Restaurants, clothing retailers and a commercial farm are among the 10 semifinalists for the 2022 Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest.

The winner takes home $100,000 in startup funds from Comerica Bank, along with a package of accounting, legal, IT and public relations assistance from Hatch Detroit and its partners. The winner also will open a brick-and-mortar location in Detroit, Hamtramck or Highland Park, according to a news release.

Public voting is open online and four finalists will be named on June 24. The final round of public voting ends June 30. The contest ends July 21 with the annual Hatch Off — in which the finalists pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges and an audience.

The winner will be chosen from a combination of the public vote and judges' determination.

In-person voting is also available next week: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday at Eastern Market Shed 2 and 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Norma G's Detroit at 14628 E. Jefferson Ave. and 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the Northwest Detroit Farmers' Market at 19566 Grand River Ave.

Hatch became a part of TechTown Detroit earlier this year.

This is the first Hatch contest since 2019, and second with the $100,000 cash prize, up from $50,000 the first seven years of the competition.

Hatch Detroit, a retail and restaurant incubator, was established in 2011. Alumni of the program have opened 49 businesses, employ more than 500 people and have invested more than $7 million in their businesses. The Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest has helped launched Detroit businesses including La Feria (2012), Sister Pie (2014), Live Cycle Delight (2015), Meta Physica Massage (2016), Baobab Fare (2017) and 27th Letter Books (2019).

Comerica Bank and the Comerica Charitable Foundation have contributed $660,000 in startup funding to support the winners of the annual neighborhood retail competition, as well as direct organizational support funding to Hatch Detroit.

Readers are invited to submit a letter to the editor or connect with us on social media (we're on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram)

Staying current is easy with Crain's news delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge. Click below to see everything we have to offer.

With a Crain’s Detroit Subscription you get exclusive access, insights and experiences to help you succeed in business.

Helping you succeed in business since 1985.

1155 Gratiot Avenue Detroit MI  48207-2997