Niles Heron is a founder, entrepreneur, consultant, and advisor. As a founding partner of Michigan Funders (Michigan’s first homegrown intrastate equity crowdfunding platform), and business development consultant, Niles spends his days working to develop the capital, commercialization, and operational strategy of startups and small businesses in Detroit. He is passionate about entrepreneurial development and helping SE Michigan continue it’s growth as an inclusive space for innovation. He actively mentors, advises, and works with a number of startups and small-businesses locally and nationally.

Prior to his work with Michigan Funders, he spent the better part of 10 years working in database management and business systems, as well as lean manufacturing and process consulting/development for automotive, aerospace and bio-pharma. He has experience managing digital communities, copy and creative writing, operations, narrative marketing, public relations and business development. Beyond his operational expertise, his portfolio includes working with Detroit’s youth on financial education and work-skills training, and writing for various local and national publications (print and digital).

At 16, Niles founded an online radio station that reached tens of thousands of digital listeners in niche communities. His past philanthropic efforts include executive producing a benefit compilation album whose proceeds went to providing relief for Haiti in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake, as well as serving on the Board of Directors for Detroit-based Southwest Economic Solutions, and national Music 2 Life charity (an initiative supporting activism in the arts). He was selected as one of Detroit’s Emerging Leaders for 2015 by the Detroit Regional Chamber, and honored as a member of the 2015 Twenty in their 20’s by Crain’s Detroit Business.