Detroit firm opens product development center in Grand Rapids

TechStar alumnus Ambassador is an eight-person technology firm based in Detroit, but has selected Grand Rapids to be its product development headquarters.

Ambassador offers a referral tracking and management platform that helps companies create incentives to generate referrals and turn their customers into "ambassadors." Current clients include Sage, Volusion, Sendgrid, Magento, TRXtraining, NRG Energy, and Tunecore.

Chase Lee, a Grand Rapids native and recent graduate from University of Michigan, will be heading the team from its third-floor suite at the Grand Rapids Tech Hub located at 38 W. Fulton Street.

Lee says the decision to move its product development office to Grand Rapids made sense on several levels. "We wanted to be here. There is access to talent. An investor -- Start Garden -- is in town, and it is a much easier place to recruit people to."

Lee also mentions Grand Rapids' reputation for beer, and that it's a good place to raise a family. "People can move here and be happy," he adds.

Lee says he is actively recruiting developers, programmers, and UX designers. He anticipates to have a team of six to eight people by the end of the year. He says the combination of Ambassador's culture -- "fun, easy going, professional" -- and the location of their office in the Grand Rapids Tech Hub are crucial keys to his recruitment efforts.

"It's a great community here. It's nice being around people doing the same things. We could have gotten office space in other buildings, but we would have had to leave the building to meet people and businesses like ours. Everyone really loves what they are doing -- moving really fast, and working smart." 

To learn more about Ambassador, you view their marketing deck here. You can check out their job needs here.

Source: Chase Lee, Ambassador
Writer: John Rumery, Innovation and Jobs News Editor.