community Archives

The Duo Blueprint: How Ann Arbor’s Duo Security is Changing the Midwest Startup Scene

“Our small city of freaks and geeks, fast learners, and team players has been a crucible for startups,” Dug Song, co-founder and general manager of Duo Security at Cisco, said. Ann Arbor has been a launchpad...

byRyan Landau

February 2, 2021

4 Questions Aspiring Business Owners Should Ask Before Launching a Business

Deciding to start your own business is big step, and one that requires a lot of upfront research and constant questioning. And, even as you move forward with the process of launching your business, the...

byJonathan Babcock

December 23, 2020

Tips for Hosting a Virtual Event in the Age of Social Distancing

The coronavirus pandemic has upended the commerce industry, possibly forever. While we don’t know when businesses will be able to return to 100 percent normalcy, we do know that consumers are increasingly wary of resuming...

byErin Bradley

December 12, 2020

How Smart, Strategic Networking Can Transform Your Business During a Crisis

The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown a proverbial wrench in the day-to-day lives of company founders. For weeks on end, you’ve likely been juggling Zoom meetings, school schedules, family check-ins, squeezing in a workout, time for...

byMelissa Gilbo and Amy Pocsik

September 3, 2020

WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Make the Choice to Bank Small (Episode 100)

On this morning's WJR Business Beat, Jeff offers insights into why entrepreneurs and small business owners alike should consider banking at one of the 5,000 or so small business banks across the country, rather than big...

byStartupNation

August 14, 2020

WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: The Importance of Farmers Markets (Episode 93)

On today’s WJR Business Beat segment, Jeff discusses the importance of farmers markets. While they're essential at all times, farmers markets are especially vital during COVID-19, as they are serving a more important role than...

byStartupNation

August 3, 2020

What We Learned From Turning Down a Deal on Shark Tank

When we appeared on Shark Tank to pitch our popular Zipadee-Zip swaddle transition product, we were thrilled to receive three different offers from the sharks. We ended up striking a deal on the show with...

byStephanie and Brett Parker

July 28, 2020

Should Crowdfunding Be Part of Your COVID-19 Cash Flow Strategy?

As the economic shutdown continues, businesses are looking for funding to stay afloat. Federally funded programs have dried up, and public health concerns seem likely to prolong the economic shutdown. Thus, it’s important to use...

byGeorge Cook

April 20, 2020

3 Ways to Elevate Your Brand in a Specialized Marketplace

Taking your brand to the next level is essential in today’s competitive market. Elevating your brand can increase conversions and customer loyalty exponentially. But doing this can be challenging, especially in a specialized marketplace. It...

byWill Robins

June 26, 2019

Coworking Spaces of Detroit Featuring Bamboo and WeWork

On this week's edition of StartupNation Radio, Jeff talks with three guests on an essential of entrepreneurship: office space. These guests prove that their companies, Bamboo and WeWork, provide not just office space, but shared,...

byStartupNation

June 20, 2019

Bamboo Detroit Co-Founder Shares Tips for Creating an Inspiring Shared Work Culture

It’s not every day people feel excited to lace up their boots and get to work. Well, maybe for entrepreneurs. We’re often inspired to persevere through the good times and the bad. But how do...

byAmanda Lewan

June 17, 2019

This Entrepreneur Talks About Forming a Community of Nomadic Creative Thinkers

Several years ago, photographer and journalist Jon Kalan and entrepreneur Michael Youngblood started hosting retreats for entrepreneurs, creatives and others who wanted to work while traveling in order to connect with others in the process....

bySusan Johnston Taylor

June 8, 2019

Build an Irresistible Brand by Connecting with Your Audience

A veteran of marketing, public relations, branding and creative direction, SheBrand founder, Liz Dennery Sanders, has helped some of the world’s most iconic brands tell their stories. Recognizing that not everyone can afford her services, Sanders recently...

bySusan Johnston Taylor

May 31, 2019

R.J. King Talks Detroit: The Engine of America on StartupNation Radio

This episode of StartupNation Radio is brought to you by Pappas Financial On this episode of StartupNation Radio, Jeff sits down with R.J. King, editor of DBusiness magazine, to discuss his new book, "Detroit: The...

byStartupNation

May 28, 2019

The 5 Cs Needed to Create a More Compelling Brand

The secret to building a million-dollar brand? Emotion. I’ve wandered into hundreds, perhaps thousands, of shops in my lifetime. Most of them fade into a blur, and only a few have left a permanent, indelible...

byLiz Dennery Sanders

May 21, 2019

Here’s Why Community is the Core of Business Success

On this episode of StartupNation Radio, host Jeff Sloan sits down with Benito Vasquez, a.k.a. Mav-One, executive director and founder of Motor City Street Dance Academy. Later in the show, Jeff chats with Beverly Meek,...

byStartupNation

May 20, 2019

4 Proven Ways to Acquire Your First Customers Without a Marketing Budget

Resources are limited in a new startup. If you have employees, there are salaries to pay, processes to put in place, development work to get done, etc. Sometimes, your budget just isn’t enough to cover...

byDaniel Ndukwu

February 5, 2019

How to Scale Your Digital Marketing Efforts While You’re in the First Year of Business

You’ve got a great idea, enough funding to hire an expert team and a developed product ready for customers. You also have some marketing strategies in mind, and now it’s time to validate them, grow...

byByron Tassoni-Resch

November 5, 2018

When and Where Should You Automate Your Business?

As of 2018, the business automation market has reached a colossal $8.2 billion, with numbers expected to rise to $12.7 billion by 2021. Increased workforce agility, data accuracy and improved operational scale are all cited as...

byViolet Myers

August 16, 2018

4 Ways Digital Media Startups Can Survive the Next 5 Years

When viral, feel-good publisher LittleThings shut down in February due to circumstances beyond its owners’ control, we watched many digital publishers scramble to ensure they wouldn’t be next. Despite their efforts, others, including Render Media,...

byRay Chan

July 30, 2018