Big tech names launch Detroit Venture Partners

A few of Metro Detroit's biggest names in tech are getting together to launch a new venture capital firm, Detroit Venture Partners.

Josh Linkner of ePrize, Dan Gilbert of Quicken Loans, and Brian Hermelin of Rockbridge Growth Equity started the VC firm in downtown Detroit with the idea of putting Metro Detroit's tech sector growth on steroids. Detroit Venture Partners plans to invest in early-stage companies in internet, digital media, marketing, and direct-to-consumer technologies, sports and entertainment, social media, e-commerce, and software.

"Your bio-tech or advanced manufacturing idea may be groundbreaking, but that's not our focus," says Detroit Venture Partners' website. "We'd just screw it up if we got involved."

Linkner (the short and sarcastic one, according to the website) will serve as the firm's CEO and managing partner. Gilbert (the comic sans font and hair product fan) and Hermelin (the bald brains of the trio) will serve as general partners. The five-person VC firm plans to make 6-8 investments in 2011 and up to 10-20 the next year. Its long-term plan is to make a difference in Metro Detroit by creating economic opportunity.

"We really want to become a significant venture firm in town, similar to what you see in Silicon Valley," Linkner says.

Source: Josh Linkner, CEO & managing partner with Detroit Venture Partners
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

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Interactive promotions developer ePrize is the jewel in Metro Detroit's new economy crown. The Pleasant Ridge company was founded in 1999 and has dominated the interactive promotions industry since its inception.
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Big tech names launch Detroit Venture Partners

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