Figuring out how to get the pilot light to turn on—and how to continue to fuel it—has been a long term goal for “Rust Belt economist” Nigel Griswold.  Of course, he’s not talking about gas stoves or furnaces.  He’s talking about communities—how to invest in them, keep them economically competitive, and help create equity and value for the people th[...]

Coupa Software Inc. just announced they're acquiring Llamasoft Inc., an Ann Arbor supply-chain tech company, for $1.5 billion.  Llamasoft has been a top Ann Arbor startup for many years, and their platform is used by hundreds of enterprise customers, including Boeing, Danone S.A., Home Depot and more. Their innovative, AI supply chain solutions hav[...]

Created by founders for founders, Cahoots is a coworking tech hub that’s fostering a community for Ann Arbor tech companies and entrepreneurs. And now, they’re making their resources all the more accessible to underrepresented founders.  Driven by its members, the tech hub is launching the Cahoots Diversity Scholarship for entrepreneurs who have be[...]

“Our small city of freaks and geeks, fast learners, and team players has been a crucible for startups,” said Dug Song, Co-founder & General Manager of Duo Security at Cisco.  Ann Arbor has been a launchpad for cybersecurity startups, the most notable being Duo.  In 2018, Duo, one of the fastest-growing cybersecurity providers in the world, was acqu[...]

When it comes to inclusion initiatives, Daniel Young says he learned from one of the best. Before founding Circadian Risk in Ann Arbor, Daniel worked at a private security guard company called Guardsmark. The founder, Ira Lipman, grew up during a turbulent time in Little Rock, Arkansas. He saw first-hand the discrimination at Little Rock Central Hi[...]

When Kristina Oberly left her job for an Ann Arbor tech startup, she was only the 4th hire at the company—and the only woman.  “I came from the university, non-profit world, so it was kind of abrasive joining a startup and having limited access to people or resources. I just felt kind of lost,” Kristina said.  She’s the Head of People at Voxel51, a[...]

In today’s world, companies that stand for something stand out.  More and more, people are buying (and staying loyal) to companies that are involved in the community, practice sustainable manufacturing, or live out some other value with which  people identify. But sometimes when a company takes a stand, it can feel inauthentic, random, or like a gi[...]

Ann Arbor is usually known for the University of Michigan, but it’s now becoming known for so much more.  It’s my hometown, and I loved growing up there. It’s a smart city with a ton of things to do, and I was never too far away from anything I needed. In the past couple years, Downtown Ann Arbor has changed a bit in some really good ways. I feel l[...]

I don’t know about you but over here at re:purpose we’ve been doing some major reflecting on 2019. And all we have to say is, WOW. What an incredible year for the Detroit & Ann Arbor startup community. So many accomplishments and we’re beyond thankful for all of you that are here to share them with us. To celebrate the end of an incredible year, he[...]