Explore the strengths of two powerful economic models:
The agility of U.S. startup culture and the stability of Germany’s Mittelstand
📅 Feb 4 | 🕓 4:30–7:00 PM
📍 The Birmingham Pub – Birmingham, MI
✔ Open networking
✔ Business & innovation discussion
✔ Strolling Dinner & Complimentary Drinks
✔ On-Site Parking at the 555 Building - Validated Complimentary
How do the strengths of U.S. startup culture and Germany’s Mittelstand drive innovation, resilience, and long-term growth in today’s economy?
Detroit and Southeast Michigan sit at the crossroads of manufacturing heritage, emerging technology, and global collaboration. This informal networking event will explore how the speed, risk-taking, and scalability of U.S. startups complement the engineering excellence, stability, and long-term vision of the German Mittelstand — and what this means for businesses operating in Michigan and beyond.
Whether you’re a founder, corporate leader, investor, engineer, or simply interested in German-American business ties, this event offers an opportunity to exchange ideas, share experiences, and build meaningful connections.
We are excited to have on our panel discussion the following guest speakers:
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Jared Stasik
Parter at Detroit Venture Partners
Detroit Venture Partners has been committed to backing and founding early stage tech companies that we believe move the world forward. DVP was founded by Dan Gilbert, Rocket Companies Founder and Chairman, with a vision to grow Detroit's entrepreneurial community. We partner with visionary founders and help our portfolio companies succeed by leveraging the more than 90 companies within the Rock Family of Companies.
Jared is originally from Frankenmuth, Michigan and spent several years working abroad in DACH countries with a concentration in German language. A graduate from University of Michigan, Jared spent a summer at Credit Suisse and subsequently several years at ZS Associates opening up the Zurich Offices. After completing his MBA at UC Berkeley, Jared joined DVP and has been attracting and investing in startups that complement the family of businesses of Dan Gilbert.
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Dan Radomski
Chief Executive Officer of Centrepolis Accelerator at Lawrence Technological University
On the campus of Lawrence Technological University, The Centrepolis Accelerator is a non-profit focused on the growth of Southeast Michigan’s small manufacturers and hardware entrepreneurs by providing access to key resources and a collaborative community and product development and manufacturing experts.
Dan is currently the Executive Director of the Lawrence Technological University Centrepolis Accelerator, a program that helps accelerate and scale small manufacturers and innovators of new “hardware” products.
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Axel Boehme
President of Marquardt Switches NA
Axel Boehme is the President at Marquardt Switches, Inc. North America, a German global leader in mechatronics, combining nearly 100 years of innovation with a passion for developing smart, intuitive technologies. Axel has 25 years of domestic and international experience as a proven, results-oriented executive in sales, marketing, business development, program management, R&D, and operations with global Europe based suppliers to the automotive, aerospace, and automation industry. Axel graduated South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences with a Masters in Applied Business and Technology Management.
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