# DisruptED in the D: Why Detroit Makes Sense for Mobility Entrepreneurs

By Ron Stefanski · Published 2025-01-28 · Updated 2026-05-19 · Transportation on MarketScale
Canonical: https://www.marketscale.com/industries/transportation/detroit-mobility-entrepreneurs-newlab
Creator hub: DisruptED

> Former auto manufacturing hub leverages its transportation legacy and emerging innovation districts to become a magnet for next-generation mobility startups

## Key points

- Detroit's automotive legacy gives mobility startups immediate access to supply chains, talent, and OEM partnerships.
- Emerging innovation districts in Detroit are creating physical hubs where mobility entrepreneurs can collaborate and scale.
- The city's cost advantages and institutional knowledge make it a competitive alternative to coastal tech ecosystems for transportation ventures.

Block Field

[Detroit](https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottbeyer/2018/07/31/why-has-detroit-continued-to-decline/), once a symbol of the [Rust Belt's decline](https://www.britannica.com/place/Rust-Belt), is now [rewriting its story](https://marketscale.com/industries/podcast-network/disrupted/story-of-detroits-riverfront-reclamation-and-beyond-with-matt-cullen/) as a hub for innovation and mobility. Home to the [Michigan Central innovation district](https://michigancentral.com/) and [Newlab](https://michigancentral.com/newlab-at-michigan-central-surpasses-100-startups-in-its-first-14-months/), the city has transformed into a growth engine for startups tackling the future of transportation. With its rich history as the birthplace of automotive mobility and its current momentum as a technological disruptor, Detroit is attracting mobility entrepreneurs eager to reshape mobility for the 21st century.

> Detroit is attracting mobility entrepreneurs eager to reshape mobility for the 21st century.

So, what makes Detroit the ideal launchpad for next-gen mobility startups? How do spaces like [Newlab](https://www.newlab.com/) support the innovation ecosystem?

In this episode of [*DisruptED*](https://marketscale.com/shows/disrupted/), host [Ron J. Stefanski](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronjstefanski/) sits down with [**Ben James**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-p-james/), the Co-founder and CEO of [**Tubular Network**](https://www.tubular.network/), a cutting-edge company revolutionizing the last mile of delivery with robotic tube systems. Together, they explore why Detroit's dynamic ecosystem, grit, and historical relevance make it the perfect home for mobility entrepreneurs and companies like Tubular Network.

**Key takeaways from the episode:**

- **The Detroit Comeback Story**: Once seen as a symbol of urban decline, Detroit is now a magnet for mobility entrepreneurs, with Newlab serving as a vibrant incubator for innovation.
- **The Tubular Network Journey**: Ben James explains why Tubular Network relocated from Austin to Detroit and how the city's mobility-focused infrastructure has catalyzed their growth.
- **Why Ecosystems Matter**: Newlab provides the ideal environment for startups to collaborate, innovate, and showcase their technologies in spaces designed to inspire and disrupt traditional mobility.

### About the Guest

**Ben James** is an accomplished entrepreneur and product leader with extensive experience in augmented reality, electric transportation, and education. As the Co-founder and CEO of Tubular Network, he leverages his engineering expertise and hyperloop technology background to pioneer innovative logistics solutions. With a career spanning leadership roles at Magic Leap, CoStar Group, and National Instruments, Ben excels in driving product strategy, leading prototyping teams, and integrating cutting-edge technologies to address multidisciplinary challenges.

Tags: Ben James, DisruptED, Michigan Central innovation district, Newlab, Ron J Stefanski, Tubular Network

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