Just as Google is developing autonomous vehicles through its subsidiary Waymo, China’s largest online search engine, Baidu, is also racing to develop AVs. Last week, the company announced a new milestone: It has now tested self-driving cars on more than 1 million miles of roadway in 13 Chinese cities. Baidu (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BIDU]]) is playing catch-up … Continue reading “AV Mapping Startup Carmera Joins Baidu’s Open-Source Apollo Platform”
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."
Healthtech Startups: Connect with HHS Officials in Detroit on July 15
Are you a healthcare technology startup based in Southeast Michigan or Southwest Ontario? If so, you’re invited to attend a one-day-only meeting to connect with representatives from the US Dept. of Health and Human Services, who will be at TechTown Detroit, 440 Burroughs St., from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on July 15. MedHealth Startup … Continue reading “Healthtech Startups: Connect with HHS Officials in Detroit on July 15”
Free Workshops, Tools, & Advice? Centrepolis Aids Hardware Startups
Although Michigan is home to 2,500 small manufacturers and is the center of the domestic auto industry, it didn’t have a hardware technology incubator until Lawrence Technological University launched one about a year ago. The Centrepolis Accelerator’s mission is to help grow the state’s advanced manufacturing and hardware ecosystem by providing funding, product- and business-development … Continue reading “Free Workshops, Tools, & Advice? Centrepolis Aids Hardware Startups”
Flagstar Bank, Detroit FinTech Bay Launch Mortgage Tech Accelerator
Flagstar Bank, headquartered in Troy, MI, and the Detroit FinTech Bay innovation hub are partnering to launch a new mortgage technology accelerator—and program organizers say it’s the first and only US accelerator focused exclusively on incubating tech startups in the mortgage industry. The banking sector in general has been slow to adopt new technologies, says … Continue reading “Flagstar Bank, Detroit FinTech Bay Launch Mortgage Tech Accelerator”
Carnegie Mellon, Argo AI Form $15M Self-Driving Car Research Center
Carnegie Mellon University this week announced a five-year research partnership with Argo AI that will focus on advanced perception and decision-making algorithms for autonomous vehicles (AVs). Argo AI, a Pittsburgh-based self-driving car startup whose majority investor is Ford (NYSE: [[ticker:F]]), is spending $15 million to fund the effort, which will be called the Carnegie Mellon … Continue reading “Carnegie Mellon, Argo AI Form $15M Self-Driving Car Research Center”
Detroit’s StockX Gains Unicorn Status After $110M Series C Investment
Southeast Michigan is now home to another unicorn startup. Detroit-based e-commerce company StockX announced Wednesday that it has raised $110 million in a Series C funding round, increasing the company’s total value to more than $1 billion. The investment was led by DST Global, General Atlantic, and GGV Capital. In a statement announcing the funding … Continue reading “Detroit’s StockX Gains Unicorn Status After $110M Series C Investment”
XLerate Health Launches Early-Stage Startup Accelerator in Flint
Anyone who has followed the Flint water crisis for the past few years probably thinks of the post-industrial Michigan city as a place that can’t seem to catch a break. Five years after a state-appointed city manager switched the municipal water source to the notoriously polluted Flint River and poisoned residents, the city’s people are … Continue reading “XLerate Health Launches Early-Stage Startup Accelerator in Flint”
Everactive Snags $30M Series C to Advance Battery-less IoT Sensors
Everactive, a Bay Area startup, has raised $30 million in a Series C funding round. The investment was led by Future Fund with participation from Blue Bear Capital, ABB Technology Ventures, New Enterprise Associates, and Osage University Partners. The company has raised $63 million since its inception in 2012. Everactive, formerly known as Psi Kick, … Continue reading “Everactive Snags $30M Series C to Advance Battery-less IoT Sensors”
Ford Initiative Will Crowdsource Mobility Solutions in Detroit
It’s been a year since Ford announced it will refurbish a massive abandoned train station in Detroit and transform it into the anchor of its mobility and autonomous vehicle operations, which will eventually house hundreds of employees. This week, the automaker announced a new program called City:One Michigan Central Station Challenge to solicit ideas for … Continue reading “Ford Initiative Will Crowdsource Mobility Solutions in Detroit”
Perceptive Automata Uses Neuroscience to Help AVs Predict Intent
Those of us who like to ride our bikes on city streets know the importance of The Staredown. Say a biker is trundling past an intersection and a car is inching forward to make a righthand turn while the light is red. It makes the biker feel better to intently stare at the driver in … Continue reading “Perceptive Automata Uses Neuroscience to Help AVs Predict Intent”
Ellis Island Tea, Healthy Roots Among QL Detroit Demo Day Winners
Quicken Loans Detroit Demo Day, held Friday evening at the Fillmore downtown, was quite a production. The event involved a number of entrepreneurs pitching their companies from the stage to a panel of judges as well as the crowd, which was voting on people’s choice awards via mobile app. At stake were cash and prizes … Continue reading “Ellis Island Tea, Healthy Roots Among QL Detroit Demo Day Winners”
Aurora Ends Affiliation with VW as it Begins Collaboration with FCA
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has arguably been quieter on the autonomous vehicle front than Ford and GM, but this week marked a significant development for the company. FCA announced it will partner with Aurora, a Bay Area startup developing self-driving technologies. The companies did not disclose the financial terms of the arrangement. Wired reports that the … Continue reading “Aurora Ends Affiliation with VW as it Begins Collaboration with FCA”
Clinical Trials in Plain English: TrialAssure Translates for Patients
Software is playing a growing role in clinical trials, and over the years it’s been introduced as a tool to help enroll patients, collect data, and analyze results. But one aspect of clinical trial record-keeping has been stubbornly stuck on paper—the reporting of data to the patients who volunteer for the studies. TrialAssure, a Canton, … Continue reading “Clinical Trials in Plain English: TrialAssure Translates for Patients”
U-M Leads 10-University Project to Tackle Equity, Inclusion in STEM
Academic researchers have long studied gender and racial disparities in STEM education, but they have not had widespread success in addressing these challenges. A University of Michigan professor and colleagues from 10 universities are hoping to change that. At public research universities like U-M, introductory courses in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) subjects are the … Continue reading “U-M Leads 10-University Project to Tackle Equity, Inclusion in STEM”
Roundup: Code Jam Detroit, League of Legends, Genomenon, MTRAC, More
As summer tries to make itself known between long bouts of rain, Michigan’s entrepreneurs have been busy dreaming up new products, launching programs, adding new personnel, and more. Read on for details. —Tune into a live webinar at 1 p.m. ET today from Meeting of the Minds called “When Machines Do Everything in Smart Cities: … Continue reading “Roundup: Code Jam Detroit, League of Legends, Genomenon, MTRAC, More”
Mark Your Calendars: Startup Week Detroit Kicks Off on June 17
Every year, Detroit’s entrepreneurial community comes together for a five-day event encompassing panel discussions, TED talk-style keynote speeches, bootcamps, tech demos, and networking happy hours, all of which are open to the public and free upon registration. Techstars Startup Week Detroit kicks off on June 17, but the registration process is already underway for those … Continue reading “Mark Your Calendars: Startup Week Detroit Kicks Off on June 17”
Michigan-Israel Biz Group’s Website Maps State’s Startup Ecosystem
Efforts by Michigan’s economic development officials to strengthen ties to Israeli companies over the past few years have apparently borne fruit. The Great Lake State is the first in the nation to partner with Israel’s Start-Up Nation Central on a free website that aims to map Michigan’s startup ecosystem and build bridges to the Israeli … Continue reading “Michigan-Israel Biz Group’s Website Maps State’s Startup Ecosystem”
Carmera Scores Lear Partnership, Adds Ex-Waymo Exec to Advisory Team
The month of May was big for Carmera, a startup in New York City developing high-definition maps for use in autonomous vehicles. The company rolled out a new development partnership with auto supplier Lear, and it landed a big name advisor and investor with Shaun Stewart, the former chief business officer of self-driving technology business … Continue reading “Carmera Scores Lear Partnership, Adds Ex-Waymo Exec to Advisory Team”
Wayne State Is MI Mobility Institute’s First Educational Partner
The Michigan Mobility Institute, an organization working to create a new crop of mobility professionals with skills in artificial intelligence, robotics, cybersecurity, and other related fields, has chosen its inaugural educational partner. Jessica Robinson, the institute’s executive director, says Wayne State University’s College of Engineering will lead development of a graduate-level advanced mobility education curriculum. … Continue reading “Wayne State Is MI Mobility Institute’s First Educational Partner”
Scoop Partners with Bedrock to Bring Carpooling Service to Detroiters
Scoop, the app-based carpooling service headquartered in San Francisco, landed in Detroit this week and will now facilitate rides for residents living in seven Motor City ZIP codes that encompass downtown, Midtown, Corktown, and neighborhoods to the immediate east and west of downtown. When Scoop enters a new market, its approach involves partnering with a … Continue reading “Scoop Partners with Bedrock to Bring Carpooling Service to Detroiters”
Despite Industrial Tech’s Growing Sophistication, US Adoption Lags
This week, Detroit is hosting SME’s RAPID + TCT event, a conference and trade show dedicated to additive manufacturing, commonly known as 3D printing. It’s the first time the conference, which draws attendees from across the world, has been held in Detroit since 2014. Maria Conrado, SME’s senior event manager, says the conference has grown … Continue reading “Despite Industrial Tech’s Growing Sophistication, US Adoption Lags”
AI Startup Clinc Snags $52M Series B to Expand Offices, Markets
Ann Arbor, MI-based startup Clinc, which is focused on developing conversational artificial intelligence software for use in chatbots, has raised $52 million in a Series B round, the company announced this week. The round was led by Insight Partners, with participation from DFJ Growth, Drive Capital, and Hyde Park Venture Partners. As part of the … Continue reading “AI Startup Clinc Snags $52M Series B to Expand Offices, Markets”
HAP Partners With Livongo on Tech-Enabled Diabetes Compliance Program
As digital health applications continue to grow in popularity, yet achieve only mixed results, one area in which tech-enabled tools have found success is among diabetes patients. Health Alliance Plan (HAP), a Detroit-based nonprofit health insurance provider, wants to leverage that success with a new program in partnership with Mountain View, CA-based Livongo, maker of … Continue reading “HAP Partners With Livongo on Tech-Enabled Diabetes Compliance Program”
PlanetM Awards New Grants to Advance Mobility Pilots in Michigan
PlanetM, the state of Michigan-backed business development organization, has announced a new batch of grants that aim to entice mobility startups and corporations to pilot their innovations in Michigan, or test and validate their technology at one of Michigan’s proving grounds. PlanetM has awarded a total of $440,000 in grants to five companies. The startups … Continue reading “PlanetM Awards New Grants to Advance Mobility Pilots in Michigan”
Roundup: Strata Oncology, Genomenon, Gilbert Family Foundation, More
Spring is always a busy time for Michigan’s innovation community, so let’s catch up on recent tech and entrepreneurial news below: —Last year, we reported on the Gilbert Family Foundation, a charitable organization founded by Quicken Loans chairman Dan Gilbert and his wife Jennifer, and its initiative to develop gene therapy treatments for neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1). … Continue reading “Roundup: Strata Oncology, Genomenon, Gilbert Family Foundation, More”
ClassDojo CEO: Never Too Early for Kids to Learn About Mindfulness
If you felt a positive disturbance in The Force today, it may have been due to ClassDojo’s Mindful Moment. At 11am local time, millions of kids from schools in 180 countries are participating in the “world’s biggest virtual mindfulness class.” The course comes with a downloadable lesson plan from ClassDojo, a San Francisco-based educational technology … Continue reading “ClassDojo CEO: Never Too Early for Kids to Learn About Mindfulness”
Mobility News: Cruise’s New Cash, Tesla’s Pivot to Robotaxis & More
As the mobility industry waits with baited breath to see how Uber’s IPO will play out on Friday, there is plenty of news being made elsewhere in the sector. Cruise scored another massive investment, Toyota AI Ventures opened a new fund, scooters continue to rev up, and more. Read on for details. —Our own Bernadette … Continue reading “Mobility News: Cruise’s New Cash, Tesla’s Pivot to Robotaxis & More”
Linux Foundation’s Open Source Automotive Software Project Takes Off
When we last covered the Linux Foundation’s Automotive Grade Linux (AGL) project—a collaborative, cross-industry, nonprofit effort to develop a common, open-source software stack for the connected car—it was 2016 and the automotive industry was just beginning to warm up to development partnerships that could advance autonomous vehicles and other mobility services. Three years later, and … Continue reading “Linux Foundation’s Open Source Automotive Software Project Takes Off”
Gener8tor, Motown Team to Launch Summer Music Accelerators in Detroit
Name a genre of music and there’s probably a Detroiter who innovated it. Punk rock? Death, Iggy Pop, and the MC5. Hip-hop? J Dilla. Techno? The Belleville Three. Blues? John Lee Hooker. Rock? The White Stripes. Gospel? Aretha Franklin. And, of course, where would modern R&B and pop be without Motown? Detroit has always been … Continue reading “Gener8tor, Motown Team to Launch Summer Music Accelerators in Detroit”
Sight Machine Raises $29M to Connect Dots of Manufacturing Enterprises
When it comes to manufacturing, production and quality is everything. Systems to monitor manufacturing have been around for decades, but they aren’t always complete, sometimes only overseeing specific machines or locations. That’s a problem that Sight Machine aims to address with its software that analyzes the manufacturing process. Its technology uses artificial intelligence, machine learning, … Continue reading “Sight Machine Raises $29M to Connect Dots of Manufacturing Enterprises”
Ford, Lincoln Owners Can Get Amazon Packages Delivered to Their Cars
Many of us know that anxious feeling that comes when Amazon texts a notification that it has delivered your package, except you’re nowhere near home at the time to receive it. The mind races: is the package sitting out in plain view for would-be thieves to notice? Will it be destroyed by a passing downpour? … Continue reading “Ford, Lincoln Owners Can Get Amazon Packages Delivered to Their Cars”
Midwest Growth Capital Symposium to Feature VC University Seminar
Later next month, the Midwest Growth Capital Symposium (MGCS) will kick off its 38th annual two-day event dedicated to showcasingthe region’s high-growth companies to a cadre of local and out-of-town investors. During the symposium, 32 companies actively seeking funding will pitch to an audience of more than 500 attendees. There will also be a tech … Continue reading “Midwest Growth Capital Symposium to Feature VC University Seminar”
Aptiv Expands Driverless Car Testing, Opens Chinese Mobility Center
Aptiv, a global automotive technology company, announced last week that it has opened a new innovation hub in China—the fastest growing front in the self-driving tech wars. The new entity is called the China Autonomous Mobility Center, and as a result of the move, Shanghai joins Aptiv’s roster of driverless car testing locations, which also … Continue reading “Aptiv Expands Driverless Car Testing, Opens Chinese Mobility Center”
MSU Announces New Student VC Fund, Winners of Inaugural Pitch Contest
Michigan State University students now have an opportunity to dabble in the rollercoaster world of startup funding thanks to a new partnership between Red Cedar Ventures and the Broad College of Business Center for Venture Capital, Private Equity and Entrepreneurial Finance. Launched this week, the Student Venture Capital Fund will invest up to $50,000 per … Continue reading “MSU Announces New Student VC Fund, Winners of Inaugural Pitch Contest”
Humatics, Vecna Partner to Improve Navigation of Self-Driving Robots
Humatics, a Waltham, MA-based startup developing microlocation technology for use in robots and autonomous vehicles, has a new partnership underway with Boston-based Vecna Robotics. Financial terms of the collaboration were not disclosed, but Humatics co-founder and CEO David Mindell describes the relationship as a joint marketing partnership. “We bring customers to them and vice-versa,” he … Continue reading “Humatics, Vecna Partner to Improve Navigation of Self-Driving Robots”
MedHealth Summit Brings Together Cross-Border Innovators and Experts
As the healthcare industry continues to undergo technology-driven changes, innovators in digital health and medical devices will gather in Detroit Thursday for a daylong conference. The MedHealth Summit, held at Ford Field’s Hall of Legends, will bring together experts and entrepreneurs from across Southeast Michigan and Southwest Ontario for a day of panel discussions, “investor … Continue reading “MedHealth Summit Brings Together Cross-Border Innovators and Experts”
Metamoto’s Jeff Blackburn on AV Testing and Why Waymo Leads the Pack
In the development of self-driving cars, once a vehicle is ready for the validation stage, it’s not always practical or affordable to test them on open roads. Given the hundreds of different scenarios developers want autonomous vehicles to experience and react to—weather, traffic conditions, pedestrian activity, land markings, and more—simulation offers an alternative to on-road … Continue reading “Metamoto’s Jeff Blackburn on AV Testing and Why Waymo Leads the Pack”
Toyota, Ford, GM, and SAE Form Automated Vehicle Safety Consortium
The SAE World Congress Experience, a three-day conference featuring discussions, networking, and exhibits of new technologies pertaining to the mobility industry, took place in Detroit this week and covered a ton of topics. SAE, originally known as the Society of Automotive Engineers, began in 1905 and was intended to be an umbrella organization for the … Continue reading “Toyota, Ford, GM, and SAE Form Automated Vehicle Safety Consortium”
Roundup: MiSpringboard, Free QL Demo Day Help, DetroitEd411 & More
Let’s catch up on the latest startup and innovation news from around Michigan: —Birmingham-based Pairaphrase, a startup selling translation software that it says provides users more security and privacy than competing products, such as Google Translate, has won a grant from the state of Michigan. The company did not disclose the amount of the grant … Continue reading “Roundup: MiSpringboard, Free QL Demo Day Help, DetroitEd411 & More”
Global Detroit, U-M Team on Program to Boost Immigrant-Led Startups
The American Dream was once a fairly simple concept: The nation would welcome strivers from across the world and invite them to pull themselves up by their bootstraps, work hard, pay taxes, and become contributing citizens. However, immigration has become a highly charged political issue in the current era, making things more complicated. That’s one … Continue reading “Global Detroit, U-M Team on Program to Boost Immigrant-Led Startups”
As AVs Rev Up, the Data Privacy Fight Could Shift to Your Car
There are plenty of unknowns regarding the future of self-driving cars, but one thing is certain: the mobility industry will be fueled by data. And that means automotive companies will have to address many of the same privacy issues that Facebook, Google, and other social media and Internet firms are grappling with now. By 2030, … Continue reading “As AVs Rev Up, the Data Privacy Fight Could Shift to Your Car”
After Scoring New Capital, Fifth Eye Prepares to Seek FDA Approval
Fifth Eye, an Ann Arbor-based medical software startup spun out of technology developed at the University of Michigan, today announced that it has raised $9 million in new investment capital, bringing its total venture backing to date to $11.5 million. The round was led by Arboretum Ventures and Cultivation Capital, with participation from Invest Michigan, … Continue reading “After Scoring New Capital, Fifth Eye Prepares to Seek FDA Approval”
FarmWise and Roush Partner to Develop Robots That Weed Farm Fields
We’ve heard a lot about autonomous cars over the past few years, but there are other applications for self-driving technology, including agriculture. Silicon Valley startup FarmWise this week announced a new partnership with Livonia, MI-based Roush, a legacy manufacturer and engineering services firm, to develop and test an autonomous machine that weeds row crops. FarmWise … Continue reading “FarmWise and Roush Partner to Develop Robots That Weed Farm Fields”
Roundup: QL Demo Day, Millendo Therapeutics, Strata Oncology, More
—Millendo Therapeutics, an Ann Arbor-based biopharmaceutical company developing treatments for rare diseases, has initiated a Phase 2b/3 clinical study investigating livoletide (AZP-531) in patients with Prader-Willi syndrome. The study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of the drug on food-related behaviors—primarily hyperphagia, the excessive hunger which is a hallmark of the disease—in Prader-Willi patients. The … Continue reading “Roundup: QL Demo Day, Millendo Therapeutics, Strata Oncology, More”
Tespo, With a New Office in Detroit, Offers “the Keurig of Vitamins”
Ted Mills spent the first part of his career in finance, eventually starting a investment fund for Manoj Bhargava, the Michigan-based founder of 5 Hour Energy, in 2008. After five years in that role, Mills says it was time to spread his wings. He wanted to bring high-quality supplements to customers’ homes in liquid format, … Continue reading “Tespo, With a New Office in Detroit, Offers “the Keurig of Vitamins””
Upcoming SAE Conference in Detroit to Offer Rides in Autonomous Cars
You’ve heard the self-driving car hype; next month, you can experience a robotic ride firsthand. Metro Detroiters will have the opportunity to take a spin in an autonomous vehicle as part of SAE Demo Days, being held April 5-7 at Detroit’s Cobo Center. The public demonstration, held in conjunction with SAE International’s WCX conference, is … Continue reading “Upcoming SAE Conference in Detroit to Offer Rides in Autonomous Cars”
Gamers for Giving Provides Sick Children with Digital Playgrounds
In 2007, Zach Wigal and his friends at Saline High School decided to organize one of Southeast Michigan’s first competitive video game tournaments. They spent months preparing and eventually arranged to rent out the school’s cafeteria. Everything seemed to be in place, and with more than 300 people registered to attend, excitement ran high. Then, … Continue reading “Gamers for Giving Provides Sick Children with Digital Playgrounds”
Erie Hack Aims to Solve Lake’s Challenges with Tech-Driven Solutions
Even though Michigan is surrounded by one of the world’s most abundant sources of freshwater, it’s still plagued by water-related challenges, such as the Flint water crisis, high lead levels in the water at Detroit public schools, and PFAS contamination. And with the Trump administration looking to cut federal funding for Great Lakes water restoration … Continue reading “Erie Hack Aims to Solve Lake’s Challenges with Tech-Driven Solutions”
M:Bility Conference: Panel Talks Factors Fueling Future of AV Industry
At AutoWorld’s M:Bility conference in Dearborn, MI, this week, a wide variety of topics pertaining to the mobility industry and the development of driverless technology were covered in keynote and panel discussions, including mapping and sensors, artificial intelligence, automotive data, mobility-as-a-service, electrification, and 5G connectivity. However, running through all topics was a measure of caution … Continue reading “M:Bility Conference: Panel Talks Factors Fueling Future of AV Industry”
Topouzian Brings Economic Development Perspective to New MVCA Role
Ara Topouzian is a longtime Oakland County economic development official and a 2012 Kresge Artist Fellow recognized for his work playing a 76-string kanun harp in Armenian and world music bands. As of March 25, he’ll also be the new director of the Michigan Venture Capital Association, which works to advance the state’s VC ecosystem. … Continue reading “Topouzian Brings Economic Development Perspective to New MVCA Role”