>> ... Next Generation ... on the cover
_earning From Ill
Israeli Success
Detroit entrepreneurs
seek to emulate Israel's
"Startup Nation."
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the Barron family generously committed
funds to a yearly program that would "re-
At 5 a.m. that morning, a cohort of the
invent" how the local community organizes
group arose to visit the Kotel, the Western
theme-focused missions to Israel.
Wall, where the sun would rise at 5:36
The Barrons said they are thrilled with
a.m. on the dot. Back at the hotel, there
the inaugural mission.
was enough time to grab a quick bite
"All trips to Israel are life-changing,"
of shakshuka (eggs atop a spicy tomato
they said. "Affinity groups add an
sauce) for breakfast before congregating at additional dimension. Surrounded by
the Jerusalem City Council to
peers, ideas are exchanged and
hear the deputy mayor opine
innovative programs can be
on entrepreneurship in the
created, deepening the bond
world's holiest city.
between Michiganders and their
Just 24 hours earlier, we
Israeli counterparts."
were at the headquarters of
Julie Tepperman, staff mission
Waze, a global navigation
leader, will be overseeing the new
app acquired by Google for
affinity platform at Federation.
around $1 billion, give or take
Scott Kaufman, Federation
a few shekels.
CEO, elaborated on the Barron
Sitting mesmerized at just
Mission Lab, which plans to
one of Israel's most recent
create a new-themed mission for
Adam F inkel
billion-dollar success stories,
the community each year.
Special
to the
we found our dynamic
"The vision is for the
Jewish News
conversations unique because
Federation to reach people in
we were not just seeing
ways that we may not be able to
economic wonders up close, we also were
on a traditional Israel trip by targeting sub-
doing it in our own Jewish homeland, a
sectors of the community," he said. "The
nation at the tectonic intersection between
magnificent generosity of the Barron family
old and new where we could see our past
allows us to empower more leadership and
and our future before our very eyes.
philanthropy in our community."
A new insight arose. When people with
Kaufman believes this trip will inspire
a shared vision take initiative, magical
others to be lifelong volunteers and more
things happen.
committed to the needs of our local
community.
A Different Mission
"The overall strategy for the region
"This trip," participant Ronnie Klein said,
that we hear from Detroit's mayor and
"consisted of [mostly] young, dynamic,
Michigan's governor is that we need
smart, calculated risk-takers who are
a thriving entrepreneurial community
building great businesses in Detroit
that attracts the best talent if we're
while being involved in Detroit's Jewish
going to have a strong city and state,"
community and building bonds with Israel
he said. "We also need those traits
and their Israeli business peers."
in our Jewish community. It will make
The inaugural Entrepreneur Mission
a big difference to bring some of the
is an offshoot of the Nora and Guy
'Startup Nation's' DNA back to Detroit
Barron Mission Lab. Based at the Detroit
so we can learn the best practices, learn
Federation, the lab came to fruition after
the best of Israel's successes and form
48
relationships that lead to a stronger bond
between our two communities."
Co-chairs of the mission were Detroit
entrepreneurs and communal leaders Lisa
Stern, founder of BIG Communications,
and Jim Bellinson, managing member at
Riverstone Growth Partners. They worked
closely with Federation to bring together
a cohort of Detroiters that represented a
diverse range of business backgrounds.
Startup on page 50