University of Michigan Awards $34K in Grants, Business Accelerator Space

The Samuel Zell & Robert H. Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business today announced the recipients of the Fall 2011 Dare to Dream grant program and TechArb tenancy. Based on business plans submitted to a panel of judges, Dare to Dream awarded funding totaling $34,500 to the following:

Integration Grant Awards (up to $10,000 each)

  • EVo Hair ($2,000): B-to-B wholesale hair extension supplier.
  • SecureHealing ($10,000): Privacy monitoring and reporting across healthcare software systems.
  • Thru.im ($5,000): Live chat that increases brand equity through IM and text conversation.

Assessment Grants ($1,500 each)

  • AddressMe: Automatically updated electronic address book application.
  • Conspire: Matchmaking service for individuals seeking collaborators and companies seeking managers.
  • Dean Adam: Web-based retailer of high-end men’s grooming and personal care items.
  • DIIME: R&D company designing low-cost medical devices in collaboration with clinicians from developing countries.
  • IFM Database: Software plug-in solution for facility management service providers.
  • Knuron: Knowledge sharing platform connecting students, employers and advertisers.
  • Real Good Food: Platform coordinating homemade food exchanges and collaborative cooking and dining events.
  • Vault Health Solutions: Platform to enable healthcare providers greater access to patients’ medical histories.

Venture Shaping Grants ($500 each)

  • Don’t Weed Me: Connects tutors to students.
  • DrupalAI: A high-end intelligent recommender system as a Drupal module.

    Author: Sarah Schmid Stevenson

    Sarah is a former Xconomy editor. Prior to joining Xconomy in 2011, she did communications work for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the Michigan House of Representatives. She has also worked as a reporter and copy editor at the Missoula Independent and the Lansing State Journal. She holds a bachelor's degree in Journalism and Native American Studies from the University of Montana and proudly calls Detroit "the most fascinating city I've ever lived in."