Articles written by news corporations like CNN and the Huffington Post have suggested that Detroit has the potential to become the next Silicon Valley. Over the past few years, the growth and development of tech based businesses and organizations have contributed to noticeable changes in the city. Aside from the economic stimulus a thriving tech industry can provide for Detroit, what I find most significant and inspiring about the city’s rise in technology is the community of women entrepreneurs and leaders anchoring this industry in the D.
I attended two events recently that inspired me and helped me to see the dynamic leadership coming from women working within the field of technology in Detroit. A panel discussion at Wayne State University titled The Changing Face of Tech (A convo Lead by Women) brought together Leslie Smith (CEO of TechTown), Marlo Rencher (CEO of Good Sweat), Elizabeth Garlow (Director of Michigan Corps & Kiva Detroit), and Frenae Smith (Chair of the NSBE Alumni Executive Board for Region IV), together to discuss the challenges and victories women in tech startups experience.
The Detroit Chapter of Women 2.0 hosted a networking event at Centaur Bar called Founder Friday which spurred conversation amongst women small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. Emily Hay (Founder of Hay There Social Media) and Stacy Goldberg (CEO & Founder of Savorfull) shared their career journey with the crowd and offered tips for women just starting to develop their tech savviness.
What I found when I lifted the veil from this digital scene were bold, sassy, innovated and socially conscious women unapologetically placing their stamp on technology led entrepreneurship in Detroit.
Business Descriptions and Resources
TechTown is a nonprofit business incubator and accelerator that connects small businesses to customers, talent, the location necessary to build a thriving enterprise in Southeastern Michigan.
website: http://techtowndetroit.org/
Good Sweat, Detroit is an online platform that enables people to raise money and awareness for causes they believe in. The company supports the creation of personal fundraising events, and the solicitation of support and participation from Facebook friends and Twitter followers. It also provides a mechanism by which a user’s friends and family can donate money to the nonprofit organization of their choice. Through Good Sweat, people can inspire others to act and be active in philanthropy.
Website: http://goodsweat.com/
Michigan Corps is an online platform for Michiganders committed to social change in the state. The organization launches and leads social change efforts that bring Michiganders together in creative ways- and grow a community of engaged “corps member.”
Website: http://www.michigancorps.org/
Kiva Detroit empowers is an initiative of the Michigan Corps used to empower Detroiters to nominate, champion and lend to small businesses in Detroit $25 at a time.
Website: http://www.kivadetroit.org/Kiva_Detroit/Kiva_Detroit.html
Hay There Social Media helps entrepreneurs effectively leverage social media to move their businesses forward.
Website: http://haytheresocialmedia.com/
Savorfull develops Corporate Wellness Programs tailored to the clients needs to educate and motivate employees to live a healthy “free from” lifestyle.
Website: http://savorfull.com/
Girl Develop It, Detroit is part of a national organization that works to empower women and give them the knowledge to develop software.
Website: http://girldevelopit.com/chapters/detroit
Tips and Tricks Offered by Stacy Goldberg: http://www.women2.com/10-tips-for-non-technical-female-entrepreneurs-for-2013/