JUNE 29 • 2023 | 13
Metro Detroit.
Membership at The Elevator
grants complimentary access to
an array of amenities, including
dedicated and flexible office
space, conference rooms, 360°
video conferencing capabilities
with an 86-inch display screen,
high-speed internet connec-
tivity, high-capacity printing,
a convenient kitchenette and a
U.S. mailing address with mail
delivery service to an assigned
locker.
Moreover, The Elevator bene-
fits from an exceptional location
with convenient access to vari-
ous modes of public transpor-
tation, including the Q-line, bus
routes and major freeways that
ensure seamless connectivity
for its members. MIBA is fully
prepared to assist companies in
connecting with housing and
parking partners as well.
“Israel is known as Startup
Nation and we want to be ‘Scale
Up Nation’ for them,
” Elliott
said. “Our goal at the Michigan
Israel Business Accelerator is to
drive Michigan’s economy for-
ward, one Israeli connection at
a time. For us to make that hap-
pen, we have to drive value for
our Israeli partners, which we’re
going to do in spades here.
”
A DRIVER OF MICHIGAN’S
ECONOMY
According to Elliott, work on
The Elevator began five years
ago, and it took help from sev-
eral community partners, who
were on hand when MIBA offi-
cially launched the co-working
space at an event June 8.
One of those partners
was Quentin Messer, CEO
of the Michigan Economic
Development Corporation.
“‘Make it in Michigan’ is an
economic framework that has
three critical elements to it:
people, place and projects,
” he
said at the launch. “This is really
an exciting opportunity to see
people, place and projects come
all together in one place.
”
According to Bernard
Bourgeois, director of
Ecosystem Development at the
MIBA, Detroit was the ideal
place for this “soft landing
zone.
” It wouldn’t have been
possible without the help of
Bedrock, which helped MIBA
find the ideal location for The
Elevator, which will also serve
as offices for MIBA.
Eric Smith, vice president
of strategy for Bedrock, said,
“What’s good for Detroit is
good for Bedrock, and what’s
good for our cities is also good
business. It’s very hard to
overstate the potential of The
Elevator and how good this can
“MIBA IS A GREAT
“MIBA IS A GREAT
RESOURCE FOR ISRAELI
RESOURCE FOR ISRAELI
COMPANIES IN MICHIGAN
COMPANIES IN MICHIGAN
AND THE ELEVATOR
AND THE ELEVATOR
WILL HELP ADVANCE
WILL HELP ADVANCE
THEIR MISSION OF
THEIR MISSION OF
CONNECTING COMPANIES
CONNECTING COMPANIES
LIKE GUARDKNOX TO
LIKE GUARDKNOX TO
IMPORTANT RESOURCES
IMPORTANT RESOURCES
AND NETWORKS. WE
AND NETWORKS. WE
ANTICIPATE USING THE
ANTICIPATE USING THE
ELEVATOR SPACE TO
ELEVATOR SPACE TO
FURTHER FACILITATE
FURTHER FACILITATE
MEETINGS AND
MEETINGS AND
DISCUSSIONS WITH
DISCUSSIONS WITH
OTHER COMPANIES AS
OTHER COMPANIES AS
WE FIND A COMMON
WE FIND A COMMON
NEUTRAL GROUND UPON
NEUTRAL GROUND UPON
WHICH TO TRADE IDEAS
WHICH TO TRADE IDEAS
AND COLLABORATE ON
AND COLLABORATE ON
PROJECTS.”
PROJECTS.”
continued on page 14
The Elevator aims to strengthen the ties
between Israel and Michigan