Charlie Tyson

PlanetM Project Manager

Michigan Economic Development Corporation

Charlie Tyson is the Project Manager of PlanetM at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). Launched in 2016, PlanetM began as a global marketing campaign to showcase the entirety of Michigan’s autonomous, connected, electrified, and shared vehicle ecosystem. In 2017, PlanetM morphed into a business development platform to attract the world’s best mobility startups and connect them to the Michigan automotive ecosystem.

In his role, Mr. Tyson develops and nurtures relationships with key mobility stakeholders. These relationships include auto OEMs, suppliers, startups, investors, academia, NGOs, municipalities, government agencies, and philanthropy organizations. PlanetM connects emerging mobility companies to Michigan’s automotive and advanced transportation industry through testing and pilot opportunities, matchmaking engagements, and through the PlanetM Landing Zone, a co-working space in the heart of downtown Detroit. In addition, Mr. Tysonleads PlanetM’s effort to connect founders to Michigan’s vast network of engineering and manufacturing firms to build their products for success.

Mr. Tyson has been affiliated with the MEDC since 2016 when he joined PlanetM’s sister program, Pure Michigan Business Connect (PMBC). PMBC is the state’s premier B2B program that has facilitated $5.7 billion in contracts between local and global buyers and Michigan suppliers, resulting in 27,941 jobs created or retained since 2011.