I remember Detroit when there weren't any VC's downtown and the startup scene was spread among the suburbs.
Dan Gilbert set the Madison building as ground zero for a startup neighborhood. He even wanted that stretch of Woodward Avenue, Detroit's main street, renamed there as Webward Avenue. He filled the Madison with startups that he funded. When they outgrew it they moved to other building he owned nearby.
Now that zone extends for ten or fifteen blocks, I know because I visit my friends down there regularly. One guys vision is all it took.
Dan Gilbert set the Madison building as ground zero for a startup neighborhood. He even wanted that stretch of Woodward Avenue, Detroit's main street, renamed there as Webward Avenue. He filled the Madison with startups that he funded. When they outgrew it they moved to other building he owned nearby.
Now that zone extends for ten or fifteen blocks, I know because I visit my friends down there regularly. One guys vision is all it took.