Here’s a look at innovation news from around Michigan:
—ManagedWay, the provider of cloud computing, fiber optic Internet, and colocation services, has opened a new 45,000-square-foot data center in Troy. In a press release, the company described the new facility as incorporating the latest advancements for business reliability, security, and efficiency. ManagedWay now operates two colocation facilities and 10 data centers in metro Detroit and Grand Rapids.
—Ernst & Young has named Renaissance Venture Capital Fund CEO and Xconomist Chris Rizik as a finalist for this year’s Entrepreneur of the Year award for the Michigan and Northwest Ohio region. The award, which honors leaders for their success and commitment, will be announced at a gala event on June 23 at the Detroit Institute of the Arts.
“This is truly recognition of the unique model created by RVCF in Michigan,” Rizik said of the fund of funds in a press release. “Our innovative structure and strategies are now receiving national attention and are being replicated elsewhere in the United States.”
Entrepreneur of the Year celebrates those who are creating “successful, growing, and dynamic businesses” through awards programs in more than 145 cities and 60 countries.
—On Tuesday, hundreds of employers from Southeast Michigan will get some hands-on experience with digital health tools at a showcase hosted by Blue Cross Blue Shield. Attendees will explore telemedicine, a customizable dashboard for workplace wellness tools, and a searchable database of providers. BCBS said in a press release that it has made significant investments in these kinds of digital offerings to help employees make more informed decisions about complex insurance policies. Mike Maddock, CEO of Maddock Douglas, will deliver the keynote speech.
—TechTown Detroit will begin accepting applications for its fall retail boot camp on June 27. The eight-week course is designed to prepare serious, Detroit-based entrepreneurs for the opening of their brick-and-mortar businesses. In addition to training, the boot camp offers access to investment capital, affordable work space, and ongoing business support.
TechTown’s retail bootcamp is open to entrepreneurs located in (or willing to relocate to) Detroit who have proof of funding sources, a strong business plan, and a commitment to opening up their business within a year of completing the program. Classes run Sept. 20 through Nov. 8 and conclude with a demo day event, where participants will compete for prize packages worth roughly $7,500 each. Applicants who would like to learn more about the bootcamp are encouraged to attend one of the informational sessions on June 21, June 29, or June 30.
PatientPing, a Boston-based health tech company working to enhance transparency between doctors and improve patient care, announced today that the Henry Ford Health System has implemented its software. The PatientPing technology will enable Henry Ford to receive real-time notifications when their patients are admitted or discharged to a skilled nursing facility in Michigan.
Upon joining PatientPing, Henry Ford providers receive real-time notifications whenever their patients receive care at another medical facility. At the facility where patients are getting care, providers receive care instructions that include contact information for other doctors on the patient’s care team, as well as patient health and visit histories. By sharing this information, doctors can better coordinate their patients’ care, PatientPing said in a press release.
Company founder and CEO Jay Desai added, “When information is not passing between our health care providers, it can be frustrating for providers and patients alike. Patients are beginning to demand that their providers work together across health care settings.”
International Bancard, a financial company that helps businesses process payments electronically, has relocated its national headquarters to downtown Detroit. The company, which previously resided in Clawson, will occupy the eight-story, Albert Kahn-designed structure at 1505 Woodward. As part of the deal, the historic space will be renamed the International Bancard building.
—Roger Cone has been named the new director of the University of Michigan’s Life Sciences Institute, effective Sept. 1. Cone comes to U-M from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, where he served as chairman of the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics. He also led the Vanderbilt Institute for Obesity and Metabolism and served as associate director for Vanderbilt’s Diabetes Research and Training Center.
—Cleantech startups have until June 30 to apply to the fall cohort of the Ecofuel Accelerator based in Montreal. Ecofuel is open to early-stage companies and offers participants access to mentors and investors. As part of the program, each company gets up to $75,000 in seed funding, training workshops, and networking events. Click here to apply.
