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Techstars to open up shop in Detroit

crainsdetroit.com

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Re: Techstars to open up shop in Detroit

#31

Post by jusben1369 »

ryanmarsh wrote: post #29

As a Houstonion this gives me pause. Houston is a massive economic center by nearly every measure. It is also home to the most diverse county and university in the US. There are large successful technology companies here. Yet, Detroit and Dallas (arch enemy of Houston) are getting TechStars before us. Part of the reason we don't attract accelerators like TechStars is the lack of a healthy startup ecosystem. I am NOT…

I guess the question is what makes for a good techhub/incubator. It seems to me embracing of a counter culture lifestyle is the key early differentiator. Certainly the Bay Area once had that. Austin. Seattle. Even Durham NC where I'm based now and is having a (relative) boom rose out of abandoned tobacco warehouses that could afford to support all types of people. I haven't been there in 8 years but I hear Detroit has that going for it now too. Houston with it's established booming energy sector probably doesn't draw in the right type of culture. (Although I have no response for Dallas vs Houston so you've got me there)

Sure you need good universities and cheap accommodation etc but it strikes me there has to be something unique and alternative to draw in the igniters of a new hub.

Re: Techstars to open up shop in Detroit

#32

Post by cdgore »

IndianAstronaut wrote: post #28
valarauca1 wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Mechanical and Technical engineering base of the city already exists. The automotive industry has already created a host of general consulting engineering companies specializing in everything from hydraulics to electronics to fluid flow is insane. One area of the city is literally known as "automation alley" due to the huge number of PLC controlled robots it produced in the 80's and 90's. The ideas of line automation…

The problem now though is that robotics and automation is more than just engineering the machine, the challenges are in managing and building the AI. This area of study and research is not so active in Michigan.

Ann Arbor is about 40 miles from Detroit, and the university there has one of the top AI programs. I believe they are building an autonomous car testing ground for the auto industry as well http://www.technologyreview.com/news/531301/town-built-for-d...

Re: Techstars to open up shop in Detroit

#33

Post by saryant »

ryanmarsh wrote: post #29

As a Houstonion this gives me pause. Houston is a massive economic center by nearly every measure. It is also home to the most diverse county and university in the US. There are large successful technology companies here. Yet, Detroit and Dallas (arch enemy of Houston) are getting TechStars before us. Part of the reason we don't attract accelerators like TechStars is the lack of a healthy startup ecosystem. I am NOT…

I have to agree. I love Houston but I left it for San Antonio because the tech scene in SA was much more lively with Geekdom and Techstars. Though I'm now in Boulder I've been keeping in eye on SA and there's a lot of cool stuff going on there, plus the VC activity has really picked up—multiple $1+ million rounds have been announced or will be announced in the next few weeks.

Re: Techstars to open up shop in Detroit

#34

Post by bluedino »

jusben1369 wrote: post #31
ryanmarsh wrote: post #29

As a Houstonion this gives me pause. Houston is a massive economic center by nearly every measure. It is also home to the most diverse county and university in the US. There are large successful technology companies here. Yet, Detroit and Dallas (arch enemy of Houston) are getting TechStars before us. Part of the reason we don't attract accelerators like TechStars is the lack of a healthy startup ecosystem. I am NOT…

I guess the question is what makes for a good techhub/incubator. It seems to me embracing of a counter culture lifestyle is the key early differentiator. Certainly the Bay Area once had that. Austin. Seattle. Even Durham NC where I'm based now and is having a (relative) boom rose out of abandoned tobacco warehouses that could afford to support all types of people. I haven't been there in 8 years but I hear Detroit ha…

One thing that San Francisco has that somewhere like Detroit doesn't, is the affluent residents with the ability to sustain a service like Uber or startups such as food delivery. Those kind of services are viable to create a startup focused on in SF but not in Detroit.

Re: Techstars to open up shop in Detroit

#35

Post by mingmecca »

emcrazyone wrote: post #10
valarauca1 wrote: post #2

As a Detroiter hopefully this will give me a reason to start going downtown. The current problem with the Detroit Metro area is when ever outside money comes in. Most the time the offices open in the northern/western suburbs. I say this because most high paying jobs are in the suburbs. Because that's where the businesses are. The suburbs are doing well. At first I was very excited and hoped they'd open relatively clo…

up voted you and I agree. I grew up in what is referred to as the "Down River" area; the suburbs south of Detroit and I now live ~10-15 miles north of Detroit. After living here some 30+ years I'm ready to pack it up. Until Detroit can get rid of it's crime and the stigma that seems to linger, I have a hard time imagining anyone wanting to spend any time near the city after dark. I own my own company and I have clien…

Hey! I grew up in the Downriver area as well (Lincoln Park specifically, about which the less said the better).

Growing up, I only ever went into Detroit for concerts and the semi-annual "Greektown" pilgrimage. Outside of that, it was blight everywhere, and I thought that is how a big city looked. It wasn't until my college years that I seen a bit more of the world and my perspective changed on urban areas.

Overall, I think Techstars moving in will be enormously positive. Cheap rents, stalwart employees (because of the bitter winters), and a "we can only go up from here" attitude is a good mix.

Re: Techstars to open up shop in Detroit

#36

Post by jasondc »

monsterix wrote: post #4

I wish there was something like this here in DC. Very little startup scene. All I get to see are those sweettalk recruitment shops and those three lettered agencies that I couldn't imagine working for. Good news for you Detroit!

I agree, I've lived in DC my whole life and always told myself the startup scene was great there. Then I moved to NYC, and now Palo Alto. The startup scene in DC is horrible compared to similar sized cities (by contrast Portland has Nike, Intel, New Relic, Puppet Labs, etc.), and DC is dominated by the federal government. Why work at a startup in DC when you can make $150k+ as a gov't contractor in DC.

Re: Techstars to open up shop in Detroit

#37

Post by GFK_of_xmaspast »

bluedino wrote: post #34
jusben1369 wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I guess the question is what makes for a good techhub/incubator. It seems to me embracing of a counter culture lifestyle is the key early differentiator. Certainly the Bay Area once had that. Austin. Seattle. Even Durham NC where I'm based now and is having a (relative) boom rose out of abandoned tobacco warehouses that could afford to support all types of people. I haven't been there in 8 years but I hear Detroit ha…

One thing that San Francisco has that somewhere like Detroit doesn't, is the affluent residents with the ability to sustain a service like Uber or startups such as food delivery. Those kind of services are viable to create a startup focused on in SF but not in Detroit.

I've been told that the suburbs immediately outside Detroit city limits are rich as Croesus.

Re: Techstars to open up shop in Detroit

#38

Post by mgirdley »

saryant wrote: post #33
ryanmarsh wrote: post #29

As a Houstonion this gives me pause. Houston is a massive economic center by nearly every measure. It is also home to the most diverse county and university in the US. There are large successful technology companies here. Yet, Detroit and Dallas (arch enemy of Houston) are getting TechStars before us. Part of the reason we don't attract accelerators like TechStars is the lack of a healthy startup ecosystem. I am NOT…

I have to agree. I love Houston but I left it for San Antonio because the tech scene in SA was much more lively with Geekdom and Techstars. Though I'm now in Boulder I've been keeping in eye on SA and there's a lot of cool stuff going on there, plus the VC activity has really picked up—multiple $1+ million rounds have been announced or will be announced in the next few weeks.

As a San Antonio VC (GeekdomFund.com), I hope you come back.

Re: Techstars to open up shop in Detroit

#39

Post by phkahler »

yesimahuman wrote: post #15
phkahler wrote: post #3

While this is great news, I think YC-Detroit would have been even better ;-) There is a lot of talent here. As evidence, here's the First Robotics Competition team map: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=zIJNq656OeBY.ke6fB8... Our teams also have a long history of winning ;-)

While YC is a wonderful program, I think it'd be nice to give some props and support to programs like TechStars that are actively expanding and supporting startup cities outside of the valley.

I completely agree. It's just that YC kinda has a reputation as being #1 at least for the kinds of startups they do. Either way, Detroit (or the Detroit area) has been overlooked IMHO and this is still a great thing to see.

Re: Techstars to open up shop in Detroit

#40

Post by saryant »

mgirdley wrote: post #38
saryant wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have to agree. I love Houston but I left it for San Antonio because the tech scene in SA was much more lively with Geekdom and Techstars. Though I'm now in Boulder I've been keeping in eye on SA and there's a lot of cool stuff going on there, plus the VC activity has really picked up—multiple $1+ million rounds have been announced or will be announced in the next few weeks.

As a San Antonio VC (GeekdomFund.com), I hope you come back.

Hi Michael.
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