Builders and Backers

Huge congratulations to alumni Builder Misti Staley of .tube.feeding.assistant, who was just announced the winner of the $100K Power Play Grant from for FreeArm, being selected out of over 10,000 applicants!

FreeArm -the feeding tube assistant that’s helping families and hospitals safely tube feed around the world - was built from her love for her son Freeman and her lived experience navigating the NICU, PICU, and everything that came with caring for a tube-fed child. She saw a need and created a solution that’s now serving thousands.

We’ve always believed in Misti and the things she could accomplish building FreeArm, and we can’t wait to see how she continues to go all-in!

Congratulations on this hugely deserved grant - we’re excited to see what’s next for FreeArm! 💪

Real traction isn't about followers or page views. It's about proof someone cares enough to act. Use this validation ladder to test your idea before you spend months building.

Read the full Builders Field Guide here: https://buildersfieldguide.substack.com/p/how-real-builders-get-early-traction

Next trip loading! 

On Monday, is headed back to her hometown to speak at the International Economic Development Conference 2025 in ! 🎯

She’ll join “Philanthropy & Entrepreneurship: Catalysts for Inclusive Growth”, a panel focusing on actionable strategies for harnessing philanthropy and entrepreneurship to drive equitable economic development—core to our work at Builders + Backers supporting entrepreneurs who tackle the world’s biggest challenges.

Joining alongside Donna are Detroit leaders and industry makers including: Tonya Allen (President, McKnight Foundation), Mike Duggan (Mayor, City of Detroit), Jonathan Ortmans (Founder & President, GEN), Dave Egner (President and CEO, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation), Mary Culler (President, Ford Philanthropy), Derieth Sutton (Vice President, Niagara Bottling), La June Montgomery Tabron, (President and CEO, W.K. Kellogg Foundation), Philip Gaskin (Founder and Principal, The Gaskin Group) and Julia Kraeger (COO, IEDC).

Detroit Builders, will we see you there? Drop a comment if you’ll be attending!