FOUNDERS QUESTIONS:

What educational, entrepreneurial or business development programs, if any, have you taken advantage of?
As a business management graduate from the University of Michigan, I was well prepared for the competitive business world. Plus, the experience I gained in the information technology graduate program enabled me, and subsequently helped our team face the ever changing business challenges.

Who was your first customer and where did you find them?
Oakwood Healthcare System’s cancer affiliate – Comprehensive Hematology Oncology Physicians, P.C. was our first client. Our services were recommended by an individual who worked at the cancer treatment center.

Where did you find your first employee?
We found our first employee through a mutual client that we provided services for on frequent basis. He was a great compliment to the services we offered at the time.

Where have you turned to find capital to grow your company and which institutions have provided it?
Our capital has been self funded from the start. Our original technology company was started in 1998, providing basic services to the residential sector. We later progressed into going after small to medium sized businesses. In 2006, our growth from the residential services helped fund the newly formed AccuTech International.

What are some of the advantages to doing business here?
Detroit currently has an active business community that includes small to large firms. When you see financial firms, like Quicken Loans and computer companies like Compuware, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan as your neighbors you realize that downtown is now being reborn and the opportunities for you as a business can only increase. The advantages of being in the city include the centralized way of doing business with the vast resources and services that are available. Also, what has proved to be a great advantage for us is our move to the historic Ford Building in the financial district of downtown Detroit. Their management team was more than accommodating.

What could local leaders do to help attract and retain more entrepreneurial young people to Metro Detroit?
The rebirth of the downtown business is the goal of all the local leaders including the mayor and council. Incentives that are similar to those the state of Michigan has provided to the movie industry would be a good start. Providing tax breaks for new business start-ups and maybe create a program that new entrepreneur’s can apply for a grant or special incentives to start their new business would help attract more young people.