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Detroit Startup List

growdetroit.com

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Re: Detroit Startup List

#41

Post by jarek »

vnchr wrote: post #40
davidw wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not being superficial, I'm talking about things that count for me . It sounds like a dreadful place, given what I enjoy in terms of climate/geography. You're correct that I would not enjoy DC's climate much either, but being the capitol gives it certain privileges that Detroit does not enjoy in terms of a destination and place to do certain kinds of business. And I don't think you can dispute the fact that Detroi…

You think the rest of the world should call your city, "the city"?? I love the Bay Area, but that's just short-sighted and arrogant.

The rest of the world can call it "San Francisco." If you're looking for a short form, SF ("ess eff") is acceptable.

Re: Detroit Startup List

#42

Post by davidw »

vnchr wrote: post #40
davidw wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not being superficial, I'm talking about things that count for me . It sounds like a dreadful place, given what I enjoy in terms of climate/geography. You're correct that I would not enjoy DC's climate much either, but being the capitol gives it certain privileges that Detroit does not enjoy in terms of a destination and place to do certain kinds of business. And I don't think you can dispute the fact that Detroi…

You think the rest of the world should call your city, "the city"?? I love the Bay Area, but that's just short-sighted and arrogant.

It's not my city, I'm just explaining what people call it. Indeed, I think that "the city" is a bit self-centered, as I wrote above.

Re: Detroit Startup List

#43

Post by joem32 »

davidw wrote: post #26
kj1210 wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Silicon Valley encompasses many cities in a "region". Here in Detroit, we don't have a name (yet?) to describe the region so we use Detroit to encompass the whole area. Ann Arbor falls within that area. It's roughly a 45 minute drive from Ann Arbor to Detroit...or 35 minutes for me ;) The Detroit "region" or sometimes known as "Detroit Urban Area" or "Metro Detroit", is actually quite large and has many beautiful com…

> we don't have a name (yet?) to describe the region At the risk of being a bit facile, "an armpit" is what I get when reading about it. No mountains, humid summers, frigid winters, decline and decay in abundance. It's about the last place in the US I'd want to live, I think. More than a few startups, I'm afraid the whole area needs to work a bit on its 'brand'. How many people from younger generations pretty much im…

David, with due respect. You're sounding a bit hypocritical here. You make reference to Detroit as an "Armpit" when, in the same sentence you make reference to only "reading about it". Congratulations on becoming a sucker to the media stereotype.

As for brand? We are working on it. Not through what is outwardly projected, but by focusing on building great companies with products and services that fulfill our clients needs. As we, the greater Detroit community become more successful, the media will change their tune... and you'll get your "better brand".

Until then, we dont really care to pay a whole lot of credence to what the "Arm Chair Experts" have to say about Detroit and the surrounding area, because they couldn't be more wrong.

Re: Detroit Startup List

#44

Post by rick888 »

joem32 wrote: post #43
davidw wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> we don't have a name (yet?) to describe the region At the risk of being a bit facile, "an armpit" is what I get when reading about it. No mountains, humid summers, frigid winters, decline and decay in abundance. It's about the last place in the US I'd want to live, I think. More than a few startups, I'm afraid the whole area needs to work a bit on its 'brand'. How many people from younger generations pretty much im…

David, with due respect. You're sounding a bit hypocritical here. You make reference to Detroit as an "Armpit" when, in the same sentence you make reference to only "reading about it". Congratulations on becoming a sucker to the media stereotype. As for brand? We are working on it. Not through what is outwardly projected, but by focusing on building great companies with products and services that fulfill our clients…

"David, with due respect. You're sounding a bit hypocritical here. You make reference to Detroit as an "Armpit" when, in the same sentence you make reference to only "reading about it". Congratulations on becoming a sucker to the media stereotype."

I lived 10 miles from Detroit for 20+ years. It's not a stereotype, it really is an armpit. Did you know that there are no grocery stores in the city? This is mostly because they got robbed so many times.

Downtown near the casino is probably the only place you can go safely. The problem is that if you venture even a few miles out of your way, it's dangerous. I know at least three people that got carjacked in the past year in Detroit..and all were just returning to their cars in a parking structure.

"Until then, we dont really care to pay a whole lot of credence to what the "Arm Chair Experts" have to say about Detroit and the surrounding area, because they couldn't be more wrong."

I know Detroit and the surrounding area. They aren't wrong. This isn't a recent thing either. Detroit has had rapidly increasing crime rates since the 70s. I wish it was a better city, like Chicago or New York, but it just isn't. It's sad.

Aside from the liberal government doing things like cutting 20% of the police force and investing in a $500,000 art installation, Ann Arbor isn't a bad city for your startup.

Re: Detroit Startup List

#45

Post by [deleted] »

nbashaw wrote: post #16
rick888 wrote: post #2

This list is misleading. over half are from the Ann Arbor area and a few are in California (and other states) with a few remote offices in Ann Arbor. They really should be pushing for Ann Arbor to be a tech center, not Detroit.

I don't think it's misleading at all. Here's a direct quote from the page: "While we focus on the Metro Detroit area, we do include entries from throughout the entire state of Michigan. For us it’s about the cause, not about drawing lines in the sand."

[deleted]

Re: Detroit Startup List

#46

Post by rick888 »

nbashaw wrote: post #16
rick888 wrote: post #2

This list is misleading. over half are from the Ann Arbor area and a few are in California (and other states) with a few remote offices in Ann Arbor. They really should be pushing for Ann Arbor to be a tech center, not Detroit.

I don't think it's misleading at all. Here's a direct quote from the page: "While we focus on the Metro Detroit area, we do include entries from throughout the entire state of Michigan. For us it’s about the cause, not about drawing lines in the sand."

They only did this because if they didn't include other areas, the list would be very small. It's misleading and dishonest.

Re: Detroit Startup List

#47

Post by zbuc »

rick888 wrote: post #44
joem32 wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

David, with due respect. You're sounding a bit hypocritical here. You make reference to Detroit as an "Armpit" when, in the same sentence you make reference to only "reading about it". Congratulations on becoming a sucker to the media stereotype. As for brand? We are working on it. Not through what is outwardly projected, but by focusing on building great companies with products and services that fulfill our clients…

"David, with due respect. You're sounding a bit hypocritical here. You make reference to Detroit as an "Armpit" when, in the same sentence you make reference to only "reading about it". Congratulations on becoming a sucker to the media stereotype." I lived 10 miles from Detroit for 20+ years. It's not a stereotype, it really is an armpit. Did you know that there are no grocery stores in the city? This is mostly becau…

> Did you know that there are no grocery stores in the city?

Did you know that's not true, at all? There are quite a few grocery stores in Detroit. It's not a "food desert" like the media would tell you.

Stop believing lies and anecdotal evidence and your failed assumptions from living far away from the city itself.

Did you know that downtown Detroit proper has a lower crime rate than basically every other major city in the US?

Re: Detroit Startup List

#48

Post by joem32 »

philwelch wrote: post #17
[deleted] wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[deleted]

Cities have risen and fallen before. Part of the creative destruction of the last few decades involved wealth and power disappearing from Detroit and growing in Silicon Valley. I understand for Detroiters the sentimental value of Detroit, but there's no need for economic activity to happen in Detroit or in any other particular place so long as it happens and happens productively. In fact, it may be against this count…

This has got to be the most ignorant response of the day. One, have you ever been to Detroit. And two, have you ever heard of this thing called capitalism? Last I checked, as natural born Americans, we've got the right to do what we want, where we want to do it.

Please, do take a moment to explain to me how it would be in anyone's best interest to just "let" Detroit die? (Assuming it was actually near death) Also, help me understand how building resources in and around Detroit would affect your resources wherever you are (in the Valley)?

By the way, you might want to check the data before you go trying to throw anyone under the bus, as Detroit... the dead city that you refer to. Yeah, it's a big part of what gave Michigan the lead in technology hiring in 2010.

http://www.mlive.com/business/index.ssf/2011/10/michigan_was... *http://www.freep.com/article/20111006/BUSINESS06/110060525/M...

Re: Detroit Startup List

#49

Post by rick888 »

zbuc wrote: post #47
rick888 wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"David, with due respect. You're sounding a bit hypocritical here. You make reference to Detroit as an "Armpit" when, in the same sentence you make reference to only "reading about it". Congratulations on becoming a sucker to the media stereotype." I lived 10 miles from Detroit for 20+ years. It's not a stereotype, it really is an armpit. Did you know that there are no grocery stores in the city? This is mostly becau…

> Did you know that there are no grocery stores in the city? Did you know that's not true, at all? There are quite a few grocery stores in Detroit. It's not a "food desert" like the media would tell you. Stop believing lies and anecdotal evidence and your failed assumptions from living far away from the city itself. Did you know that downtown Detroit proper has a lower crime rate than basically every other major city…

There are no main chain grocery stores (like Meijer) in Detroit proper. So I guess there are some grocery stores, but not quality ones.

"Stop believing lies and anecdotal evidence and your failed assumptions from living far away from the city itself."

These aren't assumptions. By continuing to deny the problems with Detroit, it will never get better.

This is exactly what has been happening for years. The population continued to deny that Kwame was nothing but a corrupt thug and the city suffered as a result (in crime and people leaving).

"Did you know that downtown Detroit proper has a lower crime rate than basically every other major city in the US?"

Like I said, right downtown is fine. You go even a mile outside the main strip, and it's worse than almost any city in the US. I know, I've been there many times in the last year.

You can't safely live and work in a city like this.

Re: Detroit Startup List

#50

Post by bmelton »

davidw wrote: post #34
bmelton wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The last place for you might be the first place for someone else. DC has humid summers, frigid winters, insane traffic, crime and prostitution, and a host of other things that are wrong with it... but it's still a place that many people want to go. There are national monuments, museums, cultural diversity, great food, great music, and it is the political center of the nation (world?). I can't speak for Detroit, as I…

I'm not being superficial, I'm talking about things that count for me . It sounds like a dreadful place, given what I enjoy in terms of climate/geography. You're correct that I would not enjoy DC's climate much either, but being the capitol gives it certain privileges that Detroit does not enjoy in terms of a destination and place to do certain kinds of business. And I don't think you can dispute the fact that Detroi…

Firstly, I haven't downvoted any of the comments in this thread, including yours.

2) It would seem odd for me to refer to San Fran as 'the city' from outside of the city, since, for me, 'the city' likely refers to either DC or Baltimore, depending on which I'm nearer to at the time.

San Fran might identify the person as being from out of town, but generally, that's exactly the type of person you'd expect to be saying something like that. Doesn't make it outdated in my view. If, perhaps, it is not in trend, that doesn't make it unmodern.

As for the brand of Detroit, admittedly, there's a lot of bad press about it from the outside. I'd argue that efforts like GrowDetroit are exactly designed to combat.

Lastly, the point I was making about DC is that yeah, it's a crappy place on paper, but it has benefits. Detroit might also seem like a crappy place on paper, but might also have its own set of unique benefits and luxuries even. As you mentioned, the low rent is a great advantage for a startup. As I understand it, there are plenty of areas in Detroit that are safe to be in at night.

Again, I can't really speak for it, having not been there, I'm just suggesting that perhaps you shouldn't dismiss it out of hand so quickly. Of course, it's your life, and I'm being pushy by suggesting you do other than your natural intention.

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