Founders : Minority Owned Business

"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

"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

"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

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

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

Pedro Guillen is the CEO of Detroit Materials, a startup that is commercializing an allow that would create a stronger and lighter steel.

Questions with Pedro Guillen

Godwin Ihentuge is the founder & chief villager with YumVillage, a downtown Detrouit-based startup that helps make it easier to launch pop-up restaurants.

Questions with Godwin Ihentuge

Dug Song is the co-founder & CEO of Duo Security, a digital security firm based in downtown Ann Arbor.

Questions with Dug Song

Nailah Ellis-Brown isn't the first member of her family to start a business. In fact her Detroit-based, slow-food startup, Ellis Island Tea, has its roots with the first entrepreneurs of her family.

Questions with Nailah Ellis-Brown turns family tradition into fast-growing business

Omeid Seirafi-Pour is the CEO & co-founder of MyFab5, a social media startup based in Ann Arbor.

Questions with Omeid Seirafi-Pour