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Do you have tips on how to keep an eye on the Michigan startup ecosystem? I live in CA now, but would love to be better aware of what's going on in my home stat

Do you have tips on how to keep an eye on the Michigan startup ecosystem? I live in CA now, but would love to be better aware of what's going on in my home state. One of the things that always struck me here is the number of midwesterners I'd come across. It has long been my suspicion that Midwestern culture is better suited to creating companies that are highly collaborative and focused on value delivery. A great example to me is Atomic Object, mentioned in the article. They've been doing well for decades, and the couple times I've visited it seemed like such a sane place to work.

nebula8804 5y ago
What is Midwestern culture?
- wpietri 5y ago
  I think that depends a lot on what your basis for comparison is. It's sort of like asking what California or New York culture is: what people notice is the differences to what they're used to.
- gordon_gee1 5y ago
  Not op, but on the business/sales side ‘midwesterners’ tend to put people at ease and are decent communicators. In my experience they’re also the clearest American speakers, so non-native english speakers have an easy time understanding them. Coming from an area (at face value) that is not widely desirable or well-known gives a decent perspective on the ability to perceive value for others and speak plainly to sell it. Part of the above in my opinion is due to there being a far smaller gap between the wealthy people in the area and the poorest both financially and physically. A plumber, doctor and retail worker can live on the same street as homeowners. Not to knock the coastal cities too much, but contrast this culture to homeless people sleeping right outside a $3200/month flat, or primary teachers living out of their van, and you can see how it can have a different effect on those who are raised in those areas.
  - alphabettsy 5y ago
    > In my experience they’re also the clearest American speakers, so non-native english speakers have an easy time understanding them. Supposedly there is some history behind this and people who want to be in the media business will actually learn to speak Midwest-style English. Can’t find the article though.
- bumby 5y ago
  My cousin has a theory that the (sometimes brutally cold) winters and generally blue-collar background breed a bit of "suck-it-the-fuck-up-and-get-it-done" mentality.
- brohoolio 5y ago
  One of my coworkers who moved to Michigan after being all around the U.S. described the culture as people who were genuinely nice and caring. YMMV
philk10 5y ago
It's a great place to work, thanks for the shout-out (ex-pat Brit who was tired of the 4 hour commute to London and moved to Michigan) Sorry, no tips for you to follow MI startups
rmason 5y ago
Check out both the Detroit New Tech and Ann Arbor New Tech. Both groups broadcast their monthly meetings. On Facebook subscribe to Hackers and Hustlers which has Michigan entrepreneurs all over the world but primarily in state. If you're looking for jobs open check HnH Freelance and Jobs. You can also subscribe to Crain's in Detroit which is a business paper for SE Michigan and has a lot of stories on startups.

nebula8804 5y ago

What is Midwestern culture?

wpietri 5y ago
I think that depends a lot on what your basis for comparison is. It's sort of like asking what California or New York culture is: what people notice is the differences to what they're used to.
gordon_gee1 5y ago
Not op, but on the business/sales side ‘midwesterners’ tend to put people at ease and are decent communicators. In my experience they’re also the clearest American speakers, so non-native english speakers have an easy time understanding them. Coming from an area (at face value) that is not widely desirable or well-known gives a decent perspective on the ability to perceive value for others and speak plainly to sell it. Part of the above in my opinion is due to there being a far smaller gap between the wealthy people in the area and the poorest both financially and physically. A plumber, doctor and retail worker can live on the same street as homeowners. Not to knock the coastal cities too much, but contrast this culture to homeless people sleeping right outside a $3200/month flat, or primary teachers living out of their van, and you can see how it can have a different effect on those who are raised in those areas.
- alphabettsy 5y ago
  > In my experience they’re also the clearest American speakers, so non-native english speakers have an easy time understanding them. Supposedly there is some history behind this and people who want to be in the media business will actually learn to speak Midwest-style English. Can’t find the article though.
bumby 5y ago
My cousin has a theory that the (sometimes brutally cold) winters and generally blue-collar background breed a bit of "suck-it-the-fuck-up-and-get-it-done" mentality.
brohoolio 5y ago
One of my coworkers who moved to Michigan after being all around the U.S. described the culture as people who were genuinely nice and caring. YMMV

philk10 5y ago

It's a great place to work, thanks for the shout-out (ex-pat Brit who was tired of the 4 hour commute to London and moved to Michigan) Sorry, no tips for you to follow MI startups

rmason 5y ago

Check out both the Detroit New Tech and Ann Arbor New Tech. Both groups broadcast their monthly meetings. On Facebook subscribe to Hackers and Hustlers which has Michigan entrepreneurs all over the world but primarily in state. If you're looking for jobs open check HnH Freelance and Jobs. You can also subscribe to Crain's in Detroit which is a business paper for SE Michigan and has a lot of stories on startups.