Aviation neighborhood-based 3andathird launches out of D:hive

Nadir Ali has always wanted to put his background in design to use, and is now making that happen with his new start-up 3andathird.

The resident of the Aviation neighborhood, on Detroit-Dearborn border near Oakman and Tireman, works as a retail trainer for a major tech corporation. When he upgraded his laptop to a MacBook he created a decal that makes it appear that the Spirit of Detroit is holding Apple's logo in its hand. That was a year ago and is now a part-time business for Ali called 3andathird.

"It has been pretty awesome," Ali says. "If this turns into my full-time job, that's great."

Ali recently finished D:hive's first BUILD class, a two-month program that helps aspiring entrepreneurs create life-style small businesses. He hopes to take the tools he has learned at the class and use them to launch 3andathird into a staple of Detroit's design community.

"I would like it to become a common thing," Ali says. "I would like to see my things around town more."

Source: Nadir Ali, creator of 3andathird
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.