Entrepreneurship : Features

Urban revitalization is not built on stadiums and skyscrapers alone. Vibrant cities begin with passionate people working on the ground, doing the creative heavy lifting to make their communities better. Leading up to Urban Innovation Exchange Sept. 24-26 in Detroit, we take a look at 13 small projects with big potential.

Cities are reinventing themselves in creative new ways. Can small-scale projects have big impact? Join us Sept. 24-26 in Detroit to explore creative projects driving neighborhood transformation and trade ideas for the future.

Neil Tambe reflects on his own disillusionment with the profit-driven ethos predominant in business school and asks, "Can business do good?" He decides yes, it must. 

Elizabeth Garlow is the Executive Director of Michigan Corps, an organization that empowers Michiganders everywhere to connect and collaborate on social innovation in communities across our state. Here she discusses how to define social entrepreneurship without all of the confusing jargon. 

Jess Daniel, founder of FoodLab Detroit, discusses network weaving versus networking, and how FoodLab utilizes the network weaving strategy to help build a strong good food system here in Detroit.

Detroit is seeing a new wave of creative startups, and fashion is one industry on the rise. Recently, more capital has been made available to technology companies, aiming to turn Detroit into a “Silicon Valley of the Midwest." If, as they say, 90% of fashion is marketing, and social media use is at a high, shouldn’t apparel businesses be considered an investment opportunity in Detroit’s creative economy? What ways can we extend these tech startup incentives to multiple industries?

The "hive" was buzzing with ambitious doers leading everything from youth programs to community art projects to startup businesses and micro-lending programs. They came to learn about urban innovation in Detroit, and they left with some new strategies for leadership and social entrepreneurship from special guest Christopher Gergen. Check out our recap & video.