Startup News

The Greening of Detroit isn't just about growing and planting trees anymore. The Corktown-based nonprofit has started a workforce development program that is helping grow careers and planting displaced workers into solid jobs.

"It gives an individual a second-chance opportunity to succeed in life," says Devon Buskin, workforce development director for Greening of Detroit. "We thought it was important to not only train individuals but to train them in a lucrative sector."

The Greening of Detroit’s workforce development program trains unemployed or under-employed Detroiters in landscaping, forestry and agriculture as part of a eight-week training program. The program is partially funded with a $200,000 grant from Bank of America.

More than half (71) of the 137 graduates of the program have found jobs. "I'd like to see us double the number of candidates in training (within the next year)," Buskin says.

Source: Devon Buskin, workforce development director for Greening of Detroit
Writer: Jon Zemke

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

Techonomy Detroit did something last week that many local entrepreneurial conferences often come up short at: creating excitement.

The one-day event at Wayne State University generated a buzz among its participants and the growth of the local new economy start-up scene that is starting to gain traction in recent years.

"We have the opportunity to fill so many gaps that there is an opportunity in every empty space," says Leslie Smith, president & CEO of TechTown.

Smith was one of the panelists at a break-out session that compared what is going on in Detroit to the creative-class revival taking place in Berlin. The packed room, several dozen strong, spoke about not only what the Motor City can learn from Germany's capital but also how locals should focus on Detroit instead of over comparing to other vibrant cities.

"Let's just celebrate who we are and celebrate it as a community," says Josh Linkner, CEO of Detroit Venture Partners, another panelist. He adds that Detroiters need "to look at all options, not just the incremental ones but the disruptive solutions, too."

There were a number of big-names speaking at the event. They included both local start-up stars like Quicken Loans Chairman Dan Gilbert and national icons, like Twitter founder Jack Dorsey. However, the breakout sessions and side conversations seems to attract most attention from attendees looking to have some interesting conversations -- such as comparing Detroit to Berlin.

"There is a lot of opportunity here," says Matt Clayson, director of the Detroit Creative Corridor Center, one of the other Detroit v. Berlin panelists. "What Berlin got right is it listened and learned."

Source: Leslie Smith, president & CEO of TechTown; Josh Linkner, CEO of Detroit Venture Partners and Matt Clayson, director of the Detroit Creative Corridor Center
Writer: Jon Zemke

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

The Blackstone LaunchPad at Wayne State University is starting to gain more traction this fall as more and more student-led businesses spin out of the entrepreneurial training program.

So far 380 people have signed up to participate in the 2-year-old program. Of those, 180 have shared business ideas or businesses they are already building. Staff of Blackstone LaunchPad have met with nearly all of them to help connect them with entrepreneurial training, business mentorship and seed capital.

"We probably have 30-40 ventures that are working very hard to to launch or grow their business," says Aubrey Agee, senior program administrator for Blackstone LaunchPad at Wayne State University.

Those businesses range from a mobile app maker to a cake baker. Several students are also utilizing the program's resources to work on nonprofits. More and more fashion- and design-oriented entrepreneurs are taking advantage of the resources.

"We have a lot of energy here," Agee says. "We have so many students with ideas. There is a plethora of that here."

Source: Aubrey Agee, senior program administrator for Blackstone LaunchPad at Wayne State University
Writer: Jon Zemke

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

Sixteen businesses that are growing in Eastern Market have received mini grants from Charter One, helping the slow-food entrepreneurs cultivate their business.

Charter One gave $20,000 in mini grants to six small, food-based businesses last summer. Last week is distributed another $30,000 in mini grants that range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.
 
"We are able to move the needle by helping that many companies," says Beth Dryden, director of public affairs for Charter One.

That money is helping budding new businesses or urban farmers. Some of the winners include the Corridor Sausage Co. (it will use its $3,000 to buy a walk-in cooler) and $1,280 for Sweet Potato Sensations for vendor display improvements. So far Charter One has provided $140,000 in grants to develop and expand local food resources.

"Often it's the small companies that need a helping hand to get to the next level," Dryden says. "This is a space that many people overlook."

Source: Beth Dryden, director of public affairs for Charter One
Writer: Jon Zemke

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

Detroit Restaurant Week is coming back around with another round of delicious, fine dining for Detroiters.

The bi-annual event will be held between Sept. 28 through Oct. 7 at 17 high-end restaurants throughout Detroit.

"We have a very strong slate of restaurants," says Dana Boyette, project manager of Detroit Restaurant Week. "Detroit Restaurant Week is always going to be strong. It's always going to be about fine dining. There are only so many restaurants that fit that bill around here."

Among those are the 24Grille in Westin Book Cadillac Detroit, Andiamo Detroit Riverfront at the Renaissance Center, Angelina Italian Bistro overlooking Grand Circus Park, Atlas Global Bistro on Woodward in Midtown, Caucus Club in the Penobscot Building, Cliff Bell’s in downtown, Coach Insignia at the Ren Cen, Cuisine in New Center, Da Edoardo Foxtown Grille in the Fox Theater, Detroit Seafood Market in the Paradise Valley district, Fountain Bistro in Campus Martius Park, Iridescence in the Motor City Casino, La Dolce Vita in Palmer Park, the Rattlesnake Club in Stroh River Place, Roast in the Westin Book Cadillac Detroit, Roma Cafe in Eastern Market and The Whitney in Midtown.

Organizers also made an effort to make sure each restaurant will offer vegetarian options for its patrons. Each meal costs $30.

Detroit Restaurant Week is a spin-out of Paxahau. It has been working with the Detroit Downtown Partnership to make the event happen. It has has four people working on it.

Source: Dana Boyette, project manager of Detroit Restaurant Week
Writer: Jon Zemke

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

Sachse Construction is relocating its headquarters from Birmingham to downtown Detroit, a move that will bring 45 new employees to the Motor City's core.

The 21-year-old company is moving the bulk of its operations to Detroit's Central Business District. The accounting, IT and some administration will remain in Birmingham. The firm has been a key player in Quicken Loans Chairman Dan Gilbert's efforts to remake old, vacant office buildings into newly renovated spaces for tech firms. The momentum from those projects helped convince the firm's leaders to make the move to Detroit.

"We believe over the next decade that the greatest growth will be in downtown Detroit," says Todd Sachse, president of Sachse Construction. "That's where businesses are moving. That's where people are moving. Also, it's really fun."

Sachse Construction is renovating the Gilbert-owned Arts League Building, 1528 Woodward Ave, into its new headquarters. Sachse sees the entire 1500 block of Woodward, just south of Grand Circus Park, as a hub for activity and his company's new home as a cool, historic building with loads of potential.

"That (area) is what is being revitalized," Sachse says.

Source: Todd Sachse, president of Sachse Construction
Writer: Jon Zemke

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

Shawn Geller's story comes to mind when Quicken Loans Chairman Dan Gilbert talks about remaking downtown Detroit into a hub for technology start-ups that draws the best and brightest from across North America.

The CEO & co-founder of Quikkly, an Internet start-up, is originally from Philadelphia where the young man recently graduated from Temple University with a degree in finance and entrepreneurship. He pitched his idea for Quikkly to Detroit Venture Partners, the downtown Detroit-based venture capital firm, and soon after found himself moving to Detroit to chase his entrepreneurial hopes and dreams.

"I decided to go out on a limb and move out here," Geller says. "I left everything behind. My fiancee was living in Philadelphia until I got her to move here two weeks ago."

Quikkly is now a Detroit Venture Partners portfolio company and is based out of the M@dison Building. It is developing software that helps big brands harness their customers' motivations. Geller saw people standing in lines in front of stores for hours during big shopping days like Black Friday to score the best deals. He wants to offer a way for those same shoppers to take advantage of those same deals but only doing it online.

"We start (the product) out at a very low price for the first moves movers and the price goes up the longer the sale goes on," Geller says. "Us being able to offer it at a lower price point helps us feed the frenzy for these products."

Quikkly is at the tail end of developing its software and has already begun offering some deals online to the general public about one every week or two. The 9-month-old firm expects to do a large launch within the next three months.

Source: Shawn Geller, co-founder of Quikkly
Writer: Jon Zemke

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

When the Detroit Economic Club hosts an event, it's normally a luncheon or other similar small affair. The nonprofit is stepping away from that routine on Wednesday when it hosts Techonomy  Detroit at Wayne State University.

Techonomy will be all about the technology being developed in Detroit, the entrepreneurs and creatives behind it and how it impacts the rest of the world. The one-day conference is bringing in some big names in the tech start-up world to speak, including Twitter founder Jack Dorsey and Detroit Venture Partners CEO Josh Linkner.

"We're bringing the best brains from across the country and pairing them with our local brains so we can tackle (improving Detroit's economy) from a local space and a national space," says Beth Chappell, president & CEO of the Detroit Economic Club.

Techonomy Detroit aims to combine these two perspectives from local and national business leaders to continue the conversation about evolving the Motor City's economy. The event will features entrepreneurs, business executives, academics and other thought leaders in the business, design and technology realms. For information, click here.

Detroit Start-up Drinks, a monthly meeting of local entrepreneurs and technologists, will be held after Techonomy Detroit at Lefty's Lounge. For information, click here.

Source: Beth Chappell, president & CEO of the Detroit Economic Club
Writer: Jon Zemke

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

Detroit Manufacturing Systems, a new manufacturing venture on the city's west side, is up and running and hiring.

The automotive supplier has already hired 50 people since it opened in May and has a couple dozen job openings for both salary and hourly positions. The company hopes to create 572 new jobs over the next five years.

"We expect to have 500 employees within the next year as more and more business comes through the front door," says John Mozena, a spokesman for Detroit Manufacturing Systems.

The automotive interior component manufacturing facility will be based in the Gateway Industrial Center on Southfield Road. Detroit Manufacturing Systems is a joint venture organization formed by Faurecia Interior Systems Saline and Wayne-based Rush Group. It is owned by Andra Rush, a Native American member of the Mohawk Indian tribe.

Detroit Manufacturing Systems plans to invest $29.2 million in the facility over five years. It has received a state tax credit worth $4.055 million from the Michigan Economic Development Corp. The Detroit Economic Growth Corp., on behalf of the city of Detroit, worked with DMS to secure a 12-year property tax abatement valued at approximately $4.2 million.

Source: John Mozena, a spokesman for Detroit Manufacturing Systems
Writer: Jon Zemke

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

A small group of sustainability-oriented entrepreneurs are carving out a niche in Highland Park for their start-up, Distributed Power.

The 1-year-old company specializes in a variety of green enterprises, such as urban food development, sustainability education, solar system design,and other avenues of renewable energy. The company has a broader focus on helping build the green economy in Michigan.

"The best way to build a green economy in Detroit is to start a company," says Brandon Knight, co-founder of Distributed Power.

The six-person firm got its start with social activism at the Greater St. Matthew Baptist Church. It has since bought a small apartment building that the company is renovating into a green building. It also has an urban farm and is working with local officials to expand urban agriculture in the city. Distributed Power also recently won a grant to mount a solar energy system at its farm, which serves as one more step toward it becoming a bigger part of the community.

"We just picked up a lot of momentum in Highland Park to the point we just got deeper and deeper into the community," Knight says. "There were no community groups working on renewable energy, so we have a niche to fill."

Source: Brandon Knight, co-founder of Distributed Power
Writer: Jon Zemke

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

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.