When most people think of tech hubs, the most active locales come to mind: Silicon Valley, New York City, London and Toronto. However, Detroit, MI is pacing to be the next tech destination.  If you turn back the clock, Detroit was the “Silicon Valley†of its day, serving as America’s automotive metropolis. Often viewed as one of our nation’s declining cities, Detroit is shaking things up a bit, taking its creative roots and recreating a space that is attracting top tech companies and strategic partners to the Midwest.
Three Strategic Moves Toward Detroit’s Digital Revival
Twitter opens new office in Detroit
Social media has been buzzing with news that Twitter is opening an office in Detroit. The tech giant will reside in the M@dison Building, located in the city’s burgeoning downtown technology district. The iconic tech startup’s move proves Detroit is transforming into the next tech focal point. This strategic shift enables Twitter to serve automomakers and ad agencies in the Detroit metropolitan region directly.
“Detroit’s emerging mix of automotive and digital cultures made it a natural location for Twitter’s newest office,” said Adam Bain, president of global revenue at Twitter.
Detroit is one of five cities that Twitter has opened offices in this year. The other locations include Atlanta, GA; Austin, TX; Cincinnati, OH, and Washington, DC.
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to open new space in Detroit
This summer, the United States Patent and Trademark Office, an agency of the Department of Commerce, will open their first satellite office in Detroit. Detroit was selected for two reasons: the automotive industry and the growth in the number of high tech jobs. The opening of this office is yet another example of the importance of Detroit’s influence on the innovation sector, as well as the larger U.S. economy.
The M@dison Building becomes an epicenter of innovation
Dan Gilbert and Detroit Venture Partners (DVP) invested $12 million into creating this premier coworking space. The M@dison Building is a state of the art facility in the heart of Downtown Detroit. It currently houses DVP, Detroit Labs, UpTo, Skidmore Studio, and hiredMyway, to name a few.
Key elements in transforming a city into a tech hub include creating an ecosystem of venture entrepreneurs, venture capitalists (or VCs), startups and colleges and universities. The entrepreneurial ecosystem in Detroit is continuing to grow. Watch out for Detroit!