About DNEP
The University of Michigan’s Detroit Neighborhood Entrepreneurs Project (DNEP) is a university-based business support organization that taps the energy, creativity, and expertise of University students – guided by dedicated faculty and staff – to help Detroit small businesses thrive and create economic opportunity throughout the city, while providing students with life-changing consulting experiences.
Students deliver coordinated, high-impact support to 250 local businesses per year, offering tailored recommendations in business strategy, finance, marketing, law, technology, operations, and design – and implementation support.
By engaging with businesses repeatedly over time, student teams help build the capacity Detroit enterprises need to grow sustainably and eventually hire permanent staff from the community. At the same time, students gain transformative real-world experience, forge meaningful connections, and often discover a compelling reason to build their futures in Detroit. DNEP doesn’t just support businesses—it cultivates a pipeline of leaders committed to inclusive, place-based economic revitalization.
