Tag Archives: crowdfunding

ZipCap: empowering America’s most loved local businesses by transforming customer loyalty into working capital

In spite of the billboards around town by local banks claiming to support homegrown businesses, the truth is, when our small “mom and pop” stores need capital, it’s almost impossible to come by. When a local restaurant, for instance, needs capital to grow, or to make it through lean times, there are few options, in […]

Posted in Local Business, Locally Owned Business, The Saturday Six Pack, Uncategorized, Ypsilanti | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Danny Fields… the man who signed the Stooges, discovered the Ramones, and changed the world

Almost a year ago now, I received an email from a reader of this site by the name of Bob Nolan, who, knowing of my love for the Ramones and Stooges, suggested that I talk with a friend of his named Brendan Toller. Brendan, he told me, had been working on a film about Danny […]

Posted in Ann Arbor, Art and Culture, Detroit, History | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 48 Comments

Michael Shuman… there’s a local business revolution on the horizon, and we can make it happen

Last week, I had the opportunity to spend a day with economist and author Michael Shuman. Shuman, for those of you who aren’t familiar with his work, is probably our nation’s foremost authority on the importance of cultivating, supporting and investing in local businesses. The stated purpose of his visit to Ann Arbor, which was […]

Posted in Economics, Local Business, Locally Owned Business, Michigan, Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 33 Comments

Author Amy Cortese on the burgeoning “locavesting” movement, and how we can harness it in Michigan

Next Tuesday, October 30, Think Local First will be bringing author Amy Cortese to Ann Arbor to discuss her book Locavesting: The Revolution in Local Investing and How to Profit From It. Following is my interview with Amy, who, in addition to being a published author, has written for the likes of the New York […]

Posted in Ann Arbor, Economics, entrepreneurism, Local Business, Locally Owned Business, Retail, Uncategorized, Ypsilanti | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Accelerating Community Capital (part one)… at the BALLE 2012 conference

I spent the day in Grand Rapids, participating in a workshop on new models that are evolving for local businesses to raise capital from lenders, investors and donors, at the 10th annual conference of the Business Alliance for Living Local Economies (BALLE). What follow are my rough notes, for those of you who care about […]

Posted in Economics, entrepreneurism, Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

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