Our Approach
Investment, Partnership, Growth
Culture is important to us here at Detroit Venture Partners. Because we invest in people, we look for entrepreneurs who share the same DNA as we do.
Passion First
- Build something larger than yourself
- Stay close to your purpose and "why"
- Rebuild Detroit
- Drive social change
No Limits
- Playing it safe is irresponsibly dangerous
- Begin with an empty cup (open-mindedness)
- Defeat the gremlin (identify and conquer your fears)
- Have the courage to challenge conventional wisdom
- Ideas don’t have an org chart
- We tune in (to customers, team members, the world around us)
"Do or do not. There is no try"
- Fail Fast (and learn)
- Confront the brutal facts
- Will of steel (persistence)
- Eyes wide open (prioritization and visibility)
- Don’t solve for the exceptions
- Execution is worshiped
Nothing clarifies like clarity
- No Surprises, No Assumptions
- I’m me and you’re you (know and speak to your audience)
- Cut through the buzz words
- Gump it! (simplify so Forrest Gump could understand)
- Grow Big Ears (we listen)
This ain't a morgue
- Don’t take ourselves too seriously
- Have fun!
- Embrace Power of Humor
Deer in headlights die
- Do more faster (Speed wins)
- Urgency wins championships
- Find the shortest path
- If everything seems under control, you’re not going fast enough
Leave it better than you found it
- Zappers not sappers (energize those around you)
- Senators & Shleppers get the same treatment
- Don’t take things for granted (Gratitude)
- Optimism is a force multiplier
The past is dead
- Constant Learning
- Don’t stumble over something behind you
- Drive and embrace change
Feedback is a gift
- No yes-men (tell it like it is)
- Friendly fire encouraged
- Challenge assumptions & each other
Do more with less
- Drive efficiency through higher thinking
- Always finding a better way
- Constraints create stronger solutions
I got your back
- Grow your trust account (pays big dividends)
- Accountability is non-negotiable