Ann Arbor-based myfab5 is launching its software platform in Detroit this month, the startup's first foray outside of Washtenaw County. It's the latest sign of how the entrepreneurial ecosystems of each city are becoming increasingly intertwined.
The 1-year-old start-up is creating a social media platform that allows users to name their favorite eateries and bars. What separates myfab5 from more traditional websites like Yelp! is myfab5 allows its users to rank its top five restaurants in a metro area according to category, such as top five Chinese restaurants. It launched its Beta version earlier this year and is expanding to Detroit this summer.
"We felt Detroit was perfect," says Calvin Schemanski, co-founder of
myfab5. "It has really good food but also because it's kind of hidden around town."
The startup is one of a growing number of new economy companies that either have roots in Ann Arbor and have moved to Detroit or are leveraging the Motor City's assets early to establish themselves. For instance, myfab5 and
Savvy Languages (both Ann Arbor-based startups) are participating in
TechTown's Launch Detroit program, a summer boot camp for aspiring entrepreneurs in college (both graduate and undergraduate) that want to launch tech startups. In myfab5's case, its three co-founders and six interns are leveraging both TechTown and its home base of
TechArb.
Another new development tying the two cities together is EntreSlam expanding into Detroit. The Ann Arbor-based event got its start at Zingerman's a little more than a year ago. The event showcases local entrepreneurs telling stories about the ups and downs of their businesses.
EntreSlam's first Detroit event will take place at 7 p.m. Sunday at Bleu Detroit, 1540 Woodward Ave in downtown. The event will allow new and veteran entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs to tell stories about how they are "still standing." For information, click
here.
Source: Calvin Schemanski, co-founder of myfab5
Writer: Jon Zemke
Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.