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