Tech entrepreneur Dug Song helps Michigan's future business founders

June 19, 2026 - 12:06

Song co-founded Duo Security in Ann Arbor, a company that grew into a major player in two-factor authentication before being acquired by Cisco in 2018 for $2.35 billion. Rather than cashing out and moving to Silicon Valley, he stayed in Michigan. Since then, he has been quietly working to lower the barriers that often stop would-be entrepreneurs from taking the leap. His efforts include mentoring early-stage founders, investing in local startups, and pushing for policy changes that make it easier to start a business in the region.

He has spoken publicly about the struggles his own family faced when his father immigrated to the United States. That experience, he says, gave him a deep appreciation for the risks that founders take. Song believes that Michigan has the talent and the work ethic to produce more major companies, but that the state needs to do a better job of supporting founders who lack connections or family wealth.

His work is not about writing big checks. It is about changing the culture. He wants to see a Michigan where a founder with a good idea does not have to move to the coasts to find investors or advice. By staying in Ann Arbor and staying involved, Song is trying to prove that the next billion-dollar company can start right here.