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"Something drew me to Detroit," says Nima Adelkhani, a 45-year-old West Coast entrepreneur who posts about a visit here this month -- his second in four months.
The San Jose State University graduate, who lives in Fullerton, Calif., calls himself a "chief innovation evangelist." He's a founder of IdeaMarket, a San Francisco venture capital incubator that says it's "turning the startup process upside down" by inviting online applications for "pre-funded concepts to create world-changing companies."
One project, the Detroit Transportation Challenge, is said to have "up to $250,000 investment [funds] available." Applications are being accepted until Dec. 15, with finalists to be notified a month later and two winners of investments or loans announced next Feb. 15.
Adelkhani, who spoke only Farsi when he came to America from Iran at age 13, sketches the Detroit project's background in his essay at Medium:
Over the past six months, I have done over 300 hours of research on Detroit and I admit that the negative stories and statistics far outweigh the positive. However, something drew me to Detroit.
Last February, while listening to Steve Case at Startup Grind [a three-day business conference in Redwood City, Calif.], the concept for the Innovate Detroit Challenge came to me. I realized it was the perfect way that my company, IdeaMarket, could get involved with other entrepreneurs -- ones who really wanted to make a difference.
We were already hosting ideas from investors and letting entrepreneurs come up with solutions on our platform. Why not make it city- and cause-based?
Nima Adelkhani: "All the negative stats and figures that I had read about were gone." (Fox 2 photo)
The "innovation evangelist" gushes rhapsodically about seeing "the coolest little cafes, bars and galleries" during his latest trip here:
I met progressive people, I saw cool art, I heard great music and tasted delicious food.
Everywhere we went I felt this energy. Yes, houses are deserted, there are tons of potholes and streetlights are out, but all this didn't take away from the incredible culture. . . .
It sank in how much I truly loved Detroit. I love the people, I love the potholes, I love the music, the art, the lack of traffic, the $2.59 gas, the coney dogs, the duck confit sandwich at Dime Store, the cheap rent, and on and on.
Detroit is back, different and not perfect, but building and growing. . . . Suddenly all the negative stats and figures that I had read about were gone. They had been replaced with new friends, new experiences and a sense of being part of something big. Something that will change the city and hopefully the lives of the people who call it home and love it more then I can ever explain. . . .
Keep on building, keep on growing and keep on being you!
In two paragraphs for other outsiders ("I invite you to visit Detroit"), the ebullient cheerleader from California gives shouts to Sister Pie, Bucharest Grill, Craft Work, Slows, Bamboo, Pony Ride, Detroit Soup, Detroit Denims, Corktown Studios, Rebel Nell, Detroit Is the New Black and the DIA.
Sure, at times Adelkhan sounds more 15 than 45 (and not just by using 17 exclamation points) -- but he wants to put money where his motivation is, so we curb our snark this time.
