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A Multi-Sited, Multi-Level Ethnographic Study of Growth Startups and Entrepreneurial Communities in Post-Industrial Detroit Marlo Rencher Wayne State University

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A Multi-Sited, Multi-Level Ethnographic Study of Growth Startups and Entrepreneurial Communities in Post-Industrial Detroit Marlo Rencher Wayne State University Wayne State University DigitalCommons@WayneState Wayne State University Dissertations 1-1-2012 Crossing The alV ley Of Death: A Multi-Sited, Multi-Level Ethnographic Study Of Growth Startups And Entrepreneurial Communities In Post-Industrial Detroit Marlo Rencher Wayne State University, Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/oa_dissertations Recommended Citation Rencher, Marlo, "Crossing The alV ley Of Death: A Multi-Sited, Multi-Level Ethnographic Study Of Growth Startups And Entrepreneurial Communities In Post-Industrial Detroit" (2012). Wayne State University Dissertations. Paper 616. This Open Access Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@WayneState. It has been accepted for inclusion in Wayne State University Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@WayneState. CROSSING THE VALLEY OF DEATH: A MULTI-SITED, MULTI-LEVEL ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDY OF GROWTH STARTUPS AND ENTREPRENEURIAL COMMUNITIES IN POST-INDUSTRIAL DETROIT by MARLO RENCHER DISSERTATION Submitted to the Graduate School of Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY 2012 MAJOR: ANTHROPOLOGY Approved by: ___________________________________ Advisor Date ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ DEDICATION For Mali, Imani and Charles ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I am grateful for the time, wisdom and talents of my committee members: Allen Batteau, Mark Luborsky, Julia Gluesing and Christina Wasson. Their thoughtful consideration of this research and their guidance in my development as an anthropologist was invaluable. In addition, I would like to thank Guerin Montilus for his tutelage and support. I appreciate the financial support I have received from the Department of Anthropology, the Graduate School and the Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) program at Wayne State University. I am thankful for the contributions of ideas from the wider discipline of anthropology and how it has deepened my perspective. As a proud member of the Detroit entrepreneurial community, I am grateful to everyone working to build businesses in the city, especially those at “IncUbator,” “Detroit Tech,” “Urban Health,” “Trinity Care Partners” and all study participants. I also appreciate the fellowship that I found as an anthropology student at Wayne State University. I am so thankful to those who have lit the path for me to follow. This dissertation would not have been possible without the love and support of my family. To Robert and Kerry Jenkins and Raymond and Shirley Rencher – thanks so much for believing in me. To Robert Sr. and Norma Jenkins – you have contributed immeasurably to this accomplishment. I’m so grateful to be your daughter. There are two special individuals who have been with me every step of the way in this research. Dawn Batts and Jambony Jarju – I am eternally grateful to walk my life’s path with you as close companions. Thanks for making this accomplishment not just possible, but enjoyable. iii I am grateful to have been blessed with two daughters. Mali Rencher and Imani Rencher – thank you so much for being patient and generous enough to share me with my pursuit of the Ph.D. Thanks for inspiring me to be a role model for you both. True love has no requirements but its acceptance, yet it is the Power that moves all things. I am joyful that I have a husband with unfailing support and abiding love. Thank you, Charles. I could not have done this without you. Finally, I am grateful to my ancestors for your love, guidance and blessings. I thank the Creator for wisdom, knowledge and understanding. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Dedication ....................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgments .......................................................................................................... iii List of Tables ................................................................................................................. viii List of Figures................................................................................................................. ix CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................ 1 Overview ...................................................................................................................... 1 Background .................................................................................................................. 9 Problem Statement ..................................................................................................... 14 Goal and Specific Aims .............................................................................................. 15 Research Significance ................................................................................................ 16 CHAPTER 2 CULTURE, ACTIVITY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP ................................ 19 Refining Cultural Conceptions .................................................................................... 20 Meaning, Activity and Materialism .............................................................................. 23 Activity Theory ............................................................................................................ 24 Situated Action ........................................................................................................... 28 Technology and Culture ............................................................................................. 31 Entrepreneurship and Culture ..................................................................................... 35 Opportunities for Contributions to Anthropology ......................................................... 39 CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH DESIGN AND SETTING ...................................................... 41 Data Collection ........................................................................................................... 52 Multi-sited Ethnography .............................................................................................. 53 Participant Observation .............................................................................................. 54 Data Analysis ............................................................................................................. 55 v CHAPTER 4 RACE, RUSTBELT, RECESSION AND RENAISSANCE ......................... 58 A Brief History of Detroit ............................................................................................. 58 A Comparison of Entrepreneurial Ecosystems: Detroit vs. San Francisco .................. 72 CHAPTER 5 FINDINGS & DISCUSSION – ENTREPRENEURIAL COMMUNITIES ..... 78 Organizing .................................................................................................................. 81 Networking ................................................................................................................. 90 Pitching .................................................................................................................... 103 Nurturing .................................................................................................................. 111 CHAPTER 6 FINDINGS & DISCUSSION – ENTREPRENEURS AND BUSINESSES 125 Organizing ................................................................................................................ 125 Networking ............................................................................................................... 132 Pitching .................................................................................................................... 141 Nurturing .................................................................................................................. 146 SueZette and Course Compass: A Case Study ........................................................ 152 CHAPTER 7 CONCLUSION ....................................................................................... 160 Answering the Questions .......................................................................................... 161 Implications .............................................................................................................. 166 Limitations ................................................................................................................ 171 Areas for Further Study ............................................................................................ 173 My Journey ............................................................................................................... 174 Appendix A Glossary of Selected Business Terms ...................................................... 177 Appendix B List of Ethnographic Articles on Entrepreneurship by Category ................ 180 Appendix C Research Subject Interview Protocol ........................................................ 181 Appendix D Recruitment Script ................................................................................... 183 vi Appendix E Behavioral Research Informed Consent ................................................... 184 Appendix F Resource Protocol .................................................................................... 186 Appendix G Referenced Study Participants ................................................................
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