Founders : High Growth

"I ran the business with my heart, but my costs continued to go up," Gutierrez says. "I closed my eyes and prayed for help. When I opened them up I saw things differently. I am an administrator who needs to run a business."

Questions with Building a community-based company, Hacienda Mexican Foods in southwest Detroit

"I think people had a hard time taking it seriously if it was priced that low," Steindler says. He adds, "We had this combination of quality and price that really helped us accelerate our growth. (Before that) our savings were dwindling. I was thinking how long until I have to get a real job? Then we hit that moment and things just took off."
 

Questions with Olark discovers raising prices leads to rapid growth

DeNovo Sciences has come a long way in its first five years, but the Plymouth-based startup can point to one critical juncture in its rapid growth: winning the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition in 2011. That win is why DeNovo Sciences is one of the Gazelle 100, a year-long exploration of the fastest-growing startups in Metro Detroit as part of SEMichiganStartup's Year of the Gazelle series.

Questions with Accelerate Michigan win sets stage for DeNovo Sciences future success

Sassa Akervall built her mouthguard startup, Akervall Technologies, from scratch. But Saline-based company started to grow quickly when its CEO became less of a manager and more of a leader. That maturation is why Akervall Technologies is one of the Gazelle 100, a year-long exploration of the fastest-growing startups in Metro Detroit as part of SEMichiganStartup's Year of the Gazelle series.

Questions with Akervall Technologies hits its stride when the business moves beyond its CEO

Joe Hessling is the founder & CEO of 365 Retail Markets, which means he has to balance a shareholder's need to create value and a executive's impulse to build a business.

Questions with Joe Hessling, balancing CEO and shareholder duties

James Koziarz is the president & CEO of Rubicon Genomics, a genetic testing startup based in Ann Arbor.

Questions with James Koziarz

Bob Beutel is the president of ALLSTAR Transportation, a company based in Troy.

Questions with Bob Beutel

Cesar Nerys is the CEO of Openworld Energy, a clean-tech start-up based in Ann Arbor.

Questions with Cesar Nerys

Matt Wise is the CEO of ePrize, an Internet marketing firm based in Pleasant Ridge.

Questions with Matt Wise

Leslie Geupel is a senior vice president at Level One Bank, a rapidly growing bank based in Farmington Hills.

Questions with Leslie Geupel

Ben Bator is the co-founder of Texts From Last Night, an Internet start-up based in downtown Royal Oak.

Questions with Ben Bator

Mark Ratliff is the co-founder of BreadCrumb, a start-up based in Royal Oak that is developing GPS technology for Alzheimer patients.

Questions with Mark Ratliff

Jason Vazanno is the co-principal of Vectorform, a software firm based in Royal Oak.

Questions with Jason Vazzano

Michelle Crumm is the chief business officer of Adaptive Materials, an Ann Arbor-based company she co-founded with her husband Aaron Crumm.

Questions with Michelle Crumm

Pete Bonner is one of the first people to sell cars over the Internet and is now a co-founder with the Detroit Trading Company.

Questions with Pete Bonner