Gene Wilson V

LITTLE CAESARS X THE PLAYERS TRIBUNE

Production - The Players Tribune

Director - Kate O'Malley

DP - Eugene Wilson V

Ash & Erie launched in 2015 after Huang and Mazur spotted a gap in the retail industry: It wasn’t catering to shorter men. Their solution? A startup with a signature shirt tailored specifically for men who are 5’8” and below. The idea landed the pair a $150,000 investment from Mark Cuban on Shark Tank in 2017. Last year, the Detroit-based menswear company passed $1 million in sales.

A Michigan native, Danielle Hughes co-founded Detroit Speaks as a nonprofit that works with low-income teenagers in the public school system. Hughes seeks to help them build a foundation for success through a series of after-school programs, community clean-ups and a three-month "Emerging Leaders" accelerator course that includes one-on-one mentoring.

Chmielewski’s venture originated when his father started making almond toffee in his home kitchen in Detroit. What began as a hobby quickly inspired Chmielewski to create a business once his father’s toffee was in high demand. In 2011, Dave’s Sweet Tooth was born, bringing the confection to consumers nationwide. The company has a 5,000-square-foot manufacturing facility outside of the Detroit.