Investing in a startup is one thing. Making an impact with that investment is another. A growing class of impact investors is putting smart money into scaling Metro Detroit's new economy, and it's paying big dividends.
Accelerate Michigan has established itself as one of the biggest and best business plan competitions for startups in the Midwest.
It took decades to happen, but metro Detroit is finally developing a regional transportation plan, and it includes Ann Arbor. Getting DDOT, SMART and AAATA to work together is instrumental if we're serious about changing the ignoble fact that we're the only metro in the nation's top 25 to lack such a system.
The two companies, based in Ann Arbor and Sterling Heights respectively, received a total of $75,000 in seed capital. The investments are intended to spur expansions in the companies and bring about more job growth.
WorkForce Software, a Livonia-based software firm, has added 86 new jobs in 2015, expanding its staff to 520 people, most of whom are based in southeast Michigan.
From finger painting to sketching to sculpting, there’s no shortage of art programs and camps for your creative child. Whether they want to learn the basics or perfect their skills, there’s a camp in metro Detroit and Ann Arbor for them.
It sounds great on the surface. BUt then you read all the caveats -studies, "many years off," exploratory, "no funds for this" - and realize that, like most interesting transportation ideas, Michigan will probably let it die on the vine. Let's hope our cynicism is wrongly placed. Excerpt: "He said they're looking at a Traverse City to Ann Arbor line in particular because the tracks are still owned by the state and, for the most part, are in pretty good shape. A map of the A2TC route shows the train would stop in Cadillac, Mount Pleasant, Alma, Owosso and Howell on its way from Traverse City to Ann Arbor, with the option of continuing to Detroit from Ann Arbor. MDOT is conducting the study next year because there was an overwhelming amount of interest in the idea when MDOT created the State Rail Plan back in 2011, Bruckbauer said. The top priority that came out of the public input sessions for that plan was a passenger connection to Traverse City, he said." Read the rest here.
Three Detroit-area tech startups have won a chance to pitch their companies to investors lined up by Google and looking for business ideas to put their money behind. After competing last week in the Grand Circus Detroit Google Demo Day competition, the founders of AdAdapted, GENOMENON and LevelEleven, are hoping to be picked to visit Google’s California HQ in April and spill to investors what’s promising about their companies. One or two will make the cut to make the trip to Mountainview, Calif. Excerpt: “We’re very impressed by the talented entrepreneurs and innovative companies in the Detroit area. Google for Entrepreneurs partners with organizations like Grand Circus to help these local communities of entrepreneurs grow and thrive,” said John Lyman, head of partnerships and marketing for Google for Entrepreneurs. Read more about these little companies that could here.
For 125 years Carhartt has made clothing for blue collar professionals, developing a strong reputation for reliability and durability - features the fashion industry has rarely celebrated. But with a growing appreciation for craftsmanship - particularly among millennials - the Dearborn-based company has found a new and enthusiastic audience.
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