Can entrepreneurs plot Michigan's economic recovery?

That was the fundamental theme at TEDxDetroit, a grassroots entrepreneurial celebration Wednesday that drew a wide range of startup executives from the Ann Arbor region.

Matthew Neagle, a former executive at Google's Ann Arbor office, believes Michigan's entrepreneurial community is already positioning the state for an economic turnaround. 

Neagle, who last year discussed Ann Arbor's ability to attract young talent as a panelist at Business Review's "Michigan Leaders Speak" series, is now studying as a grad student at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business.

Neagle described the importance of TEDxDetroit in a blog post for think tank Michigan Future Inc.:

"Michigan got too comfortable and lost its desire to take risks and build new things. Well, the situation today flips that on its head. We do not have the prosperity or the security any more and thus we need to create, build, and take risks again. And, we will begin to do this because for many people, they have little to lose by doing so.

"The time is ripe and the lineup of local entrepreneurs and thinkers at the conferences gives reason to believe this is already happening and is happening in a spirit of collective renewal versus individual gain."

Contact AnnArbor.com's Nathan Bomey at nathanbomey@annarbor.com or (734) 623-2587. You can also follow him on Twitter.