Michigan Entrepreneurs

Michigan is the "Innovate State" and has the unique distinction of producing more famous entrepreneurs than any other location in the world!


 Entrepreneur Description Michigan Connection
#1 Thomas Edison Inventor of the light bulb, phonograph and motion pictures

Raised in Port Huron, MI
#2 Henry Ford 
Founder of Ford Motor Company

Born in Greenfield Township and built company near Detroit, MI
#3 Bill Hewlett Co-Founder of Hewlett Packard

Born in Ann Arbor, MI 
#4 Larry Page Co-Founder of Google Born in East Lansing and attended University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI 

#5 Bill Joy Co-Founder of Sun Microsystems Born in Farmington Hills and attended University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI 

#6 Tony Fadell Creator of the iPod Raised in Gross Pointe Farms and attended University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI 

#7 Howard Shultz CEO of Starbucks Attended Northern Michigan University in Marquette, MI

#8 Josh Silverman CEO of Skype Born in Ann Arbor, MI 

#9 Billy Durant Co-Founder of General Motors and Chevrolet  Worked in Flint, MI then created his companies in SE Michigan

#10 Kevin O'Connor Founder of DoubleClick

Born in Livonia and attended University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI 

#11 Tom Monaghan Founder of Domino's Pizza

Born in Ann Arbor and started company in Ann Arbor, MI

#12 Peter Karmanos Founder of Compuware

Born in Detroit.  Attended Wayne State University in Detroit.

#13 Dick Costolo CEO of Twitter and Founder of FeedBurner

Born in Detroit and attended University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI 

#14 S.S. Kresge Founder of Kmart

Built company in Garden City, MI.
#15 Brad Keywell Founder of Groupon

Grew up in Bloomfield Hills, MI.  Attended Cranbrook Schools in Bloomfield Hills and then attended University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI 

#16 Dan Gilbert Founder of Quicken Loans

Born in Detroit.  Attended Michigan State University in East Lansing
and 
Wayne State University in Detroit, MI

#17 Donna Dubinsky CEO of Palm Computing, co-founder of Handspring

Born in Benton Harbor, MI
#18 Homer Stryker Founder of Stryker Corporation

Grew up in Athens, MI.  Attended Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo and University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI

#19 Steve Ballmer CEO Microsoft

Born in Detroit and grew up in Farmington Hills, MI

#20 Scott McNealy Co-founder of Sun Microsystems

Attended Cranbrook Schools in Bloomfield Hills, MI

#21 Berry Gordy, Jr Founder of Motown Records

Born and built his company in Detroit, MI

#22 Claude Shannon Inventor of the Digital Computer

Born in Petosky, MI.  Attended University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI 
#23 Jim Buckmaster CEO of Craigslist

Born in Ann Arbor, MI.  Attended University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI 

#24 Herbert Dow Founder of Dow Chemical

Founded company in Midland, MI
#25 Jay Adelson Co-Founder of Digg

Born in Detroit, MI.  Attended Cranbrook Schools in Bloomfield Hills, MI

#26 W.K. Kellog Founder of Kellog

Built company in Battle Creek, MI
#27 Sid Meier Founder Firaxis (Civilization Game) and the Father of Computer Gaming

Attended University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI

#28 Francis Ford Coppola Co-Founder of American Zoetrope and one of Hollywood's most influential film directors

Born in Detroit, MI
#29 Robert Jarvik Founder of Jarvik Heart and inventor of the first artificial heart

Born in Midland, MI
#30 Mahendra Vora Founder of Intelliseek, Vora Ventures and Vora Technology Park

Attended University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI

#31 Frank Gerber Founder of Gerber Baby Food

Born in Douglas, MI.  Built company in Fremont, MI
#32 Manoj Bhargava Founder of 5 hour energy drink

Built company in Farmington Hills, MI
#33 Fred Erb Founder of Erb Lumber

Attended Cranbrook Schools in Bloomfield Hills and attended University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI.  Built his company in Royal Oak, MI.

#34 Usama Fayyad Founder DMX Group and Oasis500. Former Chief Data Officer Yahoo

Attended University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI

#35 Peter Wege Founder of Steelcase

Born and built his company in Grand Rapids, MI
#36 Sam Zell CoFounder of EGI Equity Investments Group

Attended University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI

#37 Craig Hall Founder Total Logics Control, LeanLogistics and Co-Founder of Grand Angels

Lives and built his companies in Grand Rapids, MI
#38 David Overton Founder Cheesecake Factory

Born in Detroit.  Attended Wayne State University in Detroit

#39 Jack Roush Founder of Roush Racing and Roush Industries

Attended Eastern Michigan University and built company in Livonia, MI

#40 Hendrik Meijer Founder of Meijer

Founded company in Greenville, MI.  Headquarters are now in Grand Rapids, MI

#41 Louis Chevrolet Founder of Chevrolet

Founded company in Detroit, MI

#42 William Boeing Co-Founder of Boeing

Born in Detroit, MI.

#43 Walter Chrysler Founder of Chrysler

Founded company in Detroit, MI

#44 D.J. DePree Founder of Herman Miller

Born and founded company in Zeeland, MI
#45 Orville Gibson Founder of Gibson Guitars

Founded company in Kalamazoo, MI
#46 David Buick Founder of Buick Motors

Founded company in Detroit, MI

#47 Arnold Gingrich Founder of Esquire Magazine

Born in Grand Rapids, MI and attended University of Michigan in Ann Arbor
#48 John DeLorean Founder of DeLorean Motor Company

Born in Detroit, MI and attended Lawrence Tech University, Detroit College of Law and University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.  Founded company in Detroit, MI

#49 Brig Sorber CoFounder of Two Men and a Truck


#50 Jon Sorber CoFounder of Two Men and a Truck


#51 James Vernor Founder of Vernor’s Ginger Ale


#52 Craig Newmark Founder of CraigsList


#53 Horace Dodge Co-Founder of Dodge


#54 John Dodge Co-Founder of Dodge


#55 David Segura Founder VisionIT


#56 Richard DeVos Co-Founder of Amway


#57 Jay Van Andel Co-Founder of Amway


#58 C.S. Mott Co-Founder of General Motors


#59 Roger Penske Founder of Penske Automotive Group


#60 Mike Ilitch Founder of Little Caesars Pizza


#61 William Upjohn Founder of Upjohn Pharmaceutical Company


#62 Brian Taylor Founder of Kernel Seasons


#63 Frederick Upton Co-Founder of Whirlpool


#64 Louis Upton Co-Founder of Whirlpool


#65 William Russell Kelly Founder of Kelly Services


#66 Tom Gores Founder of Platinum Equity


#67 Alex Manoogian Founder of Masco


#68 Jim Sterken Co-Founder of Arbortext


#69 Don Graham Founder of Graham Engineering Company


#70 Jeff Masters Co-Founder of Weather Underground


#71 Alan Steremberg Co-Founder of Weather Underground


#72 Melville Bissell Founder of Bissell


#73 Edward M. Knabusch Co-Founder of La-Z-Boy


#74 Edwin J. Shoemaker Co-Founder of La-Z-Boy


#75 Richard E. Dauch Co-Founder of American Axle


#76 Luther Perrigo Founder of Perrigo


#77 Frederick Matthai Founder of Lear Corporation


#78 Rick Snyder Former CEO of Gateway Computers and Founder of Avalon VC


#79 Leland James Founder of Con-way Inc.


#80 Sandy Robertson Founder of Francisco Partners


#81 Josh Linkner Founder of ePrize


#82 Rich Sheridan Co-Founder of Menlo Innovation


#83 Eric Lefkofsky Co-Founder Groupon


#84 Tim Westergren Co-Founder Pandora


#85 Tom Conrad CTO Pandora


#86 Niklas Zennström Co-Founder Skype


#87 Ari Weinzweig Co-Founder Zingerman’s


#88 Paul Saginaw Co-Founder Zingerman’s


#89 Shawn Daughtery Co-Founder and COO Mophie


#90 Jeff Williams CEO of HandyLab, Accuri and Tangent Medical


#91 Kalyan Handique Co-Founder of HandyLab


#92 Sundaresh Brahmasandra

Co-Founder of HandyLab

Attended University of Michigan and built company iAnn Arbor, MI 

#93 David Fry Founder of Fry


#94 Dug Song Co-Founder of Duo Security


#95 Jon Oberheide Co-Founder of Duo Security


#96 Max Fisher Founder of Aurora Gaosoline


#97 Allan R. Thieme Founder Amigo Mobility


#98 Mike Busley Co-Founder Grand Traverse Pie Company

Built company in Traverse City, MI

#99 Denise Busley Co-Founder Grand Traverse Pie Company

Built company in Traverse City, MI

#100 Steve Blank Co-Founder Epiphany, Inc.


#101 Rachel Andresen Founder Youth For Understanding USA


#102 Larry Bell Founder of Bell’s Brewery


#103 David Green Founder of Aurolab


#104 Bing Gordon CCO Electronic Arts and Founding Director of Audible


#105 Arthur Burks CoCreator ENIAC and UM CS Department


#106 Ben Feigenson Co-Founder of Faygo


#107 Perry Feigenson Co-Founder of Faygo


#108 Tom Knoll Inventor of Adobe Photshop


#109 Stephen Ross Founder of The Related Companies


#110 Perry Sampson Co-Founder of Weather Underground and Lecture Tools


#111 Aaron Dworkin Founder of Sphinx Organization


#112 Michael Kinsley Founder of Slate Online Magazine


#113 George Valassis Founder of Valassis


#114 Alfred Taubman Founder of The Taubman Company


#115 Bob Fish Co-Founder of Biggby Coffee


#116 Mary Roszel Co-Founder of Biggby Coffee


#117 Chuck Newman Founder of ReCellular


#118 Aaron Crumm Co-Founder of Adaptive Materials


#119 Michelle Crumm Co-Founder of Adaptive Materials


#120 Dick Kughn Founder of Lionel Trains


#121 Jim Hearn Co-Founder of Hungry Howie’s Pizza


#122 Steve Jackson Co-Founder of Hungry Howie’s Pizza


#123 Elijah McCoy Inventor, The Real McCoy


#124 Hal Davis Co-Founder BlueGill Technologies, Inc.


#125 Vinay Gupta Co-Founder BlueGill Technologies, Inc.


#126 William Davidson Founder of Guardian Industries

Born in Detroit.  Attended University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and Wayne State University in Detroit

#127 Jeff Daniels Actor and Founder of Purple Rose Theater

Raised in Chelsea.  Attended Central Michigan University and Eastern Michigan University 

#128 Charles Lindbergh Aviator Pioneer
 
Born in Detroit
#129 C.W. Post Founder of Post Cereals

Built company in Battle Creek, MI 
#130 Casey Casem Founder of American Top 40  Born in Detroit.  Attended Wayne State University in Detroit

#131 Victor Strecher

Co-Founder of Health Media  Attended and teaches at University of Michigan, started company in Ann Arbor 

#132 Dave Gregorka

Co-Founder of Health Media 

Attended University of Michiganstarted company in Ann Arbor
#133 Dave Nickels

Founder of Nickels Boat Works
 
Built company in Flint, MI 
#134 Jason Spaulding Co-Founder of New Holland Brewing Company Grew up in Midland, MI.  Attended Hope College and built company in Holland, MI

#135 Brett VanderKamp

Co-Founder of New Holland Brewing Company
Grew up in Midland, MI.  Attended Hope College and built company in Holland, MI


#136 Jordan Silverman

Co-Founder of Star Toilet Paper  Founded company while attended University of Michigan and built his company in Ann Arbor, MI
 
#137 Fred Gibbons

Co-Founder of Software Publishing Corporation 

Attended University of Michigan and built his company in Ann Arbor, MI
 
#138 Henry Leland

Co-Founder of Cadillac  Founded company in Detroit, MI
#139 William Murphy 

Co-Founder of Cadillac 
Founded company in Detroit, MI
 
#140 Eugene Power

Founder of University Microfilms  Born in Traverse City, MI.  Attended University of Michigan and built his company in Ann Arbor, MI
 
#141 Ellen Levy
 
Founder of Silicon Valley Connect 

Grew up in Ann Arbor, MI and attended University of Michigan.
              
#142 Clarence Woolley

Co-Founder of American Standards Company

Born and built his company in Detroit, MI

#143 Furqan Nazeeri Founder of Pivot Inc. and part of early team at Petstore.com

Attended University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI


#144 Tom Brady Founder of Plastic Technologies, Inc.

Attended University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI

#145 Greg Hammerman Co-Founder of Techstreet & Larky  Attended University of Michigan and built his company in Ann Arbor, MI
 
#146 Andrew Bank Co-Founder of Techstreet & Larky 
 
Attended University of Michigan and built his company in Ann Arbor, MI
 
#147 Roy D. Chapin Founder of Hudson Motor Car Company Born in East Lansing and built company in Detroit, MI

#148 Oscar Mayer  Found of Oscar Mayer Meat Company Lived in Detroit, MI

#149 Edgar Gott

Co-Founder and first President of Boeing

Born in Detroit, MI.  Attended University Liggett in Gross Pointe Woods and attended University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI

#150 Cathy Guisewite 

Founder of the Comic Strip "Cathy

Grew up in Midland, MI and attended Midland High School.  Attended University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI

#151 Charles Fisher

Co-Founder of Fisher Body
 
Built company in Detroit, MI
 
#152 Fred Fisher
Co-Founder of Fisher Body
 
Built company in Detroit, MI
#153 David Pisor

Co-Founder of DaVinci Software and Founder & CEO of Elysian Hotel and Resort (now Waldorf Astoria) 

Attended University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI
#154 Jeff Bates

Co-Founder of Slashdot Attended Hope College and built company in Holland, MI
 
#155 Rob Malda

Co-Founder of Slashdot
 
Attended Hope College and built company in Holland, MI
 
#156 Chris Smith Co-Founder of Chris-Craft Boats

Grew up and built his company in Algonac, MI
#157 Hank Smith Co-Founder of Chris-Craft Boats

Grew up and built his company in Algonac, MI
 
#158 Randall Kaplan Co-Founder of Akamai
 
Attended University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI
 
#159 Ed Lowe

Founder of Tidy Cats and Inventor of Cat Litter  Grew up and built his company in Cassopolis, MI
#160 Frederic L. Smith

Co-Founder of General Motors  Born and grew up in Lansing.  Attended Michigan Military Academy in Lansing and  University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI

#161 Mike Jandernoa  

CEO of Perrigo Systems, Co-Founder of Grand Angels and Bridge Street Capital Partners
 
Attended University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI
 
#162 Howard Marks

Co-Founder of Activision and founder of StartEngine

Attended University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI
 
#163 Paul Vlasic

Co-Founder of RSVP Capital Attended University of Michigan and built company in Ann Arbor, MI
 
#164 Madonna

Best selling female recording artist of all time and founder of Maverick. Born in Bay City, MI, grew up in Rochester Hills, MI.  Attended University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI

#165 Dhani Jones

Founder of VMG Creative and BowTie Cause Attended University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI
 
#166 Meg Whitman

CEO of FTD, CEO of eBay and HP  Prior to leading eBay and HP was CEO of Florists' Transworld Delivery Inc., 
 

Do you know of a Michigan Entrepreneur that should be on this list?  Let me know -- send an email to doug@MichiganeLab and follow me on twitter @DougNeal_MI.  Search #365MichiganEntrepreneurs on twitter for daily tweets.
Website Builder