Founders : Diversity

"The over-arching theme is we represent the outdoors," says Hyaat Chaudhary, CEO of Carbon Media Group. "Our customers are outdoor enthusiasts. ... That's our sandbox."

Questions with Great outdoors leads Carbon Media Group to big things

"It's a slow process for us," Richard Chang, CEO of NewFoundry, says about adding staff. "We hire slow hire smart. ... It's really about taking the time to make sure these folks are a good fit. I want to make sure these folks have the right criteria to grow with us."

Questions with NewFoundry's growth comes down to four words: hire slow hire smart

"Most users find MyFab5 through Instagram," says Omeid Seirafi-Pour, co-founder & CEO of MyFab5. "We give them value through our ability to introduce people to new options. You will find some awesome restaurants by following us."

Questions with MyFab5 hits key milestones without reinventing social media wheel

"Make sure the production side of things is something you have a passion for," Ellis-Brown says. "It's not easy. It's one of the hardest things I have ever done."

Questions with Ellis Infinity Beverage Co figures out the recipe for finding the first home away from home

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

"We haven't spent most of the cash we have taken from investors," says Dug Song, CEO of Duo Security.

Questions with Duo Security accumulates millions in investor cash in quest for constant improvement

"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

"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

The fifth-year anniversary is a big one for InfoReady. It's the year the Ann Arbor-based software startup crossed 1,000 percent growth on the strength of word-of-mouth marketing from its customers. That win is why InfoReady 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 Word of mouth sends InfoReady to 1,000 percent growth over five years

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

Bhushan Kulkarni is a serial entrepreneur building his fourth tech startup, InfoReady. He knows what to do and where to turn when launching a startup from scratch.

Questions with Bhushan Kulkarni on what it takes to build a succesful startup

Sandy Kronenberg is a tech entrepreneur who already has a few exits under his belt, and it's a big reason why he is eschewing angel investment for his new startup, Locqus.

Questions with Sandy Kronenberg on growing a startup alone

Ben Chutz is building a startup to help fight autism (Birdhouse for Autism) and he is doing it by focusing on helping the people taking care of those with autism.

Questions with Ben Chutz explains why to focus autism startup on caregivers

Alari K. Adams is the founder and managing member of ASquared Legal Group, a law practice that recently moved to downtown Detroit.

Questions with Alari K. Adams

Shena Penn is the founder of Pure Decontamination, a crime-scene clean-up business based in Detroit.

Questions with Shena Penn