Detroit’s entrepreneurial resurgence is being shaped by a powerful force: Endeavor. Since its establishment in the city in 2015, Endeavor Detroit has become a catalyst for scaling high-growth companies, selecting and supporting founders who have the potential to transform economies. More than just a business accelerator or an investment firm, Endeavor is a global movement driven by the belief that high-impact entrepreneurs don’t just build successful companies—they multiply their impact, mentoring the next generation, creating jobs, and driving innovation.
New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman once called Endeavor “the best anti-poverty program of all,” and its influence is undeniable. With more than 45 offices worldwide—including in underserved and emerging markets—Endeavor provides founders access to a world-class network of mentors, investors, and industry leaders. The organization’s Detroit office has supported entrepreneurs reshaping the city’s economy and positioned it as a hub for high-value, scalable businesses.
Endeavor’s approach ensures that Detroit’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is built to last. Companies selected into Endeavor gain access to five key offerings: tier 1 mentorship, access to national and global markets, access to capital, leadership development support, and a platform to pay it forward to the next generation of scaleups. This holistic support system is designed to help founders navigate growth challenges, expand their reach, and reinvest in the ecosystem. Unlike many startup programs prioritizing early-stage companies with uncertain trajectories, Endeavor targets scaleups—businesses with proven traction and high-growth potential. By providing founders with the resources to think globally, Endeavor helps Detroit entrepreneurs extend their impact beyond the city, shaping industries on a national and international level.
Why Detroit? Why Now?
Detroit has a storied history of industry and innovation. Once the epicenter of American manufacturing, the city is undergoing an economic transformation driven by entrepreneurship. However, research by Endeavor Insight found that a significant portion of Southeast Michigan’s economy still lies in industries with low or negative projected growth. Meanwhile, US metropolitan areas with the highest income and productivity share a common trait: they generate more local, high-growth companies with 50 or more employees in high-value industries.
Endeavor saw the opportunity to change Detroit’s trajectory by empowering its high-potential entrepreneurs. With support from the William Davidson Foundation, New Economy Initiative, and the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, the Detroit office is filling critical gaps in the startup ecosystem, connecting founders with the capital, mentorship, and global exposure they need to scale.
Detroit’s startup momentum is undeniable. The region has risen 12 places in the Global Startup Ecosystem Report, securing the title of the world’s #1 Emerging Startup Ecosystem. Successful companies like Duo, Bloomscape, The Lip Bar, StockX, and Workit Health have proven that scaling world-class businesses can be done right here at home. However, challenges remain—such as fragmented investor networks, limited risk-taking from traditional venture capitalists, and fewer large-scale exits than peer cities. Endeavor is working to change that by fostering a culture where entrepreneurs are supported and actively encouraged to take bold risks that push industries forward.
A Data-Driven Approach: Endeavor Insight
Endeavor’s success isn’t based on guesswork—it’s backed by rigorous research. Endeavor Insight, the organization’s research division, delivers groundbreaking analysis on what drives entrepreneurial success. One of its most influential studies, ‘Founder Pathways,’ examined 200 unicorn founders—leaders of privately held companies valued at over $1 billion—to understand what made them succeed.
The findings challenged traditional assumptions about who can build a billion-dollar company. Many unicorn founders did not attend elite universities, had years of work experience before launching their startups, and often worked at or founded other entrepreneurial ventures before hitting it big. This research reinforces Endeavor’s belief that high-impact entrepreneurs exist everywhere—not just in Silicon Valley—and that ecosystems like Detroit’scan produce world-class companies with the right support. By leveraging these insights, Endeavor provides Detroit’s entrepreneurs with mentorship and guidance tailored to their unique growth challenges.
Endeavor’s Unparalleled Selection Process
Endeavor Entrepreneurs undergo a rigorous, multi-stage selection process that culminates in an International Selection Panel (ISP)—a final evaluation by global business leaders. The process is competitive, with fewer than 5% of candidates reaching the final stage. Only those receiving unanimous approval from expert panelists join the Endeavor network.
Entrepreneurs who qualify for an ISP must demonstrate a clear inflection point in their company’s growth and the potential for 10x scale. Endeavor isn’t looking for startups; it’s looking for scaleups—businesses with proven market traction and the ability to expand regionally or globally. The Endeavor seal of approval carries significant weight, opening doors to investors, partners, and growth opportunities worldwide. Once accepted, Endeavor Entrepreneurs gain access to an exclusive community of industry leaders, investment partners, and business mentors who provide ongoing guidance to help them scale efficiently and sustainably.
The Catalyst for Entrepreneurial Success
Endeavor Catalyst is a $540M rules-based, co-investment fund that supports Endeavor Entrepreneurs as they scale. While Catalyst plays an important role in sustaining Endeavor’s main network offerings, it is not at the heart of Endeavor’s mission. The fund is designed to help Endeavor become the first fully financially sustainable nonprofit, with returns from its entrepreneurs reinvested into future founders.
Endeavor Catalyst is among the top five performing global funds focused on emerging markets, proving that high-growth companies can scale from ecosystems like Detroit. It uniquely allows Endeavor’s community—including entrepreneurs, board members, mentors, and staff—to invest in vetted Endeavor Entrepreneurs. This model ensures that all investments remain aligned with Endeavor’s long-term mission to empower high-impact entrepreneurs while sustaining the organization’s broader network.
The Numbers Speak for Themselves:
- $540M in assets under management
- 26 Exits
- 57 companies valued at $1B+
- 11 publicly-listed companies
- 348 investments across 34 countries
Endeavor Catalyst has become one of the most active early-stage funds outside the US and China, demonstrating that global-scale businesses can emerge from emerging ecosystems like Detroit. The fund plays a vital role in bridging the gap between local startups and global investment opportunities, ensuring that founders in Detroit have access to the same capital resources as their peers in major tech hubs.
Impacting the Great Lakes Region
Endeavor’s influence extends beyond Detroit, shaping high-growth entrepreneurship across the Great Lakes Region:
- $1B+ in capital raised
- $592M+ in annual revenue
- 2,800+ jobs created
- 39 Endeavor Entrepreneurs
- 26 Endeavor Entrepreneur-led companies
These numbers underscore Endeavor’s role in shaping Detroit’s startup economy and solidifying its status as a high-impact entrepreneurship hub. Entrepreneurs supported by Endeavor are not just building businesses; they are creating ecosystems, reinvesting in local talent, and ensuring that future generations of founders have the tools they need to succeed.
Endeavor’s global impact further underscores its success in Detroit and beyond. The global Endeavor portfolio size is 2,900 Endeavor Entrepreneurs; it has generated $75B+ in annual revenue; created 4.1M+ jobs in emerging and re-emerging markets; has 70+ companies valued at over $1B; in 14 countries, Endeavor Entrepreneurs were the first unicorns; and, Endeavor has 600 staff members across five countries.
The Road Ahead: Detroit’s Startup Future
Despite the progress, Detroit’s entrepreneurial ecosystem still faces challenges. Access to venture capital remains a hurdle, with many local investors hesitant to take risks on high-growth startups. Endeavor is working to change this by increasing transparency, fostering investor education, and connecting Detroit’s founders with national and global investment networks.
Endeavor’s research has highlighted key areas of opportunity:
- Expanding investment pipelines to bring in more federal, state, and private funding for scaleups.
- Increasing visibility for Detroit founders through international exposure and strategic partnerships.
- Enhancing sector-specific support in fintech, mobility, and health tech—Detroit’s strongest industries.
- Advancing founder-first policies prioritizing high-growth businesses as key drivers of regional economic growth.
Diana Callaghan, Managing Director of Endeavor Detroit, emphasizes: “Detroit has the potential to become one of the world’s premier locations for high-growth entrepreneurship. Our founders have proven that world-class companies can be built right here. What we need now is a unified effort to support them at scale.”
A Movement, Not Just an Organization
Endeavor is more than just a support system—it’s a movement. By selecting, scaling, and reinvesting in the best entrepreneurs, Endeavor creates a self-sustaining cycle of innovation and economic transformation in Detroit.
With its world-class network, data-driven strategy, and commitment to paying it forward, Endeavor is not just helping businesses grow—it’s revitalizing Detroit’s entrepreneurial legacy.
As Detroit’s next unicorns emerge, one thing is clear: with Endeavor leading the charge, the city’s entrepreneurial future is not just bright—it’s unstoppable.
