Rust Belt Retrospective: Detroit Since the Compuware Move

At the turn of the millennium, IT was moving somewhere unexpected–the wig district in downtown Detroit. Sure, this may have just been Peter Karmanos and Compuware rather than the whole industry, but the move portended major changes for Detroit in the next decade and made waves in the tech world.

Compuware was already unique as a software company competing with the likes of IBM – and doing it from its headquarters in Farmington Hills. It became even more unique when it moved to downtown Detroit at a time when very few companies did (2003, more than 10 years ago).

While Compuware has had its ups and down, it should still be viewed as one of the earliest tech boosters for Detroit and Michigan as a whole. Indeed, Detroit and surrounding areas are now a growing tech hub that garners national attention (as reflected in this article from Fast Company).

This trend expands far beyond Detroit as well. Oakland County just launched its “tech248” initiative and Ann Arbor remains a strong incubator culture that has helped create many tech start-ups.

As long term residents of the tech culture in Michigan, we’ve seen these ebbs and flows – including the heyday with Digital Detroit that brought then superstars of the valley and an entourage of digital media salespeople. This week, Detroit had the same feel as 1500 people wielding perhaps twice as many devices observed and participated in TEDxDetroit, the 6th year running. Even better, the attendees got to experience a not yet released Pixar short. The valley is back to Detroit – but we should remember that even as Compuware was recently sold to Private Equity firm – it was Compuware that helped lead the way setting up IT and tech in the city and throughout the state.