Tag: Dan Gilbert

Motor City Mapping Tackles Urban Blight Using Loveland Tech

A new day seemed to be dawning in Detroit when Quicken Loans founder Dan Gilbert paraphrased 50 Cent and told an audience at Marygrove College that Detroit’s recently announced urban blight task force is “going to get this done or we are going to die trying.” The bold statement made last month was a welcome … Continue reading “Motor City Mapping Tackles Urban Blight Using Loveland Tech”

Stik’s Review Platform Adds Referral Product for Service Providers

Stik.com was the toast of Detroit a little over a year ago, after it announced it was shuttering its Bay Area operations and moving the company to Detroit, to an office in Dan Gilbert’s Madison Building. Since that time, Stik has continued to grow and raise money—a Series A round of $2.3 million was announced … Continue reading “Stik’s Review Platform Adds Referral Product for Service Providers”

“60 Minutes” Missed Big Opportunity to Highlight Detroit’s Entrepreneurs

The venerable television news magazine 60 Minutes began Sunday’s broadcast with a piece called “Detroit On the Edge.” I’ve been a fan of 60 Minutes for decades, and I was looking forward to the segment even as its title made me wary. If there was one journalistic outlet I expected to present a fresh, balanced … Continue reading ““60 Minutes” Missed Big Opportunity to Highlight Detroit’s Entrepreneurs”

Roundup: Covisint Stocks Soar After IPO, Longbow Software Opens U.S. Office in Ann Arbor

It’s been a busy week in Southeast Michigan’s tech scene. Here’s a roundup of some of the recent news: –On Wednesday, Compuware announced the pricing of its initial public offering of shares of Covisint, its wholly owned subsidiary. The offering includes 6.4 million shares, representing approximately 17.6% of its issued and outstanding shares of Covisint. The shares … Continue reading “Roundup: Covisint Stocks Soar After IPO, Longbow Software Opens U.S. Office in Ann Arbor”

Report from Techonomy Detroit: Can Technology Rebuild the Middle Class?

Though members of the so-called middle class weren’t necessarily in the room at yesterday’s Techonomy Detroit conference, they seemed to be on a lot of attendees’ minds. One recurring theme to the day’s programming was the idea of utilizing technology as a democratizing agent to give people better access to education, jobs, government services, and investment … Continue reading “Report from Techonomy Detroit: Can Technology Rebuild the Middle Class?”

Balanon Leaves Detroit Labs for Protean Payment

Last Friday morning, Xconomist Henry Balanon, co-founder and director of mobile at app development shop Detroit Labs, sent an e-mail through the Madison Building, Detroit Labs, and Bizdom e-mail lists telling respondents that, effective at the end of the workday, he was leaving the company he co-founded: “This has been an incredibly difficult decision because I’ve … Continue reading “Balanon Leaves Detroit Labs for Protean Payment”

Bay Area’s TubeMogul Opens Detroit Office to Pursue Automotive Ad Dollars

TubeMogul, a Bay Area startup that runs a platform distributing pay-per-view video ads across the Internet, announced earlier this month that it is opening an office in downtown Detroit. TubeMogul joins companies like Twitter in setting up shop in Dan Gilbert’s Madison Building and deploying new technologies to chase Big Three ad dollars. TubeMogul’s Jen … Continue reading “Bay Area’s TubeMogul Opens Detroit Office to Pursue Automotive Ad Dollars”

ePrize Snaps Up Competitor in Third Acquisition This Year

The Pleasant Ridge, MI-based digital marketing and engagement company ePrize announced this week that it has acquired Promotions.com. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the company did say it will retain 13 Promotions.com employees and fold them into its New York and Chicago offices. Promotions.com offered similar services as ePrize: digital promotions … Continue reading “ePrize Snaps Up Competitor in Third Acquisition This Year”

Revitalization or Ruin: What Does Detroit’s Future Look Like?

Four years ago this week, I put the deposit down on my first apartment in Detroit. I had been spending an increasing amount of time in the city on weekends, and every time I visited, I felt—at the risk of sounding corny here—a connection forming. The city had just plain gotten under my skin. Something … Continue reading “Revitalization or Ruin: What Does Detroit’s Future Look Like?”

Atomic Object’s Watson on Its “No Brainer” Expansion to Detroit

[Corrected 3/22/13, 2:20 p.m. See below.] Bruce Watson spent 20 years working in IT for Nike in Beaverton, OR, and another six years doing consulting work. Finally, he was ready to settle into retirement in a big house on a boutique organic blueberry farm overlooking Mt. Hood, one of the most picturesque spots in the … Continue reading “Atomic Object’s Watson on Its “No Brainer” Expansion to Detroit”

Bizdom Continues to Attract Out-of-State Talent

As Dan Gilbert, founder and chairman of Quicken Loans, continues snapping up downtown Detroit skyscrapers and adding to his dominion, the Bizdom tech startup accelerator that he established in the Motor City seems to be hitting its stride. The chic, geek-magnet (in a good way) Madison Building—which houses Bizdom and a number of the startups … Continue reading “Bizdom Continues to Attract Out-of-State Talent”

IDInteract’s Vision to Reinvent Brand Interaction Starts in Detroit

After quietly filing patents and operating in “stealth mode” since 2009, IDInteract‘s founder and CEO, Matt Standish, formally launched his brand interaction software platform in December. Now, he’s in the process of opening what he calls a “center of excellence” in Detroit, which will eventually employ 100 software developers, to go with a three-person office … Continue reading “IDInteract’s Vision to Reinvent Brand Interaction Starts in Detroit”

Detroit Startups Stik.com and UpTo Raise Key Financing Rounds

Detroit’s nascent tech scene got another boost with the announcement today that Stik.com, an online business referral platform that relocated to the Motor City from San Francisco last year, has closed a fundraising round worth $2.3 million. Nathan Labenz, Stik’s co-founder, says that the round was led by Detroit Venture Partners (DVP) with a host of … Continue reading “Detroit Startups Stik.com and UpTo Raise Key Financing Rounds”

Bizdom, TechTown, Invest Detroit Launch $1M Technology Exchange

Thanks to a $1 million grant from the Michigan Strategic Fund, Detroit business incubators Bizdom and TechTown are partnering with Invest Detroit on a new initiative called the Detroit Technology Exchange (DTX). DTX will consist of programs geared toward strengthening Detroit’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, attracting and retaining talent, and getting investment money flowing through the local startup … Continue reading “Bizdom, TechTown, Invest Detroit Launch $1M Technology Exchange”

Gilbert’s Rockbridge Growth Equity Adds to Tech Portfolio

Dan Gilbert’s Rockbridge Growth Equity, a Detroit-based private equity firm founded in 2007, announced last month that it has acquired Tampa, FL-based Triad Retail Media, which helps companies like Walmart and eBay monetize websites through advertising. Boston-based Falcon Investment Advisors partnered with Rockbridge on the transaction, the value of which was undisclosed. Kevin Prokop, who co-founded Rockbridge with Gilbert … Continue reading “Gilbert’s Rockbridge Growth Equity Adds to Tech Portfolio”

ePrize Continues Its Mobile Growth With Mozes Acquisition

The Pleasant Ridge, MI-based interactive promotions company ePrize has announced its second major acquisition in 12 months, a move that represents the next big step in its plan to ramp up the mobile portion of its business. ePrize didn’t disclose the terms under which it acquired Palo Alto, CA-based Mozes, but did say it will … Continue reading “ePrize Continues Its Mobile Growth With Mozes Acquisition”

Detroit in 2012: The Year Our Tech Scene Became Legit

Late December is the time for media reflection, so let me officially say in this space that Detroit has had a hell of a year. A breakthrough year, just as I hoped it would when I wrote the 2011 wrap-up piece last December. In 2012, Detroit’s nascent tech scene finally gained recognition and legitimacy in … Continue reading “Detroit in 2012: The Year Our Tech Scene Became Legit”

Hope in Detroit: An Outsider on Motown’s Entrepreneurial Renaissance

Long written off by many, Detroit is becoming an interesting city to watch from an urban revitalization perspective. At the core of these developments is the emergence of a startup ecosystem where (for the most part) one did not previously exist. While still early, the progress made in this area over the last several years … Continue reading “Hope in Detroit: An Outsider on Motown’s Entrepreneurial Renaissance”

Stik.com Relocates From San Francisco to Downtown Detroit

Stik.com, a website that allows users to seek and provide business referrals via Facebook, announced today that it’s relocating operations from San Francisco to Detroit. It’s the first time we know of that a Bay Area startup has decided to pick up and move to join the Motor City’s burgeoning tech hub. Co-founders Nathan Labenz … Continue reading “Stik.com Relocates From San Francisco to Downtown Detroit”

Lessons from Techonomy Detroit: Thought Leaders Must Push City Hall

On Wednesday, Detroit served as the host city for Techonomy, the annual national confab billed by its organizers as “a one-day convergence of today’s brightest minds, gathered to reignite U.S. competitiveness, job creation, and urban revitalization in a technologized age.” Held at Wayne State University, Techonomy was crawling with “thought leaders,” including Jack Dorsey, creator … Continue reading “Lessons from Techonomy Detroit: Thought Leaders Must Push City Hall”

How the Daily Office Birthday Email Became the Startup Cup of Zup

There was a time, at the turn of the century, when my chief purpose in life seemed to be serving as the stenographer for my tight-knit group of friends. All of us were newly graduated from college and, for one reason or another (often not at our own choosing), we were back in our hometown. … Continue reading “How the Daily Office Birthday Email Became the Startup Cup of Zup”

After Acquisition, ePrize Committed to Mobile Growth, Hiring

On Monday, Pleasant Ridge, MI-based digital marketing and engagement company ePrize announced it had been acquired by Greenwich, CT-based Catterton Partners. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, though ePrize CEO Matt Wise points out that the company’s backers, including Quicken Loans‘ Dan Gilbert, scored a healthy return on their investments. “Most of ePrize’s … Continue reading “After Acquisition, ePrize Committed to Mobile Growth, Hiring”

D:Hive, Rock Ventures Partner to Lure Entrepreneurs to Detroit

Rock Ventures, Dan Gilbert’s umbrella company that oversees nearly all of his efforts in downtown Detroit, announced this week that it will partner with D:Hive to help enliven downtown by drawing entrepreneurs and young professionals to the city. We introduced you to D:Hive, which functions as a welcome center/resource hub to new Detroit arrivals, a … Continue reading “D:Hive, Rock Ventures Partner to Lure Entrepreneurs to Detroit”

Calling All Entrepreneurs: Apply Now for Bizdom’s Summer Session

Bizdom, the business accelerator backed by Quicken Loans’ Dan Gilbert with locations in Detroit and Cleveland, is now accepting applications for its summer 2012 session. The three-month program mentors and funds entrepreneurs who want to launch tech-based startups in Detroit or Cleveland. Successful applicants will receive up to $25,000 in seed funding in exchange for … Continue reading “Calling All Entrepreneurs: Apply Now for Bizdom’s Summer Session”

VC Guru Mendelson on MI’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem (And Why There’s Hope)

If the turnout at yesterday’s Michigan Growth Capital Symposium is any indication, our fair state is on the upswing. The conference, in its 31st year, had roughly 450 venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, academics, and government officials in attendance. Jason Mendelson, called “the Elvis of innovation” by this very publication, gave the keynote speech titled, “The Velocity … Continue reading “VC Guru Mendelson on MI’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem (And Why There’s Hope)”

Twitter’s Downtown Detroit Office to Chase “Big Three” Ad Dollars

Social media giant Twitter announced today that it’s opening an office in downtown Detroit, hoping to tap into the region’s pool of digital marketing dollars with a small staff focused on advertising sales. Twitter’s decision to set up shop in the Rock Ventures-owned Madison Building adds to Dan Gilbert’s quest to make the whiteboard-and-Nerf gun-heavy … Continue reading “Twitter’s Downtown Detroit Office to Chase “Big Three” Ad Dollars”

Bizdom Relaunches with New Office in the Madison, New Logo, No ‘U’

The nonprofit Detroit-based accelerator Bizdom (no more U) has relaunched with new digs in the Madison Building downtown, a spiffy new logo and website, and a few tweaks to its business model. With the new branding, Bizdom is playing up its connection to Quicken Loans’ Dan Gilbert, who created the program in 2007 and remains … Continue reading “Bizdom Relaunches with New Office in the Madison, New Logo, No ‘U’”

Is DVP’s Quest to Get Startups to Detroit Working? Ask Shawn Geller

[Corrected 2/9/12, 9:05 a.m. See below.] A few weeks ago, Dan Gilbert and the Detroit Venture Partners (DVP) crew welcomed reporters for a tour of the newly renovated Madison Building in downtown Detroit. Gilbert had recently spent $12 million to turn the former theater into a sort of fantasy workspace for budding entrepreneurs, and the … Continue reading “Is DVP’s Quest to Get Startups to Detroit Working? Ask Shawn Geller”

Howard University Grad’s Startup Connects Alums to HBCU Apparel

Clover McFadden grew up in Detroit, where she graduated from Renaissance High School before heading to Washington, D.C., to attend Howard University. She got her degree in chemistry and she planned to go into medicine. After graduating from Howard, she came back to Detroit to regroup. Then a funny thing happened on the way to … Continue reading “Howard University Grad’s Startup Connects Alums to HBCU Apparel”

U-M Competition Helps Earliest Stage Startups Refine Business Models

The Michigan Business Challenge, a four-month business plan competition sponsored by the University of Michigan’s Zell Lurie Institute, kicks off today in Ann Arbor. Student teams will compete for $60,000, gaining valuable feedback and broadening networks along the way. And the public is invited to watch at every step. Tim Faley, managing director of the institute … Continue reading “U-M Competition Helps Earliest Stage Startups Refine Business Models”

Bizdom U: Transforming Detroit’s Brain Economy

Bizdom U, the Detroit incubator backed by Dan Gilbert, will now be nurturing even more local entrepreneurs thanks to a change in its business model. Starting with the fall session, which began on October 17, Bizdom switched to a model similar to that of TechStars or Y Combinator: After undergoing a rigorous screening, 30 startups … Continue reading “Bizdom U: Transforming Detroit’s Brain Economy”

My Farewell Present: Six Observations About Michigan’s Innovation Economy

Due to some unforeseen personal issues, I have to end my tenure as editor of Xconomy Detroit far sooner than I would like. But in my relatively short time here, I’ve discovered no shortage of interesting and compelling stories in Michigan. Here are my top six takeaways from my six months in the Wolverine State. … Continue reading “My Farewell Present: Six Observations About Michigan’s Innovation Economy”

Magic Johnson Joins and Funds Detroit Venture Partners

Detroit Venture Partners, less than a year old, is adding a big name (and investor) to its roster. It announced today that NBA hall of famer and Michigan native Earvin “Magic” Johnson has joined the Motown venture firm as a general partner and will be investing millions in the fund. “Earvin brings so much to the … Continue reading “Magic Johnson Joins and Funds Detroit Venture Partners”

Show Me The Money! Ex-Chrysler CEO Co-founds New $100 Million Fund For Growth/Expansion Startups

Wow. Now that’s what I’m talking about. Automation Alley, a business accelerator based in Troy, MI that helps nurture local startups, today announced the creation of a $100 million fund to back local companies looking to take their fledgling businesses to a higher level. Chrysler CEO Tom LaSorda co-founded the fund, called Stage 2 Innovations … Continue reading “Show Me The Money! Ex-Chrysler CEO Co-founds New $100 Million Fund For Growth/Expansion Startups”

Get Your Ticket Now for Michigan 2031 on April 14 and Get a Free Copy of Josh Linkner’s NYT Best Selling Book, Disciplined Dreaming

Here at Xconomy, we know something about the great investor-entrepreneur relationships that are often behind the best companies: not only are we a startup ourselves, we write about the venture capital and startup scene every day—often chronicling the efforts of investors and entrepreneurs needed to weather the storms a company faces before it can be … Continue reading “Get Your Ticket Now for Michigan 2031 on April 14 and Get a Free Copy of Josh Linkner’s NYT Best Selling Book, Disciplined Dreaming”

DVP Ready To Rock N’ Roll. Will Others Follow?

Detroit Venture Partners (DVP), the much-hyped tech fund launched by Quicken Loans founder/Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, will soon debut its inaugural class of homegrown startups. DVP currently has six term sheets out and expects to make an announcement on its first investments in 30 days, says CEO and managing partner Josh Linkner. The fund … Continue reading “DVP Ready To Rock N’ Roll. Will Others Follow?”

Area Entrepreneurs Launch Detroit Venture Partners To Turn Motown Into A Tech and Innovation Hub

We’ve written about a number of investors and nonprofits looking to attract and keep companies in Michigan as a way to help the state’s economy kick back into gear. But Detroit Venture Partners is looking to go a bit further. The brand new venture firm wants its portfolio companies to move their operations right into … Continue reading “Area Entrepreneurs Launch Detroit Venture Partners To Turn Motown Into A Tech and Innovation Hub”

With Quizzle’s Move Downtown, Dan Gilbert Declares Detroit Area ‘WEBward Avenue’ for Tech Revitalization

Dan Gilbert, the chairman and founder of Quicken Loans, is hoping that if he declares Woodward Avenue, Detroit’s main drag, to be a new, tech-centered “WEBward Avenue” often enough, it just might come true. It also doesn’t hurt that he has the money and clout to perhaps make it a self-fulfilling prophecy. That’s why the … Continue reading “With Quizzle’s Move Downtown, Dan Gilbert Declares Detroit Area ‘WEBward Avenue’ for Tech Revitalization”

Avaak Technology Lets Users Create Their Own Personal Video Networks

When San Diego-based Avaak made its debut earlier this month at the spring DEMO conference in Palm Desert, CA, chief executive Gioia Messinger offered a grand description of the company’s personal video technology.”It’s like your own personal Google Street View, except it’s live, expandable, sharable, and easy—very, very easy,” Messinger told the Demo audience. The … Continue reading “Avaak Technology Lets Users Create Their Own Personal Video Networks”