Startgrid brings more collaboration in local new economy

The Detroit Regional Chamber launched Startgrid, an online platform to encourage more collaboration between entrepreneurs, last week at the Detroit Policy Conference in North Corktown.

"Changing the world is no small feat," says Peter Gardner, founder & CEO of Startgrid. "No one can do it alone."

The Startgrid platform enables entrepreneurs to create a collaboration page that fleshes out their idea or business plan. The users can incrementally expand their page to their circle of friends, mentors and industry experts throughout Metro Detroit. The idea is to create an environment where people help each build their business in southeast Michigan.

Startgrid plans to complement the region's existing assets in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. It will work with the likes of Bizdom, TechTown, Detroit Venture Partners, Insyght, Ann Arbor SPARK and Automation Alley, among others.

"We have one of the most mature and well-built entrepreneurial ecosystems in the world," says Dave Egner, executive director of the New Economy Initiative, which is helping fund the creation of Startgrid. "What happened is we have been fragmented. There are gaps."

Startgrid wants to fill those gaps to accelerate the formation and growth of local businesses. To watch a video about what Startgrid is about, click here.

Source: Peter Gardner, founder & CEO of Startgrid, and Dave Egner, executive director of the New Economy Initiative
Writer: Jon Zemke

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