How Hum Struck a Chord in Connectivity

Detroit’s rise as a startup powerhouse did not happen by accident. It happened because of bold bets, a relentless belief in people, and a culture that sees opportunity where others see obstacles. That is exactly what Dan Gilbert fostered in Detroit, transforming it into one of the best emerging startup ecosystems in the country. That culture of innovation is why Hum exists today.

Christina Fair, co-founder of Hum, has lived this journey firsthand. A proud Detroiter, she graduated from East Detroit High School and the University of Detroit Mercy before building her career within the Family of Companies. Starting at Quicken Loans in 2000, she led innovation and process excellence, which ultimately took her to Rocket Fiber. That leap was anything but conventional.

“Dan was our primary investor and champion at Rocket Fiber,” Fair recalls. “None of us had ever run a company before. None of us had an internet or network background. We had a process person, two software engineers, and a Bedrock leasing agent. And Dan said, ‘Here’s some capital, go build a company. See you in a couple of months!’”

That trust and willingness to invest in people is what sets the Family of Companies apart. It is what built Rocket Fiber, and it is what continues to fuel Detroit’s startup ecosystem.

“I have always been proud to say that I’m from Michigan,” Fair says. “Detroit will always be home. I built my career here, and I have seen firsthand what happens when people bet big on this city.” Recently sworn in as the 99th President of the Detroit Executives Association, Fair continues to shape Michigan’s entrepreneurial future. She is a key part of the Michigan Founders Fund and was present when Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed bills into law establishing a research and development tax credit and innovation fund. “This new funding is a game changer,” Fair says. “It gives startups the early-stage capital they need to grow, and it is a huge step forward for Michigan’s economic development.”

Detroit is not just a place to do business. It is a place to build something meaningful. That has been true for decades, and it is truer now than ever. Fair remembers when Rocket moved its offices to Detroit in 2010. “I grew up here, so I was thrilled,” she says. “But a lot of people were skeptical. They had bought houses in the suburbs. They did not see the vision. But the moment we walked into One Campus Martius, everything changed. That skepticism turned into a sense of belonging.”

This is what happens when people bet on Detroit. They do not just see what it is. They see what it can be. And when they take that leap, they realize something even more powerful—they belong here.

A Culture That Rewards Big Bets

Fair and her team were proof of that culture. They were given the freedom to build, experiment, and scale. That mindset, Launch and Learn, led directly to Hum.

After selling Rocket Fiber in 2020, Fair and her co-founders knew they were not done. They had experienced firsthand the challenges of helping people in multi-family dwellings get connected. They knew there had to be a better way.

“At first, we thought about starting another internet provider. We had done it once. We knew how to do it better the second time,” Fair explains. “But then we realized the bigger opportunity was in the software side of things. We built a software that helps internet providers connect directly to residents the moment they move in, before the provider even knows they have moved in.”

That became Hum. A platform that takes the guesswork out of choosing an internet service provider by integrating directly into property management systems and resident-facing apps. Instead of forcing people to search tirelessly for their best option, Hum makes it simple and seamless.

And this is just the beginning. Hum is expanding beyond multifamily buildings into single-family homes, working with companies like Rocket Money and major internet service providers to streamline the experience of subscribing to broadband.

Detroit’s Startup Ecosystem: Built for Founders, by Founders

Hum is among the many success stories coming out of Detroit’s startup scene, and Fair knows exactly why.

“There is this explosion of entrepreneurship in Detroit, and it is a direct reflection of Dan’s For More Than Profit philosophy. He steps back and asks, ‘How do we support founders?’” she says.

In 2022 Detroit ranked as the #1 emerging startup ecosystem by Startup Genome and the #2 best emerging startup hub by PitchBook. That success is no accident. It is the result of long-term investments, a For More Than Profit philosophy and a commitment to doing well by doing good.

Dan Gilbert did not just fund startups. He built the foundation that allows them to exist.

“Tech requires fast and reliable connectivity. We knew that to make these companies successful in Detroit, we needed high-speed internet,’” Fair recalls. “So, we spent a year building strategizing and building Rocket Fiber. We timed infrastructure work to coincide with construction of the Q-Line so we wouldn’t have to dig up the street.”

The result? Detroit got its own fiber backbone. Startups had the infrastructure to scale. And a new wave of founders emerged, ready to take their shot.

Detroit’s Future: More Startups, More Innovation, More Big Bets

What sets Detroit apart is not just its talent. It is not just its cost advantages. It is the culture. The belief that innovation is rewarded, but execution is worshipped. The understanding that big bets lead to big rewards.

Detroit Venture Partners (DVP) is a key part of that culture. As one of the leading early-stage investment firms in Detroit, DVP has played a crucial role in funding and supporting startups that drive the city’s innovation economy. When Fair and her team at Hum were refining their vision, they knew they wanted to prove they could stand on their own before reaching out to investors. But it was only a matter of time before their paths crossed with DVP.

“At every event I went to, I kept running into people from DVP,” Fair recalls. “They would say, ‘We heard you are building something new—we should talk.’”

DVP ultimately came in as Hum’s lead investor, providing the capital and strategic support necessary to take the company to the next level. But their role went far beyond funding.

“The people behind DVP have been incredible,” Fair says. “They do more than write checks. They make connections and push us to stay the course. And they understand that entrepreneurship is hard enough without unnecessary distractions.”

“You can do anything you want if you are willing to focus on it,” Fair says.

This determination and optimism is why Hum thrives and why Detroit’s startup scene is exploding. That is why Dan Gilbert’s impact on the city is not just about the companies he has built—it is about the companies he has empowered others to build.

And that is what Detroit does well, builds.