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Detroit, once the fourth-largest city in America, is seeing a resurgence fueled by proptech startups. The city, which saw its population grow for the first time since 1957, is now home to innovative tech companies transforming its real estate landscape.

Detroit’s recovery from bankruptcy has been driven by the auto and mortgage industries' renewed commitment to the city. Major companies like Ford Land and Rocket Mortgage have expanded into real estate development, attracting a wave of proptech startups. Grant Drzyzga, founder of Revela, highlighted Ford Land’s significant real estate holdings and Rocket’s investments through Bedrock Detroit as catalysts for this growth.

Local entrepreneurs like Drzyzga and Kevin Heras of InvestNext see Detroit as a burgeoning hub for proptech, with a tight-knit community fostering collaboration and innovation. Startups such as Kode Labs and InvestNext have secured significant funding, signaling strong investor confidence.

Colleen Werner of Lulafit and PJ Duffy of Hum also emphasize Detroit’s advantages, including a lower cost of living and strong support networks for startups. Initiatives like the Michigan Founders Fund and Black Tech Saturdays are helping nurture the city's entrepreneurial ecosystem, particularly for minority entrepreneurs.

From mapping city parcels with Regrid to providing smart building tech, these proptech startups are playing a vital role in Detroit’s economic revival, turning it from Motor City to a hub of real estate innovation.

Original article posted on May 28, 2024