• Innovative online platform seeks to make it easier for Detroit entrepreneurs to find and access local community lenders and small business resources
  • Participating lenders include ProsperUS, Opportunity Resource Fund, Michigan Women Forward, Detroit Development Fund which together provide more than $5 million annually in loans
  • Detroit Capital Hub Funded was made possible through funding from the Gilbert Family Foundation and Ally Foundation.

September 23, 2025 (DETROIT) – The City of Detroit and the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC) today announced the launch of the Detroit Capital Hub, an innovative online platform that makes it easier for Detroit entrepreneurs and small business owners to connect with local Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs).

Available at DetroitCapitalHub.com, the platform helps match applicants to the CDFI best positioned to meet their loan request. It also features a directory of business service organizations and technical assistance providers, increasing awareness of the programs available to help entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses.

“Small businesses are the heart of Detroit’s economy,” said Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. “By making it easier for entrepreneurs to access capital, we’re helping them grow, hire, and strengthen neighborhoods across the city.”
Funded through generous support from Gilbert Family Foundation and the Ally Foundation, the Detroit Capital Hub includes five participating CDFIs — ProsperUS, Opportunity Resource Fund, Michigan Women Forward, Detroit Development Fund, and Invest Detroit — which together provide more than $5 million annually in small business loans.

“Detroit is the perfect place for entrepreneurs to build their businesses, and the Detroit Capital Hub is exactly the support that’s needed for them to thrive,” said Darnell Adams, Vice President, Detroit Community Initiatives, Gilbert Family Foundation. “When small business owners succeed, they can continue providing vital services in our community.”

“The Detroit Capital Hub represents another step forward in increasing access to capital,” said Justin Onwenu, Director of Entrepreneurship and Economic Opportunity for the City of Detroit. “By connecting entrepreneurs to the right lenders and resources, we are making sure that every small business owner in Detroit has the tools to create jobs and drive our economy forward.”

“We’re excited to help break down barriers for small businesses,” said Sean Gray, Senior Vice President of Small Business Services at DEGC. “Too often, entrepreneurs don’t know where to start when it comes to financing. With the Detroit Capital Hub, we’re creating a simple connection point to ensure Detroiters find the right lender to support their business.”

A centralized resource for entrepreneurs

Through the Detroit Capital Hub, business owners can:

  • Access information on technical assistance providers and community-based business service organizations
  • Submit a single intake form that directs them to the most appropriate CDFI lender. The matching software will consider the CDFIs preferences (credit policy, industry, loan size, and other factors). Being matched with a lender does not automatically guarantee CDFI’s fulfillment of a loan request. If a CDFI rejects a loan request, the next most appropriate CDFI will receive the request, thereby saving the entrepreneur time.

The initiative reflects Detroit’s broader efforts to expand equitable access to capital and ensure that small businesses can thrive in the city’s economic growth.

The platform is powered by LoanWell, a national technology company that has experience building lending marketplace platforms. “It’s an honor to build this platform to power Detroit small businesses,” said Loanwell CEO Bernard Worthy. “Through collaboration and innovative technology, we can truly make it easier for the small business community to find the resources they need to thrive.”

Support from CDFI partners

“Entrepreneurship helps build wealth and strengthen neighborhoods across Detroit,” said ProsperUS CEO Paul Jones. “By collaborating through the Detroit Capital Hub, ProsperUs reaffirms our shared commitment to expanding access to capital and support for entrepreneurs in every community throughout our city.”

“This launch reflects our shared commitment to building a resource-rich ecosystem for Detroit’s small businesses,” said Opportunity Resource Fund CEO Byna Elliot. “Detroit Capital Hub is a modern tool designed to connect entrepreneurs with the capital and support they need to thrive. Opportunity Resource Fund is proud to be a part of this partnership”

“This is innovation applied to the very heart of our economy: small businesses,” said Carolyn Cassin, President & CEO, Michigan Women Forward. “By creating a smarter system to connect entrepreneurs to funding, the Detroit Capital Hub is laying the groundwork for a generation of businesses that will impact Detroit’s economy for decades to come.”

“Any opportunity to empower small businesses by increasing access to capital is something we are proud to be part of,” said Derek Edwards, Senior Vice President, Lending, Invest Detroit. “We’re committed to working alongside our partners to break down barriers and ensure more Detroit entrepreneurs can access the resources they need to grow and succeed.”

“Detroit Development Fund is proud to partner with the City of Detroit and is deeply grateful for the opportunity to be featured on this impactful platform,” said Ray Waters, CEO of the Detroit Development Fund. “For years, DDF has been committed to providing capital and support to small businesses across Detroit, helping entrepreneurs turn their visions into reality. This new opportunity allows DDF to expand its reach and continue empowering local business owners with the resources they need to grow and thrive. We’re excited to build on our mission and help even more entrepreneurs achieve their goals.”