Black Tech Saturdays

10/14/2026

10/14/2026

Dr. Marcus Webb: Building a Trusted Wellness Brand in Pontiac

A kitchen table in Pontiac became the starting point for Dr. Marcus Webb to build something much bigger.

When Webb’s mother was diagnosed with cancer in 2019, he did not take chances. He studied the research on sea moss, compared suppliers, and examined safety and quality before giving her a single serving. That same standard became the foundation for SeaPharms.

Today, the Pontiac-based wellness brand is making its way onto retail shelves, including Meijer and Fresh Thyme Market. But Webb’s journey was never simply about putting a product on a shelf. It was about building trust in an industry where consumers are often left sorting through claims without knowing what to believe.

Webb chose a different path: document the quality, verify the product, and build with the same care he would give his own family. His story is a reminder that strong brands can begin in unexpected places, with a personal reason to build and the discipline to keep going.

And for the next founder looking at that shelf, SeaPharms represents something bigger: proof that a trusted consumer brand can be built from Pontiac, one decision at a time.

📖 Read the full Founder Story:
https://www.blacktechsaturdays.com/build-the-story/founder-stories/dr-marcus-webb-seapharms-pontiac-wellness

Who is building something from their own kitchen table, garage, or first small step? Share their name and help put another Michigan founder on the map.

.MarcusWebb

10/14/2026

The Innovation Alliance is hiring an Operations Director, its first dedicated operations hire.

The Alliance launched in May to connect Michigan's investors, universities, corporations, founders, and startups as one coordinated network. The goal is to make Michigan a Top-10 innovation economy in the country.

This is the person who makes a statewide coalition actually run. Track the priorities. Keep the partners and Action Councils moving. Run the convenings. Support the grant reporting and budgets. Manage member communications. Whoever takes it builds the operating base a future Executive Director will lead.

We know who does this work in our community. The people who keep the tracker, close the loop, and know everybody in the room.

The details:
Michigan-based, remote with regular in-person meetings and statewide travel. Detroit area preferred.
Contract, about 25 to 30 hours a week
$8,000 to $10,500 a month
12 to 18 month renewable term, with the potential to become full-time
Target start December 2026
Contracted through Invest Detroit Foundation, the Alliance's fiscal sponsor

You need to be a Michigan resident with 7 or more years in operations, program management, or nonprofit or coalition administration. Knowing Michigan's innovation ecosystem is a strong plus.

Apply by Friday, October 30 with a resume and a one-page writing sample at wkf.ms/4zuLBQI, or scan the code on the flyer. Applications are reviewed weekly, so applying early helps.

If this is you, apply. If it is somebody you know, send it to them.

10/14/2026

The best partnerships create value for everyone involved.

When one side wins and the other struggles, the relationship rarely lasts. Sustainable partnerships are built on mutual benefit, shared success, and trust that grows over time.

Before entering any collaboration, ask:
• How does this help both sides?
• Are expectations clear?
• Is value being created for everyone involved?

The strongest deals aren't about taking more.
They're about building more together.

Take a moment today to review one of your partnerships. Is it creating value for everyone at the table?

10/13/2026

Every real thing in Detroit started as make believe.

The Model T was a drawing before it was a car. Techno was three kids from Belleville pretending machines could feel until they did. Every mural, every startup, every song this city ever gave the world was make believe first. So we named the symposium after the most powerful thing this city does.

Make Believe: An Art x Tech Symposium. Thursday, October 29, 10am, Detroit. Hosted by CultureSource and Black Tech Saturdays.

Here is the part we are most excited about. This is a working conversation. We are putting artists, technologists, funders, and the people who run our institutions in one room to imagine, together, the world our ecosystems need. The studio that sits next to the lab. The training that puts the newest tools in the oldest neighborhoods. The tool built with the artist in the room instead of guessed at from a distance. The commission that comes with a contract. The contract that turns into income, and the income that turns into something you can pass down. The capital that understands a canvas and a codebase are the same bet on the same city.

Because access is the whole point. Who gets the tools decides who gets to make, and who gets to make decides who gets paid. Every generation of technology has skipped somebody. This one does not get to skip Detroit.

We are going to draw the roads between our worlds. Out loud, with each other, on the 29th.

Imagination is the first infrastructure. Bring yours. Link in bio.

10/13/2026

Every strong partnership will face disagreements.

The goal isn't to avoid conflict. The goal is to handle it with respect, honesty, and a shared commitment to finding solutions.

When challenges arise:
• Focus on the issue, not the person.
• Listen before responding.
• Work toward a solution that strengthens the relationship.

The partnerships that last aren't the ones without conflict. They're the ones that know how to navigate it well.

A simple rule can make a big difference:

"We talk before we walk."

How does your team handle difficult conversations? 👇

10/12/2026

Success feels better when it's shared.

The strongest partnerships aren't built by one person taking the spotlight. They're built by people who recognize contributions, celebrate wins together, and make sure everyone feels valued.

A simple thank you can strengthen trust.
A public acknowledgment can deepen relationships.
Shared credit creates lasting partnerships.

When you win together, celebrate together.

Who's a partner, collaborator, or supporter you want to recognize today? 👇

10/11/2026

Donovan Brown: Building Detroit’s AI Community

One Saturday conversation helped Donovan Brown find the community he needed to keep building in tech.

After transitioning into software development, Donovan faced burnout, isolation, and the feeling that he was navigating the journey alone. Then he walked into a Black Tech Saturdays event at Newlab at Michigan Central and introduced himself to a stranger named Lorenzo.

That conversation became a friendship, a colleague relationship, and a weekly accountability partnership. More importantly, it helped Donovan realize that community could be the infrastructure behind his growth.

Today, Donovan is a Technical Consultant and AI Integration Developer in Detroit, building his personal brand while helping solopreneurs and small businesses connect with the tools reshaping the economy.

His journey also reflects a larger challenge. AI-related job demand in the Detroit metro area surged by 162% between 2023 and 2025, while approximately 47% of Detroit residents lack broadband access. Donovan is building his path in the middle of that gap.

Through continued learning and a focus on fundamentals, his work has grown into leadership with Live6 Alliance and the AI Collective Detroit Chapter, along with a feature on Channel 7 News about AI in the workplace.

Donovan’s story is a reminder that sometimes the next step in a technology career begins with finding the right people to walk the path with you.

📖 Read the full Founder Story:

https://www.blacktechsaturdays.com/build-the-story/founder-stories/donovan-brown-detroit-ai-literacy

Who helped you stay accountable when you were learning something new or building a new career? Tag the person who helped you keep going.

10/11/2026

Strong partnerships aren't built on perfect agreement. They're built on honest communication.

The fastest way to damage a partnership is to stop talking when things get uncomfortable. The strongest teams create space for feedback, celebrate wins together, and address challenges before they become problems.

A simple check-in can prevent months of confusion.

Communication isn't just about solving issues.
It's about building trust.

When was the last time you checked in with a partner, collaborator, or teammate just to ask, "How are we doing?" 👇

10/10/2026

The best partnerships don't start with massive contracts. They start with small wins.

Before making a long-term commitment, test how you work together. A small project reveals communication styles, trust levels, reliability, and shared expectations far better than any meeting ever could.

Start small.
Learn fast.
Build trust.
Then scale.

The strongest collaborations are built one successful step at a time.

What's one small project you could launch with a potential partner this month? 👇