Metro Detroit’s startup surge is redefining the city’s innovation legacy, with a local entrepreneur leader calling it the “second largest entrepreneurial hotspot” in the world.
“Detroit is where it’s at,” said Melissa Hughes, president of EO Detroit and founder of Live Rich Spread Wealth, during an appearance on Live in the D. “The second largest entrepreneurial hotspot. That’s amazing.”
Hughes said EO (Entrepreneurs’ Organization) Detroit has been part of the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem for 30 years and is connected to a global network of 18,000 entrepreneurs across 76 countries. Locally, she said the breadth of industries and a strong culture of collaboration are driving growth.
“We have folks that are all about robotics. We have people that had the passion around plants and now is a strong brand in EO Detroit,” Hughes said, adding that member companies span “over 30 industries” including software, automation, healthcare tech and creative fields. “It’s no longer manufacturing [and] automotive.”
Hughes said EO Detroit has the highest percentage of women among chapters in its network, underscoring the city’s inclusive momentum. For aspiring founders, she emphasized the fundamentals that powered her own rise - she said she made her first million at 31.
“For me, it was discipline, intuition, and also being really consistent with my business,” Hughes said. “I realized success without being in alignment is not sustainable.”
Above all, she urged entrepreneurs to plug into peers. “Community is priceless,” Hughes said. “Entrepreneurship will test you on a lot of different fronts. But being together with peer-led organizations like EO Detroit - that is where the juiciness is.”
To watch the segment, click on the video above.