“We always say unapologetically: we're here to win, we're here to win big, and our opportunity is big." That was Lori Coulter, CEO and co-founder of Summersalt, speaking at the State of the Midwest Startup Community 2020. Watch the full conversation There’s no denying that women have made many strides in closing the gender gap in tech. But those tr[...]

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[...]

When people think tech jobs, they tend to think Silicon Valley or New York City. They don’t think about the Midwest, which is better known for rolling farmland and wide-open spaces than a booming tech scene where startups thrive. But it’s time to think again about the Midwest.  This region comprises 19 percent of the entire U.S. GDP. Twenty-five pe[...]

There are so many reasons why we love living and working in the Midwest—booming tech hubs, tight communities, laid-back lifestyles… It’s something many boomerangs are re-experiencing as they return to the Midwest after years in Silicon Valley. Because they’re realizing what the data clearly show: Working and living in the Midwest pays off.  We team[...]

Why were there only two Midwest startups on LinkedIn’s recent list of the top 50 startups on the rise?  Cameo, based in Chicago (as well as remotely), and Seamless.AI, based in Columbus, are really awesome startups, and we were so happy to see them on the list. We just think LinkedIn missed a couple more major Midwest players.  There’s this myth th[...]

With the rise of pandemic panic, people are craving data about the state of Detroit’s economy. Luckily our friends at EntryPoint just released their Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Report that highlights some promising numbers.  Emily Heintz, the founder & managing director of EntryPoint, noted in the report that COVID-19 is drastically impacting many bu[...]

These are unbelievably tough times for everyone, everywhere. But for small businesses, these are defining moments. Companies are wondering if and how they’ll stay afloat. Really incredible people are losing their jobs, not due to lack of effort but simply due to lack of funds and a general air of uncertainty that surrounds us all. The natural insti[...]

I love seeing #BlackTechFacts pop up on social media during Black History Month. But let’s face it, we all know it’s not enough. In the tech world, Black and Brown software developers are still underrepresented, holding only 10% of development roles. And that disparity is even larger in Detroit, where the Latino/Hispanic and Black population make u[...]

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[...]

Want to know where the money's at? It's right here in the midwest. More specifically, the Great Lakes region. Venture capitalists are looking outside Silicon Valley and New York to diversify across new hubs.  At the top of their list is the Great Lakes region. VCs are flooding the area, pouring money into unicorn companies, like Detroit's StockX, C[...]