Founders : Emerging Technology

Dwight Carlson knows what it's like to be on top of the world one day and have the weight of the world crushing you the next. Now he and his startup, Coherix, are back on top as they make the most of a crisis.

Questions with Coherix goes from surviving to thriving after Great Recession

Jen Baird doesn't count on miracles to survive in the business world, but she doesn't turn them down either.

Questions with Jen Baird on finding a way to fund breakthrough technology

"As soon as they see it operating they see the value in it," says MJ Cartwright, CEO of Court Innovations. "They really get it and want to start using it."

Questions with Seeing is believing spurs growth for Court Innovations

IDashboards grew an average of nearly 20 percent over each of the last four years. It now has a marketing budget of more than $2 million today, which isn't bad for a boot-strapped firm that built itself up to make a significant-yet-strategic gamble.

"That's the difference between a boot-strapped firm and venture-funded firm," says Shadan Malik, president & CEO of iDashboards. "Venture-funded firms have millions to spend right away."

Questions with Marketing investment moves growth needle for iDashboards

"It started off with a clunky, iPod-like prototype," Olson says. "Then we realized we can fit all of that technology into a card."

Questions with Technology breakthrough sets stage for growth at Stratos

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

Pointing at-risk youth in a positive direction is hard enough, but getting them to move toward a career in tech? Jack Bidlack of The Business Side of Youth in Ypsilanti explains how his program is doing both of those things.

Questions with Jack Bidlack on turning at-risk youth on to a career in tech

Jeff Plott is the co-founder of Flipsi Bottle, an Ann Arbor-based startup developing a baby bottle that can be turned inside out for easy cleaning.

Questions with Jeff Plott

Zach Steindler is a co-founder of Olark, a software startup that specializes in messaging technology.

Questions with Zach Steindler

Greg McPartlin is the co-founder & managing partner of Parjana, a clean-tech startup based in downtown Detroit.

Questions with Greg McPartlin

Steve Schwartz is the managing member of Alpha Jango, a software firm that specializes in pairing techies with aspiring entrepreneurs.

Questions with Steve Schwartz

Jen Baird is the CEO of Accio Energy, an Ann Arbor-based startup that is reinventing how wind energy is generated.

Questions with Jen Baird

Rich Sheridan is the CEO of Menlo Innovations, a software firm based in downtown Ann Arbor.

Questions with Rich Sheridan

Doug Neal is one of the four co-founders of Michigan eLab. The Ann Arbor-based venture capital firm focuses on early stage tech startups.

Questions with Doug Neal