Iron Chef Detroit

Keynote for the 2025 Detroit Policy Conference

Transcript

1. A Recipe for Startup Ecosystem Acceleration
4. Sept 2018 $2.4B Nov 2020 $1.4B Jan 2021 $6B Apr 2021 $6B Apr 2021 $3.8B Feb 2023 $1.2B Oct 2024 $1.2B Dec 2024 $10.6B Jul 2024 $30B May 2022 $23.0B May 2022 $3.5B Sept 2024 $0.7B
5. Sept 2018 $2.4B Nov 2020 $1.4B Jan 2021 $6B Apr 2021 $6B Apr 2021 $3.8B Feb 2023 $1.2B Oct 2024 $1.2B Dec 2024 $10.6B Jul 2024 $30B May 2022 $23.0B May 2022 $3.5B Sept 2024 $0.7B California California Texas Grand Rapids Novi Ann Arbor Plymouth Rochester Ann Arbor Detroit Livonia Troy Novi Grand Rapids Houghton
6. UM #8 in VC-Backed Founders (undergrad, 2004) PitchBook Universities: Top 100 colleges ranked by startup founders: https://pitchbook.com/news/articles/pitchbook-university-rankings
7. But Only 3 of 46 UM Unicorns Are In Michigan
9. Ecosystems Need Verbs, Not Just Nouns Advocate Partner with business, education, and policymakers to ensure tech & innovation benefits all Promote Celebrate and amplify startup founders & impact; broadcast startup success Connect & Collaborate Build social infrastructure for founder-led ecosystem development, learning, inclusion Founders & Startups Engaging, attracting, supporting startups Capital Grow local capital and attract outside capital into the ecosystem Talent Attract, retain, and develop new talent and pathways Institutions & Infrastructure Culture & Community
10. Attract Founders & Investors Talent: Entrepreneurs, engineers, designers Investors: Angel networks, venture funds Facilitate Collaboration & Resources Resources: Mentorship, coworking spaces, funding Collaboration: Hackathons, industry meetups, partnerships Startup Success Stories Examples: IPOs, acquisition, international expansion Momentum: Founders reinvest expertise & capital into ecosystem Launch & Support Startups Actions: MVP development, customer acquisition, pitch competitions Support: Accelerators, early-stage funding, advisory networks, internships & talent development Connect Promote Advocate People & Networks, not Buildings & Institutions Collaborate
12. Michigan Tech Week: VIP Tour
13. Michigan Innovation Summit (for Tech Hubs)
14. Innovation Roadtrip: Indianapolis
15. Innovation Roadtrip: Columbus
16. Mackinac Policy Conference
17. Our Outposts of Innovation…  Bedrock Life Sciences District UM Center for Innovation Michigan Central Henry Ford + MSU Future of Health, WSU TechTown
18. …Need Bridges  Henry Ford + MSU Future of Health, WSU TechTown Bedrock Life Sciences District UM Center for Innovation Michigan Central Center for Tech Equity City Bus Lines D2A2 Bus QLine Streetcar Rosa Parks Transit Center DAX Bus People Mover
19. Tech Equity:  Building a Culture of Collaboration  
20. For Shared Prosperity  In Greater Detroit