article thumbnail

Why the Future of Tesla May Depend on Knowing What Happened to Billy Durant

Steve Blank

If you’re following Tesla, you might be interested to know that Sloan wasn’t the founder of GM. Where are the charitable foundations, business schools, and hospitals named after the founder of GM? The founder of what became General Motors was William (Billy) Durant. And a founder of Neuralink a brain-computer interface startup.

Michigan 268
article thumbnail

One Hand Clapping – Entrepreneurship In Ann Arbor, Michigan

Steve Blank

I spent a few days in March in Ann Arbor Michigan as a guest of Professor Thomas Zurbuchen , Associate Dean for Entrepreneurial Programs, and Doug Neal , Director of Center for Entrepreneurship in the Engineering School at the University of Michigan. Held office hours and met lots of passionate students with great ideas.

Michigan 307
Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

6 Tips for Coming Up With Your Million-Dollar Business Idea

Up and Running

“I realized in the early 1990s that there was no appropriate yoga for fitness professionals,” says YogaFit® founder, Beth Shaw. says HourlyNerd co-founder and co-CEO, Rob Biederman. “So Along the way, the group brought on another classmate, Joe Miller, to handle the technology end. Feed a need. Rob’s advice.

Detroit 156
article thumbnail

A Venture Capital History Perspective From Jack Tankersley

Feld Thoughts

Jack Tankersley, a long time mentor of mine, co-founder of Centennial Funds, and co-founder of Meritage Funds, wrote me a very long response. So contrary to the piece, it wasn’t VC were good at early stage technology, it was that they had newfound capital and a big exit window. National Demographics: Mailing Lists.

article thumbnail

Social Networking and Business Value

SoCal CTO

Just a quick note that I'll be moderating a Technology Council Event : Social Networking as a Business Strategy May 19, 2009 - Culver City Social networking media are used on a daily basis to grow businesses and expand career opportunities. Sam earned a BA in Communications Arts and Sciences from Michigan State University.

article thumbnail

Women 2.0 Partners Google, Extends Founder Friday Events

YoungUpstarts

Both companies will jointly be investing in activities that foster innovation and supporting startups, beginning with Women 2.0 ‘s signature networking event Founder Friday. has held over 200 Founder Friday events in 30 global cities. To date, Women 2.0 “Google is excited to team up with Women 2.0 ”

article thumbnail

Entrepreneurs are Everywhere Show No. 23: Nina Tandon and Brandon McNaughton

Steve Blank

And just having cool technology doesn’t make a successful business. The show follows the journeys of founders who share what it takes to build a startup – from restaurants to rocket scientists, to online gifts to online groceries and more. He also founded and served as chief technology officer of Life Magnetics.

Cofounder 120