The Creator Awards, a global initiative from WeWork, will award more than $20 million to entrepreneurs, small businesses, growing companies, non-profits, and artists. WeWork, which offers shared workspace and services for a range of clients, has locations at Merchant’s Row (1449 Woodward) and Campus Martius (1001 Woodward) in downtown Detroit.
The application deadline is May 12, and there are three application categories — Incubate ($18K – $36K), The Launch ($72K – $180K), and The Scale ($180K – $360K). The finalists will be announced on May 25 as part of a day-long event at Cadillac Square (just east of Campus Martius Park) in downtown Detroit.
In addition to a pitch competition and a show, The Creator Awards and WeWork invite people to stop by during the day (May 25) to learn new skills in master classes, support local sellers and merchants at a pop-up market, and network with employers at a job showcase before the show.
Together, WeWork and Quicken Loans Inc. are investing in Detroit’s community of creators — from incubating startups to supporting non-profits, artists, and scaling enterprises. Select finalists from Detroit’s Creator Awards will have access to capital through loans and equity investments.
“We’re excited to partner with Quicken Loans to celebrate Detroit’s community of creators,” says Jennifer Skyler, head of global public affairs for WeWork. “Each day, creators across various industries are having an impact on their communities, and this is an opportunity to celebrate them.”
WeWork encourages people in the Detroit Creator Awards eligible area to apply, not just WeWork members. Finalists at the launch and scale levels from Detroit Creator Award applications will pitch their ideas to a panel of judges to compete for cash prizes totaling more than $1.5 million.
Winners will also have the opportunity to advance to the Creator Awards global finals, which will be held in New York in November.
To see the geographic areas eligible to apply for the Detroit Creator Awards, click here .
