Startup News

Todd Scott lives, breathers, and rides Metro Detroit's bike lanes, walking paths and other assorted greenways. So when he saw a chance to better coordinate information about the region's growing network of greenways, he jumped on it.

Scott created a living map of the region's bike paths, trails and other assorted walkways using Google's Map Maker tool. It was so comprehensive that the Google blog featured it.

"Every time I looked at Google Maps it was never quite right," says Scott, Detroit Greenways Coordinator. "I could never figure out who to contact to correct it until I found the mapping device."

Anyone who can access Google's Map Maker took can make improvements to the online map. The idea is to not only create a better map of greenways in Detroit but to also help grow the community of Metro Detroiters that use them.

"Everyone has Google Maps on their phone," Scott says.

Source: Todd Scott, Detroit Greenways Coordinator
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

D:hive is launching a new program called Detroit Wants You to make it clear that young, talented workers are welcome in the Motor City.

The job portal not only aims to attract and retain young talent but also to create an awareness that there is an abundance of opportunity in Detroit. "The common perception is that there aren't any great opportunities in Detroit," says Alex Prouhet, work resident at D:hive. "Detroit Wants You wants to dispel that belief."

Detroit Wants You will include an online jobs portal similar to popular sites, like Monster and CareerBuilder. It will also work with young people to help match them with the best jobs and opportunities.

"We want to connect as many people as we can with jobs and grow our talent base," Prouhet says. "We want to increase the number of people that are interested in Detroit."

For information on Detroit Wants You, click here.

Source: Alex Prouhet, work resident at D:hive
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

The Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition is moving to downtown Detroit this fall, taking advantage of the Motor City's vibrant urban atmosphere and emerging narrative of resurgence.

The annual business plan competition, in its third year, awards $1 million in cash and other prizes to local start-ups or companies looking to move to Michigan. The first two competitions were held in Ann Arbor, but it is moving to the Book Cadillac Hotel this year to leverage the city's cosmopolitan feel and its story of economic resurgence.

"We really are trying to bring the judges and investors into a city that becoming more vibrant," says Lauren Bigelow, executive director of Accelerate Michigan. "We think Detroit serves as a great backdrop for that."

Accelerate Michigan is one the richest business plan competitions in the U.S. with a top prize of $500,000 in seed capital. The cream of the crop of the Great Lakes State's start-ups apply to compete, along with a smattering of out-of-state firms interested in relocating to Michigan. A wide variety of start-ups make their pitch for the half a million dollars in cash, including businesses specializing in life sciences, alternative energy, advanced manufacturing, software and IT, among many others.

This year 303 start-ups applied to compete. There is also a student portion of the competition that will continue taking applications until Sept. 27. These entrepreneurs also use the competition as a chance to network with angel investors, venture capitalists, corporate investors and potential strategic partners who are judging and watching the competition. This year's competition expects to attract more than 100 investors this year, up from about 60 last year.

Accelerate Michigan will be held on Nov. 13 at the Book Cadillac with the awards gala taking place on Nov. 15 at Detroit's Orchestra Hall. For information on the competition, click here.

Source: Lauren Bigelow, executive director of Accelerate Michigan
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

CHIIPSS, a popular skateboarding shop in Plymouth, is making the move to downtown Hamtramck this weekend, taking over a retail space on Jos Campau south of Caniff.

The 5-year-old business and its sister business, The Barber Shoppe Screen Printing, will occupy 2,700 square feet of retail space across the street from Detroit Threads. The skateboard shop will be in the front and the screen printing business in the back.

"It's just combining it all into one space," says Patrick Miller, owner of CHIIPSS. "We expect the foot traffic to be a lot more than what it was in Plymouth."

Miller and his two partners were attracted to Hamtramck by the Power House project and the construction of the Ride It Sculpture Park. That sense of community building was quite attractive to the young entrepreneurs.

"I really dig the vibe of Hamtramck," Miller says. "It felt very work-together-for-the-community based."

CHIIPSS brings the three partners together for the two businesses under one roof. The business also plans to hire up to four long-time contributors to the businesses soon after executing the move.

Source: Patrick Miller, owner of CHIIPSS
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

A new bicycle company based on Detroit's West Side is out to create the classic example of an American bike. Detroit Bikes is focusing on making a sturdy, simple, fixed-gear bicycle from its new facility near the intersection of Plymouth and Schaefer roads.

"We thought that would be a good product that would capture people's imaginations," says Zak Pashak, president of Detroit Bikes. "It would get more people to be urban bike riders."

Pashak is not only looking to create a bicycle that is made for urban areas like Detroit but urban areas that are built for bicycles. Detroit Bikes aims to solve both of those dilemmas but not only building bikes but making bikes that will encourage more people to ride in cities.

"It's important that we build cities to a different scale," Pashak says. "We shouldn't build them just for cars but for bikes and people."

Pashak and his team of seven people are in the process of developing the bike and setting up the manufacturing space. They hope to begin selling bikes next spring and reach a point where they are making 100 bikes per day.

Source: Zak Pashak, president of Detroit Bikes
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

The greater Downtown Detroit is welcoming its third coffee shop this summer with the opening of Chez Zara in the M@dison Building.

The downtown Detroit coffee shop next to Grand Circus Park is taking over the space that was previously occupied by Stub Hub, which moved to another office space in the building. The coffee shop now shares a space with the lobby for the M@dison Building offices on Broadway Street.

"It's a perfect fit for the M@dison Building," says Mallak Beydoun, owner of Chez Zara.

Beydoun opened Chez Zara at a different storefront on Woodward a few years ago but moved to her new space to be a part of the M@dison Building's emerging start-up scene and efforts to revitalize Detroit. She and her three employees will focus on providing local, fresh coffee that is made from organic and fair-trade sources.

"We want to incorporate local brands that people don't know much about," Zara says.

Source: Mallak Beydoun, owner of Chez Zara
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Ramonte Forte learned the hard way just how easily someone's identity can be stolen. That led to create TheSecurityWallet, a wallet that specializes in keeping the prying eyes of thieves out of your personal information.

The Security Wallet is wallet that looks a bit like a smartphone case. The waterproof product, made from recycled plastic, comes with a combination lock. It can hold 10 credit cards and cash. The TechTown-based business has developed a prototype and work on mass producing the item later this year.

Forte, a former autoworker, recently participated in the New Ventures program provided by the Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center. That played a major role in providing him with the tools to begin building his business over the last year.

"It gave me a great deal of information on how to approach inventions from an investment standpoint," Forte says.

Source: Ramonte Forte, inventor of TheSecurityWallet
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Title Source made a splash in downtown Detroit last week when it made its move to the Motor City's Central Business District official, joining the rest of the Quicken Loans family of companies.

The formerly Troy-based firm is moving 1,500 workers to the First National Building overlooking Campus Martius. The first 500 made the move last week and came out to the party-like press conference (a Quicken Loans staple) in Campus Martius, which came complete with a DJ and great weather.

"There is a ton of energy in this city," Jeff Eisenshtadt, president of Title Source, said to a cheering crowd of a few hundred people. He added that moving to downtown Detroit is "just a fantastic opportunity."

Title Source is renovating 10 floors of the First National Building, taking over 40 percent of its space. The renovation will continue for the rest of the summer, making room for the rest of Title Source's workforce to move in before the weather turns cold.

The circa 1930 skyscaper, designed by Albert Kahn, has undergone extensive renovations over the last year since the Quicken Loans Chaiman Dan Gilbert's team bought it. The 25-story building has 800,000 square-feet of space and occupies most of a city block. It is now 93 percent occupied with Title Source sharing space with the likes of the law firm of Honigman, Miller, Schwartz and Cohn along with the United Way of Southeastern Michigan.

"You're going to be a key part in helping us change and transform Detroit," Detroit Mayor Dave Bing told the crowd at the press conference. He and other local leaders spoke about the idea of attracting many of these new downtown workers to move to the city'c center.

"We really want you to enjoy this city," George Jackson, president & CEO of the Detroit Economic Growth Corp, told the crowd. "We have a lot to offer."

Source: Jeff Eisenshtadt, president of Title Source; Detroit Mayor Dave Bing, and George Jackson, president & CEO of the Detroit Economic Growth Corp
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

The first wave of fellows from Venture for America is hitting Metro Detroit this week and it looks like startups in the Motor City will be the main beneficiary.

Venture for America is modeled after Teach for America where it takes top college graduates and places them in economically challenged areas. The difference is where Teach for America will make these young people teachers in struggling school districts Venture for America will place its top talent with growing start-ups in places like Detroit, Cincinnati, Las Vegas, New Orleans and Providence, Rhode Island.

The Detroit cohort will receive 11 of Venture for America's initial class of 40 fellows. Of those 11, eight will be working for companies in Detroit. Those firms include, Digerati, Rock Ventures, Detroit Venture Partners, Quikkly, Bizdom, Doodle Home, Dandelion and Are You a Human.

"They want to be there," says Andrew Yang, founder & president of Venture for America. "They choose Detroit over the other cities. They recognize the energy that is going into revitalizing Detroit and want to be a part of it."

Yang founded Venture for America two years ago with the idea of helping revitalize economically struggling urban centers, like Detroit and New Orleans, by infusing them with some of the most talented individuals graduating from college today. The hope is these young people will stay in these cities and launch their own job-creating startups one day soon. The program also offers a door into entrepreneurship for young people who might otherwise choose to go to expensive business schools and take corporate jobs upon graduation to pay down student loans.

Source: Andrew Yang, founder & president of Venture for America
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Brothers Andrew and Ryan Landau are building their current startup, Chalkfly, by combining three of their passions: teaching, marketing and Detroit.

The M@dison Building-based company is working on a new formula for selling office/school supplies online that combines both ease and customer service with a philanthropic component.

"We are trying to reinvent how office and school supplies are sold online," says Andrew Landau, co-founder of Chalkfly.

The brand-spanking-new startup is offering 10,000 products for sale online, along with free shipping, 24/7 customer support and a one-year return policy. The social entrepreneurial component gives 5 percent of each purchase to charitable organizations oriented toward education, such as Teach for America or other approved local educational causes.

"It's a great way for teachers to individually fundraise for their classrooms," Andrew Landau says.

Chalkfly employs seven people and an intern. It recently launched its Beta version in July and plans to go live to the public in August. It expects to use the Detroit market as a launchpad for becoming a national brand.

"I think there is a real renaissance in Detroit in the entrepreneurial community," Andrew Landau says. "This is where our family is. It's an opportunity we couldn't pass up."

Source: Andrew Landau, co-founder of Chalkfly
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Joshua Mango got his start in marketing doing work for his dad's plumbing company in Redford a few years ago. He enjoyed the digital aspects of it so much he decided to start his own Internet marketing agency, eDetroit.

The 1-year-old company, founded by Joshua Mango and his wife Kimberly Mango, recently moved into the Green Garage in Detroit's Midtown neighborhood. The three-person company, it also has an intern, has carved out a niche by combining digital marketing and Detroit-based small businesses in need of it.

"We became really passionate about Detroit when we lived here in 2010 in a place in Lafayette Park," Joshua Mango says.

The company has since grown from its first client (dad's plumbing firm) to a roster of a little more than half a dozen companies. Joshua Mango expects to grow that customer base a few more this year thanks to its move to Green Garage.

"We didn't need a big office," Joshua Mango says. "We just needed a place to call home."

Source: Joshua Mango, co-founder of eDetroit
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

AJ's Coffeeworks, the popular coffee shop in Ferndale, is moving to Highland Park, creating a homecoming of sorts for its founder, A.J. O'Neil.

O'Neil was born and raised in Highland Park and sees a plethora of opportunity in the inner city suburb. AJ's Coffeeworks is moving into auditorium of the St. Benedict Catholic Church at 60 Church St., one block east of Woodward Avenue and two block south of McNichols Road.

"The potential is great," O'Neil says. "When we get set up in Highland Park, I want to expand our footprint. I want to recruit a sales force to get the coffee on every store shelf here."

AJ's Coffeeworks was a staple in the Ferndale business scene for five years before closing last spring when its lease ended. It has since been selling its signature coffee blends online and plans to sell its coffee through both retail outlets and its own store. It plans to open its new location on Aug. 19.

"If everything goes right we will have some good vegan food and coffee," O'Neil says.

AJ's Coffeeworks will also have a unique business model where customers can pay what they can when they can at the coffee shop. The on-your-honor business model, often called cross-trickle economics, is focused on helping build both the business and the community.

"I'm putting my complete faith and trust in this community," O'Neil says. "This is how our community can sustain itself."

Source: A.J. O'Neil, owner of AJ's Coffeeworks
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

The Detroit Regional News Hub and ARISE Detroit! have partnered to create a good news wiki page about all things Motor City, Detroit Information Network.

The new site is being billed as "Detroit’s only transformation news hub" because it aggregates and archives positive news stories about Detroit and its evolution into the 21st Century. The stories will come from a variety of sources, ranging from national news brands to local blogs, including original content produced for the Detroit Information Network.

"There is an abundance of this but it's hard to find," says Marge Sorge, executive director of the Detroit Regional News Hub. "It's on page two or buried somewhere else. We wanted to put everything in one spot so everybody can find it."

The idea is based on the idea that there is strength in numbers. The concentration of solutions and accomplishments in Detroit can help convey the momentum the Motor City is enjoying to a larger audience than the people who experience everyday.

"We want to show there is a movement here," Sorge says.

The Detroit Regional News Hub launched four years ago and has grown to three employees and a couple of independent contractors and part-time employees, along with the occasional intern. It recently promoted one of its interns to become a part of its social media team.

Source: Marge Sorge, executive director of the Detroit Regional News Hub
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

D:hive, the nonprofit geared toward promoting people staking a claim in Detroit, is growing quickly as it lines up more and more powerful allies. D:hive is now partnering with Rock Ventures and other members of the Quicken Loans family of businesses to promote more people moving to to the Motor City or starting a business here.

D:hive launched earlier this year as a hub for resources for people who want to live, work, engage or start a business in Detroit. One of its principal initiatives is the BUILD program, which teaches the bare bones of business for people who want to launch a company or start a project. The demand has been so great that it has doubled its fall session for the next class of micro-entrepreneurs.

"It's a great place for newcomers to the city as well as people who want to start a business here," says Ryan Sullivan, director of business development for Rock Ventures.

He adds that D:hive's efforts are quite complementary to the entrepreneurial culture the Quicken Loans family of business is trying to build in downtown Detroit. For instance, Rock Ventures officials hope the graduates from the BUILD classes will one day help them fill the retail spots they are readying for launch in the near future.

Source: Ryan Sullivan, director of business development for Rock Ventures
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

General Motors plans to begin insourcing more of its IT work to the U.S., a company policy change that bring a wealth of knowledge-economy workers to Detroit in the near term.

"It could mean thousands of jobs," says Juli Rough, director of media strategy for General Motors. "There would be some impact on Detroit but it's too early to know how that specifically impacts Detroit."

Today about 75-80 percent of the automaker's IT work is outsourced overseas. The rest of that work is done by about 1,500 GM employees stateside. GM officials would like to transition its IT work so 90 percent of its IT workforce is done in the U.S. by GM employees who are not only working on IT but creating new IT innovations and solutions for the company.

The specifics of this transition are still being hashed out, and it's not known whether those jobs will end up in downtown Detroit. A number of firms have created on-shoring IT services into an emerging tech cluster in downtown Detroit. Rough couldn't say whether that trend impacted GM's decision. She did say that the IT transition will be years in the making.

"It's going to be kind of a journey over the next 3-5 years," Rough says.

Source: Juli Rough, director of media strategy for General Motors
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.