That Michigan Venture Capital Association held its anniversary gala on Thursday, September 29th at Greenfield Village – the site of an open-air museum founded by Henry Ford.

The 200-attendee event, which celebrated MVCA’s 20th anniversary, was also a recognition of disruptive innovations, startups and financiers working to build a better future.

Of the 15 nominated companies, there were only four winners – and gasoline ga was one of them. The Detroit-based company acquired end of 2021 from Lower capital for $300 million, received the Exit of the Year Award.

Other winners included:

• Workit Healthfunding of the year
• airspace linkEmerging Company of the Year Award
• Invest in DetroitCommunity Impact Award

Individuals were also recognized. Robin McIntosh and Lisa McLaughlin both received the Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Sam Valenti III was recognized for his contributions to a new generation of investors and received MVCA’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

No progress without innovation

The late Michael A Finney once said: “Without progress there is no innovation.”

Finney received a recognition for his contributions to community and leadership during the event.

Founder and CEO of Benzinga Jason Raznik quoted Finney about the need to disrupt the status quo.

“If you keep doing things the same way, you don’t get ahead,” he said. This realization offers him comfort through challenges.

“I kept reminding myself that this too will pass,” he added, citing his unique “Day One” approach to managing frustrations.

Raznick, who founded Benzinga in a basement in 2009, didn’t let a lack of funding and direction stop him from bridging the gap between retail and institutional investors, he explained in the MVCA speech.

“People kept telling me you can’t build a financial media company out of Detroit. They told me I had to move to New York.”

Fast forward to today, Benzinga is one of the largest content providers for global…