BUILD THE STORY – FOUNDERS

Atomic Object’s Michael Hale Jr. is mapping Detroit’s innovation ecosystem one deep relationship at a time — and proving that trust is the real infrastructure.

Michael Hale Jr. Is Building the Trust Infrastructure Detroit's Tech Future Runs On

Tia James Built a Career Doing Exactly What She Was Told She Couldn't

Jalin Hill 7/21/26 Jalin Hill 7/21/26

Rachell Dumas Is Building What Healthcare Never Had

Atlanta nurse and health tech founder Rachell Dumas built HEARD after a dismissed ER visit nearly cost her life. Now she’s building the patient advocacy infrastructure millions need.

Jalin Hill 7/21/26 Jalin Hill 7/21/26

Briaca Duesette Built the Pathway Detroit's Young Creators Needed

Jalin Hill 7/21/26 Jalin Hill 7/21/26

Meredith Love Is Building the Rooms Detroit Needs

Detroit Product Owner Meredith Love is connecting talent to opportunity through Black Tech Saturdays, BasBlue, and the NAACP — expanding who belongs in tech.

Jalin Hill 7/21/26 Jalin Hill 7/21/26

Nkemdilem Bernard Is Building Detroit's Discovery Economy From Scratch

At 3 a.m. in 2022, Nkemdilem Bernard saw what Detroit’s internet was missing. Now Detroit Finds 313 reaches 130K+ and is rewriting who gets to build media.

Jalin Hill 7/21/26 Jalin Hill 7/21/26

Michael Hale Jr. Is Building the Trust Infrastructure Detroit's Tech Future Runs On

Atomic Object’s Michael Hale Jr. is mapping Detroit’s innovation ecosystem one deep relationship at a time — and proving that trust is the real infrastructure.

Jalin Hill 7/21/26 Jalin Hill 7/21/26

TeQuion Driscoll Is Building the Infrastructure for Racial Justice

Detroit founder TeQuion Driscoll didn't wait for permission. Since 2019, she's built MFCF and Aya House into the communal infrastructure Black Detroit deserves.

Jalin Hill 7/21/26 Jalin Hill 7/21/26

Joshua Ashford Is Building Detroit's First LAN Center for Its Youth

Former Detroit coding teacher Joshua Ashford invested $250K to open Webdroid Esports Computer Lab — Detroit’s first LAN center — and the city’s next generation is waiting

Jalin Hill 7/21/26 Jalin Hill 7/21/26

Kierra Woodger Is Building the Infrastructure Communities Need to Stay Housed

Detroit founder Kierra Woodger is developing ThriveHabitat™, a housing operations platform helping providers coordinate people, properties, and services.

Tia James 7/21/26 Tia James 7/21/26

Jaz Lee Found AI's Window — Then Built a Door for Everyone Else

Detroit founder Jaz Lee is training underestimated workers in AI fluency before the opportunity gap widens. Inside VETTED, GLU, and what she's building next.

Jalin Hill 7/21/26 Jalin Hill 7/21/26

Geralyn Gaines Is Building the Blueprint Detroit's Leaders Deserve

Geralyn Gaines founded Keeping It G® to give Detroit's high-performing Black women the self-advocacy tools to thrive — without sacrificing their peace.