TechTown announces Kraftologie as winner of 2026 Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest

DETROIT - TechTown, Wayne State University's entrepreneurship hub, announced Kraftologie as the winner of the 2026 Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest. In front of a packed audience at the grand finale Hatch Off event, held May 13 at the Wayne State Industry Innovation Center, Kraftologie took home the contest's $100,000 grand prize and an in-kind business support package from TechTown and its partners. This year's public voting period, which ran from April 29 until the end of the Hatch Off event, garnered more than 30,000 public votes.

"As one of TechTown and Detroit's most anticipated nights, Hatch Off once again put the unparalleled innovation, energy, and community spirit of the Hatch Detroit contest on display," said TechTown's Christianne Malone, chief program officer. "We thank our finalists, judges, sponsors, and extended community for making this yet another incredible night. And we extend a special congratulations to this year's winner, Kraftologie."

"What makes this contest so 'Detroit' is the way the community rallies behind these outstanding entrepreneurs year after year. The Hatch Detroit contest shows that when you give people the platform, funding, and resources they need, everyone benefits," said TechTown small business consultant Vittoria Katanski. "Seeing the community show up for Kraftologie and all our participants demonstrates what makes this work so powerful - and showcases what makes the Hatch Detroit contest one of a kind."

"I grew up going to Arts and Scraps [the longtime eastside nonprofit that collects reusable materials for use in community art education]," said Kraftologie founder Trice Clark. "With Kraftologie, I hope that people are introduced to arts and crafts early, and they can pick their job trajectories from there. Craft has always been communal and often women-led - I'm carrying on for the women before me who didn't get acknowledged for this work."

Kraftologie is a creative learning lab where learning meets play. It allows participants to experiment with new hobbies in person and at home through guided workshops, self-led experiences, and take-home "Kraft Kits" that make art accessible. Clark started Kraftologie - then called "DIY Fridays" - in her college apartment. She held Kraftologie's first public workshop in 2014. Since then, Kraftologie has led craft-based workshops across metro Detroit for more than a decade, showing others the art of doing it yourself.

Every year since 2011, the Hatch Detroit contest has awarded one rising entrepreneur in Detroit with $100,000 and in-kind services from TechTown to open a brick-and-mortar storefront in Detroit, Hamtramck, or Highland Park. Since its launch, the contest has proven itself as Detroit's premier competition for up-and-coming entrepreneurs. The contest and its alumni:

• Employ over 500 people, most of whom are Detroit and Hamtramck residents.
• Have invested more than $13 million into storefront retail businesses that serve their neighborhoods.
• Have invested over $360,000 in streetscape improvements for neighborhood retail.
• Have provided more than $1.5 million in in-kind support to alumni businesses, along with over 10,000 hours of technical assistance and mentoring.

Though there is only one grand prize winner, the Hatch Detroit contest is a launch pad for all participants. Each year, the contest's top 10 semifinalists become official Hatch Detroit alumni, entitling them to a variety of benefits, including access to the Hatch Detroit alumni network, coaching, advice, connection to subject matter experts and technical assistance such as TechTown's Ops+ program and Professional Service Network. Through this approach, more than 50 of the contest's non-grand prize winners have gone on to open businesses in the Detroit community after participating.

Learn more about Kraftologie, the 2026 Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest, and TechTown.

The Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest is supported by Comerica , EY, and Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses.

Since 2007, TechTown Detroit has helped more than 8,000 companies create and sustain thousands of jobs and raise over $500 million in capital. As Wayne State University's and Detroit's entrepreneurship hub, TechTown is a nonprofit that connects early- to growth-stage small businesses and tech founders with programs, education, and resources that open doors. By building an inclusive economy, TechTown is helping Detroit and Southeast Michigan compete and win. Visit techtowndetroit.org.