessnetworkMBN » Like MBN: http://www.facebook.com/mibiznetwork » Follow MBN: http://twitter.com/MIBizNetwork/ » MBN Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/mibiznetwork/