The Plan
See the plan
A short summary of the FutureWorks vision, the gap it addresses, the six-zone building, programs, year-three aims, and what we need to open.
Vision
FutureWorks puts robots and AI in a public building — a neighborhood space open to walk in, where people practice with real tools and take the next step into work. Hardware on the floor, open doors for all ages, and clear pathways from lab to job or venture.
The gap
Tech investment is concentrating downtown. Michigan Central, the U-M Center for Innovation, TechTown, and a large Gilbert and Rocket commitment sit within a few square miles. Much of that work is degree-gated or built for software. Neighborhoods still lack an open place to touch humanoid robots and serious AI tools.
Six zones
One building, six rooms for practice and work:
01 — The Floor
Open robotics bay for humanoids and related hardware.
02 — The Inference Lab
Local compute for models, demos, and training.
03 — The Studio
A room to record, document, and share what people build.
04 — The Classrooms
Foundations courses and cohort sessions.
05 — The Commons
Talks, office hours, and neighborhood events.
06 — The Launch Bay
Bench space for ventures leaving with a product or pitch.
Programs
A ladder from open access to work:
- Open Lab — drop-in, free
- Foundations — free courses
- Intensive cohorts — stipended where funding allows
- Workforce tracks — publicly funded pathways
- Job or venture — into Detroit’s economy
Need-based stipends help people show up. Teaching stays practical.
Year-three aims
Targets we aim to show by year three (not guarantees): 8,000+ annual visitors; 1,800+ learners enrolled; 75,000+ hands-on training hours; 600+ certifications; 25+ ventures launched; roughly 31% self-generated revenue. Peer programs suggest strong placement and starting-pay benchmarks when pathways are real.
What we need
- $1.5M+ lead commitment to open the capital campaign
- 2–3 founding partners — corporate and hardware — naming rooms
- A site — neighborhood flagship, plus a Michigan Central satellite
- Pilot — approval to run a short proof of demand
FutureWorks is a nonprofit organization in formation. EIN to be issued upon incorporation. Contact: hello@futureworks.center · Detroit, MI. Or use the partner form.