The Urban Entrepreneurship Initiative (UEI) welcomes inquiries from journalists, researchers, and media organizations interested in entrepreneurship, innovation, and urban economic development. Media resources, press releases, and contact information are available below.
Latest News / Press Releases
About UEI
Urban Entrepreneurship Initiative (UEI) is a Detroit-based nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering innovators and entrepreneurs working to improve urban communities. Through its Urban Innovator Platform, UEI connects entrepreneurs, researchers, institutions, and investors who are developing scalable solutions to urban challenges in areas such as economic development, healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
Founded in 2014, UEI supports a growing global community of professionals focused on strengthening urban vitality via innovation and entrepreneurship.
Leadership
UEI Board of Directors – link to bios
Board Member Photos (download)
Reggie Barnett
Treasurer
Felipé Furtado, MD
Member
Fred Hall
Vice-President
Karen Lopez
Secretary
Lisa Prasad
Member
Leslie Lynn Smith
Member
W. David Tarver
President
Media Assets
UEI logo, full mark
[download hi-res]
UEI logo, icon only
[download hi-res]
Organization Photos
Fast Facts
Founded: 2014
Headquarters: Detroit, Michigan
Mission: Empower innovators and entrepreneurs addressing urban challenges
Platform: Urban Innovator Platform (urbanei.org)
Podcast: Urban Game Changers – Apple, Spotify, urbanei.org
Focus Areas:
- urban community vitality
- game-changing urban innovators, entrepreneurs, and businesses
- entrepreneur support organizations
- urban economic development
- technology-enabled solutions for cities
Interview Topics
UEI Founder W. David Tarver is available to discuss:
- What is urban entrepreneurship?
- Why community-focused entrepreneurship should be the “new norm”
- How to create a community-focused business
- Building a world-class tech business “from scratch”
- Urban entrepreneur’s dilemma: doing WELL and doing GOOD
- Urban communities: disruption and resilience
- Why do we need an Urban Innovator Platform?
- AI impact on urban vitality
- Urban technology: disruption and opportunity
- The future of urban entrepreneurship
Media Contact
Anshiqa Miskowski
Urban Entrepreneurship Initiative
anshiqa@urbanei.org
(734) 383-5935
or
W. David Tarver
Urban Entrepreneurship Initiatve
davidtarver@urbanei.org
(313) 457-2050
Featured Media Coverage
McKinsey & Company Article Regarding UEI and Urban Innovator Platform
Urban Innovator Platform Intro – Fox 2 News Detroit
Michigan Matters show: Urban Entrepreneurship
Urban Entrepreneurship Initiative 2.0 Launch – DBusiness
UEI 2.0 Launch on WDET “The Metro” Podcast
Urban Entrepreneurship Initiative announces new member-driven, data-driven platform.