Usher And Big Sean Launch $1M Tech And Creativity Incubator In Detroit

Usher and Big Sean are expanding their impact in Detroit with a major new initiative aimed at preparing local youth for careers in fast-growing creative and technology fields. The two artists revealed on Thursday that they are launching the Detroit Entertainment Innovation Incubator, backed by a $1 million investment that will be funneled through the Michigan Central Boys & Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan. The new facility is expected to open its doors in February 2026.

This effort brings together several key partners. Usher’s New Look Foundation and the Sean Anderson Foundation are collaborating with Ilitch Sports + Entertainment and Emory University’s Goizueta Business School to build a program designed to introduce young people to future-focused industries. The Detroit Entertainment Innovation Incubator will offer structured training in areas such as A.I., 3D design, virtual production, and immersive technologies. Students will have access to a virtual production studio, a specialized SFX lab, an autonomous training center, and a creator’s lounge, spaces intended to support both technical learning and creative development.

Michigan Central’s Chief Operating Officer, Carolina Pluszczynski, expressed excitement about the program and its potential effect on the community. She highlighted how the facility’s arrival next year will provide young people with tools and skills that are increasingly essential in today’s evolving job landscape.

For both artists, the initiative continues the work they have been doing individually through their foundations, each focused on mentorship, education, and long-term opportunities for youth. Their shared investment reflects a commitment to making Detroit a hub where young people can gain exposure to industries that are shaping the future.

With the incubator underway, the partnership positions Usher and Big Sean at the center of a project designed to help Detroit’s next generation build careers in innovation, entertainment, and technology, fields that continue to expand rapidly across the country.