Here’s a look at tech, startup, and innovation news from around Michigan: —The Michigan Council of Women in Technology (MCWT) held its 10th annual website design competition for girls in high school earlier this month. Twelve student finalists presented their sites to a panel of IT executives serving as judges. A record number of competitors … Continue reading “Roundup: MCWT, Tetra Discovery, Entrepreneurs of Color Fund & More”
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."
Xconomy Unconference Fosters Honest Discussion Despite Divisive Era
Last Thursday, Xconomy hosted an unconference-style gathering at TechTown Detroit, and we invited folks from the Motor City and Ann Arbor to join us for a discussion about how we might break down the barriers between the two cities to further the region as a whole. It was the second event we held this year … Continue reading “Xconomy Unconference Fosters Honest Discussion Despite Divisive Era”
New MSU Business Accelerator Open to Startups Across the State
As if top-ranked basketball and football programs weren’t enough—forgive me, my blood runs green and white thanks to early indoctrination by my Michigan State University alumni parents—Spartans now have another cool thing to celebrate: the announcement of a new MSU-backed business accelerator. The Conquer Accelerator will offer to five startups a comprehensive, 10-week development program … Continue reading “New MSU Business Accelerator Open to Startups Across the State”
Free Program Teaches Detroiters Skills Needed to Go After IT Jobs
Downtown Detroit tech training institute Grand Circus has successfully launched a free new apprenticeship program open to all Motor City residents. The Department of Labor Computer Programming Apprenticeship is a five-week, full-time Java bootcamp that aims to give participants the skills to claim one of Detroit’s many open IT jobs. “The ideal candidate for the … Continue reading “Free Program Teaches Detroiters Skills Needed to Go After IT Jobs”
Roundup: SPARK awards, Macomb Innovation Fund, Pro:Up, U-M & More
Here’s a look at news from around Michigan’s innovation ecosystem: —Macomb Community College’s Innovation Fund, supported by JPMorgan Chase, has awarded $300,000 to five metro Detroit startups. The Innovation Fund is part of a $2.7 million effort to stimulate growth in promising young startups. Companies supported by the Innovation Fund are required to provide internships … Continue reading “Roundup: SPARK awards, Macomb Innovation Fund, Pro:Up, U-M & More”
Praktio’s Digital Tools Help Students, Attorneys Navigate Legalese
Anyone who has ever tried to read a contract or service agreement dense with layers of legalese knows it can be a challenge. Turns out law students are often no less confused than lay people, said University of Michigan law professor Michael Bloom, and that’s why he decided to start a company called Praktio two … Continue reading “Praktio’s Digital Tools Help Students, Attorneys Navigate Legalese”
Occipital Acquires Lynx Laboratories, Expands 3-D Scanner Capabilities
Occipital, a San Francisco startup founded by two University of Michigan alums, has acquired Austin, TX-based Lynx Laboratories, maker of mobile 3-D scanning technology. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, although Occipital’s vice president of marketing, Adam Rodnitzky, said the entire Lynx Laboratories team of seven employees has been absorbed by his company. … Continue reading “Occipital Acquires Lynx Laboratories, Expands 3-D Scanner Capabilities”
Arboretum Ventures, Duo Security Among MVCA’s 2015 Awardees
The Michigan Venture Capital Association (MVCA) held its annual awards ceremony on Monday to recognize the state’s top entrepreneurs, investors, and deals. The event drew a record crowd, the organization said in a blog post, and “focused on the tremendous growth of the entrepreneurial and investment community” in Michigan and across the region. Incoming MVCA board … Continue reading “Arboretum Ventures, Duo Security Among MVCA’s 2015 Awardees”
LaGrasso Bros. Grows Local with Freight Farms Shipping Container
Detroit’s LaGrasso Bros. Produce started in 1914 with a single pushcart. Through the years, and three generations of family ownership, the food distribution company has grown to include a fleet of delivery trucks and a 40,000-square-foot refrigerated warehouse near Eastern Market. In September, the fourth generation of LaGrassos, Tom and Joe, installed a hydroponics operation—housed … Continue reading “LaGrasso Bros. Grows Local with Freight Farms Shipping Container”
Ash & Anvil Officially Launches with Shirts for Shorter Guys
After a successful crowdfunding campaign earlier this year and a stint in Venture for America’s (VFA) first-ever startup accelerator, Detroit-based Ash & Anvil officially launched its retail operation this month. “Before, we were selling an idea,” Ash & Anvil co-founder Eric Huang said. “Our successful Indiegogo campaign proved that idea is valid.” What Ash & … Continue reading “Ash & Anvil Officially Launches with Shirts for Shorter Guys”
Varsity News Network 2.0 Launches Early, & Other Recent MI News
Here’s a look at recent news from around Michigan’s innovation hubs: —When we last spoke to Grand Rapids-based Varsity News Network earlier this year, the company—which connects K-12 student athletes, parents, and coaches—told us it expected to release a “version 2.0” next year that would give users the ability to create profiles and share content. … Continue reading “Varsity News Network 2.0 Launches Early, & Other Recent MI News”
U-M to Help Lead NSF-Funded Regional Big Data Center
The University of Michigan will help direct a country-wide big data research and commercialization effort as part of a National Science Foundation (NSF) initiative announced earlier this month. U-M will lead the new Midwest Big Data Innovation Hub, one of four hubs the NSF has set up across the United States, with the University of … Continue reading “U-M to Help Lead NSF-Funded Regional Big Data Center”
Join Xconomy for an Unconference and Reception Dec. 10
Though it takes less than an hour to travel from Detroit to Ann Arbor, the distance between the two communities can sometimes seem daunting. Gerry Roston, CEO of Civionics and TechTown Detroit’s Executive-In-Residence, refers to the psychological barrier between the two cities as an invisible forcefield buttressed by the economic and social upheavals of the … Continue reading “Join Xconomy for an Unconference and Reception Dec. 10”
MI Apps Make Splash in Mobileys, & Other Recent Tech News
Here’s a look at recent news from around Michigan’s innovation hubs: —Mobile Future recently announced the 12 finalists in its national Mobileys competition honoring innovative mobile apps, products, and services. This year, four Michigan-based companies were among the finalists: Companion, an app developed by University of Michigan students that allows users to keep an eye … Continue reading “MI Apps Make Splash in Mobileys, & Other Recent Tech News”
RetroSense Therapeutics Closes $6M Series B, Begins Clinical Trials
Ann Arbor, MI-based biopharmaceutical startup RetroSense Therapeutics announced Monday that it has raised $6 million in a Series B round. Participating investors include Blue Water Angels, RBV Capital, ExSight Capital, and Santen Pharmaceutical. RetroSense has raised a total of $13 million since it licensed its lead technology from Wayne State University in 2011. Sean Ainsworth, … Continue reading “RetroSense Therapeutics Closes $6M Series B, Begins Clinical Trials”
DTE Harnesses SPLT’s Ride-Sharing App for New Commuter Program
SPLT, the Detroit-based ride-sharing app designed to connect people traveling similar routes so they can split taxi fare or the cost of gas, kicked off its first large-scale commuter program last week with DTE Energy. SPLT, which recently finished a stint in Detroit’s Techstars incubator, is exploring mobility as a service with the DTE program, … Continue reading “DTE Harnesses SPLT’s Ride-Sharing App for New Commuter Program”
Deliv Acquires Delivery Startup Zipments, Expands National Footprint
This week, Bay Area-based Deliv announced it has acquired Zipments, the same-day delivery and crowdsourced courier startup based in Grand Rapids, MI, and operating primarily in New York City. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. The entire six-person Zipments staff will join the Deliv team but remain in Michigan. Garrick Pohl, founder and … Continue reading “Deliv Acquires Delivery Startup Zipments, Expands National Footprint”
SkySpecs Takes Flight with $3 Million Series A, UpWind Partnership
SkySpecs, the Ann Arbor-based drone startup, announced this week that it raised $3 million in a Series A round. Venture Investors led the investment, with participation from Huron River Ventures, Amherst Fund II, the Michigan Angel Fund, and Invest Michigan. To date, the company has raised a total of $4.3 million, said SkySpecs CEO Danny … Continue reading “SkySpecs Takes Flight with $3 Million Series A, UpWind Partnership”
Big Changes Coming to Bizdom’s Detroit Accelerator
I was at a gathering last week when I first heard the rumors: Bizdom, Quicken Loans founder Dan Gilbert’s startup accelerator in downtown Detroit, was supposedly closing its doors. Details were scarce among partygoers, but more than one journalist I talked to said the incubator was going to wind down operations, a plan seemingly confirmed … Continue reading “Big Changes Coming to Bizdom’s Detroit Accelerator”
U-M Program Takes Transportation Innovations from Lab to Marketplace
University of Michigan researchers and faculty developing innovations that address transportation and mobility challenges have a path from the lab to the marketplace thanks to the Michigan Translational Research and Commercialization (MTRAC) Transportation program, which received $1 million to advance university startups in 2015, the program’s second year. MTRAC is a statewide program to move … Continue reading “U-M Program Takes Transportation Innovations from Lab to Marketplace”
Banza’s Chickpea Pasta Wins Top $500K Prize at Accelerate Michigan
The last time we wrote about Banza, the Detroit-based startup producing protein-heavy pasta made from chickpeas, the company was so new it didn’t have a website yet. What a difference 18 months makes. Last night, Banza took home the $500,000 grand prize in the annual Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition. As a first-of-its-kind product, Banza, the … Continue reading “Banza’s Chickpea Pasta Wins Top $500K Prize at Accelerate Michigan”
Local Motors Debuts $53K 3D-Printed Car Due to Be Road-Ready by 2017
Local Motors, the Chandler, AZ-based startup aiming to disrupt the auto industry’s traditional manufacturing cycle through crowdsourcing, micromanufacturing, and other technologies, has launched a new vehicle—and the company hopes to crash-test it and get it on the road by 2017. The LM3D Swim is the second of its crowd-designed vehicles to go from concept car … Continue reading “Local Motors Debuts $53K 3D-Printed Car Due to Be Road-Ready by 2017”
App Startup Golfler Scores Early Birdies With Funding, Awards
A Detroit-based startup’s golfing app, released in August, is already scoring major accolades: Google named it the second-best sports app for 2015, and the company beat out more than 200 exhibitors to win the top buyers’ choice award at a PGA conference two weeks after it launched. Golfler co-founder Jason Pearsall says his company’s app … Continue reading “App Startup Golfler Scores Early Birdies With Funding, Awards”
NEI Awards $300K to Small Businesses, Starts Search for New Leader
The New Economy Initiative (NEI) today announced the 2015 batch of NEIdeas Challenge winners; 30 small businesses grossing less than $750,000 annually received $10,000 each to grow their operations. The competition was open to any business in Detroit, Hamtramck, or Highland Park that is at least three years old. Part two of the competition, which … Continue reading “NEI Awards $300K to Small Businesses, Starts Search for New Leader”
Akadeum Aims to Disrupt Cell-Sorting Technology with Microbubbles
Akadeum Life Sciences is doing something that most biotechs don’t, says CEO Brandon McNaugton: practicing the lean startup method, which puts a heavy focus on customer discovery and feedback. It was this process of talking to customers that inspired Ann Arbor, MI-based Akadeum to develop the Application Discovery Program, a tool it uses to help … Continue reading “Akadeum Aims to Disrupt Cell-Sorting Technology with Microbubbles”
Ambassador Helps Companies Manage Word-of-Mouth Marketing Online
Royal Oak, MI-based Ambassador came into being the way startups sometimes do—after its founder grew disillusioned with practicing law and took up full-time entrepreneurship instead. “I grew up in Southeast Michigan and went to law school in Chicago,” Ambassador CEO Jeff Epstein says. “I stumbled into affiliate marketing through online poker in the early 2000s, … Continue reading “Ambassador Helps Companies Manage Word-of-Mouth Marketing Online”
Why Passion and Preparedness Matter to Urban-Focused Investors
Detroit is considered by many to be the ultimate proving ground for social entrepreneurs, a place where they can test solutions to homelessness, lack of functioning public transit, and other major problems. Capitalizing on that reputation, the Urban Entrepreneurship Symposium—held Friday at Detroit’s College for Creative Studies and co-hosted by Michigan State University, Wayne State … Continue reading “Why Passion and Preparedness Matter to Urban-Focused Investors”
Roundup: Macomb Community College, Weyn, Wayne Med-Direct & More
Here’s a look at innovation news from around Michigan: —Macomb Community College announced it will use a $700,000 gift from a donor’s estate to fund programs meant to foster innovation and startups. The gift will support a $50,000 endowed scholarship for accounting students and a $100,000 endowed fund to be used to pay for the … Continue reading “Roundup: Macomb Community College, Weyn, Wayne Med-Direct & More”
Sakti3’s Sastry on Dyson Acquisition, What’s Next for the Company
This week, Ann Arbor, MI-based battery startup, Sakti3, announced it had been acquired by Dyson, a past investor, for $90 million. Dyson, known for its high-end, sleekly designed vacuum cleaners, is interested in Sakti3’s solid-state lithium battery technology. We traded e-mails with Xconomist Ann Marie Sastry, Sakti3’s CEO and co-founder, to find out more about … Continue reading “Sakti3’s Sastry on Dyson Acquisition, What’s Next for the Company”
$90M Acquisition of Sakti3 One of Year’s Biggest Cleantech Deals
Last year, Dyson—the global manufacturer of vacuum cleaners, fans, hand dryers, and other products—announced it had invested $15 million in Ann Arbor, MI-based advanced battery company Sakti3. Wednesday, the University of Michigan announced the spinout startup has been acquired by Dyson for $90 million. Makers of consumer goods are hungry for more powerful battery technology … Continue reading “$90M Acquisition of Sakti3 One of Year’s Biggest Cleantech Deals”
Michigan Budget Battle Pits Startups Against Road Infrastructure
On Oct. 7, the entire staff of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), the state office in charge of tourism and economic development, gathered for the first time in months. Big changes are coming to the department—it recently announced layoffs as well as a 27 percent cut in its overall operating budget—and its leadership wanted … Continue reading “Michigan Budget Battle Pits Startups Against Road Infrastructure”
Ag-Tech Incubator Lures Sponsors, Startups With Unusual Model
A West Michigan incubator that helps farmers and entrepreneurs turn their ag-tech ideas into businesses is trying to get the word out about the program’s first year in hopes of attracting more sponsors. In the past year, the Great Lakes Ag-Tech Business Incubator launched a handful of startups and hammered out an unusual financing model … Continue reading “Ag-Tech Incubator Lures Sponsors, Startups With Unusual Model”
WSU’s New IBio Center Plans Holistic Approach to Urban Health Issues
Wayne State University held a grand-opening ceremony Wednesday for its new $93 million Integrative Biosciences Center (IBio), situated on a formerly abandoned 2.7-acre block in Detroit’s Midtown neighborhood. Mike Brinich, WSU’s associate director of communications, says the facility will be the first of its size and kind, due to its holistic approach to studying and … Continue reading “WSU’s New IBio Center Plans Holistic Approach to Urban Health Issues”
Sportsman Tracker’s Mobile App Helps Hunters Find Their Prey
It’s fall, and to a segment of Michigan’s population, that means one thing: The start of hunting season. A Grand Rapids, MI-based hunting-tech startup, Sportsman Tracker, unveiled a new mobile app late last month at San Francisco’s TechCrunch Disrupt conference in anticipation of the season, and company CEO Jeff Courter says the app’s algorithm is … Continue reading “Sportsman Tracker’s Mobile App Helps Hunters Find Their Prey”
MI Roundup: GM, WSU, MichiganX, Detroit Blight Removal Task Force
Here’s a look at news from around Michigan’s innovation communities: —The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded a $3 million grant to Wayne State University as part of a project to change how STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) classes are taught. The grant will be disbursed in competitive awards of up to $100,000 to … Continue reading “MI Roundup: GM, WSU, MichiganX, Detroit Blight Removal Task Force”
New U-M Battery Lab Will Help Industry Test, Scale New Technologies
Last week, the University of Michigan announced a new public, shared lab space that will be open to any researchers—from professors and students to entrepreneurs and company employees—who are trying to push the boundaries of battery technology. The U-M Energy Institute’s Battery Fabrication and Characterization User Facility is a 2,700-square-foot lab space funded by $9.1 … Continue reading “New U-M Battery Lab Will Help Industry Test, Scale New Technologies”
Entrepreneurs of Color Fund Seeks Minority-Owned Small Businesses
Runaway valuations and the piles of money pouring into hot tech startups grab lots of headlines these days. That can make it easy to forget about traditional small businesses that might not have as much job-growth potential as startups, but still play an important role in the economy, especially in cities like Detroit. Many in … Continue reading “Entrepreneurs of Color Fund Seeks Minority-Owned Small Businesses”
Michigan Roundup: Automation Alley, MSU, U-M, Xuriden & More
Here’s a look at innovation news from around Michigan: —Automation Alley, the Troy-based technology and business organization, has opened its 7Cs program—which helps early-stage companies connect to their first customers—to mid-stage companies. Any tech- or manufacturing-based company with between five and 100 employees in need of sales training or team building is eligible for the … Continue reading “Michigan Roundup: Automation Alley, MSU, U-M, Xuriden & More”
Campless Decamps to Detroit, Plans Expansion Into Other Collectibles
Perhaps the most unexpected revelation to come out of the demo day event held by Detroit Venture Partners a few weeks ago was that Campless, a Philadelphia-based website that calls itself “the Kelley Blue Book for sneakers,” had been enticed to relocate to the Motor City by DVP founder and Quicken Loans chairman Dan Gilbert. … Continue reading “Campless Decamps to Detroit, Plans Expansion Into Other Collectibles”
U-M’s Zell Lurie Fund Invests in Phasiq’s Diagnostic Technology
The University of Michigan’s student-led Zell Lurie Commercialization Fund has invested in Phasiq, a U-M spinout startup working on a cheaper, faster, more accurate way to test multiple health-indicator proteins in a single patient sample. The startup is particularly focused on research and diagnostic tests related to cancer and other diseases affecting the immune and … Continue reading “U-M’s Zell Lurie Fund Invests in Phasiq’s Diagnostic Technology”
Goldman Sachs Leads Llamasoft’s $50M Series B Round
Llamasoft, the Ann Arbor, MI-based supply-chain software company, announced Tuesday that it has closed a Series B round valued at $50 million. Goldman Sachs is the round’s sole investor, and it will take a seat on Llamasoft’s board as part of the deal. Toby Brzoznowski, co-founder and executive vice president of Llamasoft, says the company … Continue reading “Goldman Sachs Leads Llamasoft’s $50M Series B Round”
Amazon Plans to Open “Tech Hub” in Downtown Detroit
Twitter, Google, and Microsoft have all established a significant presence in Detroit during the past few years, helping legitimize the Motor City as a place on the rebound, and now Amazon will join them. The Seattle-based online retailer announced today that it will open a downtown technology hub (whatever that means) and a corporate office … Continue reading “Amazon Plans to Open “Tech Hub” in Downtown Detroit”
Rising Tide Fund Aims to Get More Women Comfortable with Investing
A new Silicon Valley-based angel fund meant to get women more comfortable with investing officially launched today with support from the Kauffman Foundation. The Rising Tide Fund employs a collaborative investing model, with nine seasoned women angel investors serving as advisers to 90 women—all accredited investors—from across the United States, who will be non-managing members … Continue reading “Rising Tide Fund Aims to Get More Women Comfortable with Investing”
Techstars Mobility Lures New Companies, Documentary Crew to Detroit
The Techstars Mobility accelerator program’s first cohort graduated earlier this month, and the demo day event held to showcase technologies the startups are working on also contained a few surprise announcements, including company updates and a new documentary in the works about the rise of Detroit’s entrepreneurial culture. Ted Serbinski, who manages the Techstars Mobility … Continue reading “Techstars Mobility Lures New Companies, Documentary Crew to Detroit”
Roundup: Arboretum Ventures, NEI, U-M, Pegasystems, MTRAC & More
What’s cooking in Michigan’s innovation ecosystem? A lot, this time of year. Here’s a look at news from around the state: —Arboretum Ventures, the Ann Arbor-based healthcare venture capital firm, has closed its fourth fund, with commitments totaling $220 million. This nearly doubles the firm’s capital under management to $450 million. According to the firm, … Continue reading “Roundup: Arboretum Ventures, NEI, U-M, Pegasystems, MTRAC & More”
In 2015, U-M Tech Transfer Topped Record-Breaking 2014 Numbers
The University of Michigan’s Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) has topped its record-breaking 2014 numbers for patents, agreements, startups, and revenues, according to data released by the university Monday. During the 2015 fiscal year, which ended June 30, OTT spun out 19 startups, compared to 14 last fiscal year. “The momentum is continuing to be … Continue reading “In 2015, U-M Tech Transfer Topped Record-Breaking 2014 Numbers”
Podcast Fans Can Connect and Share Episode Highlights on Fireside
When the podcast genre was first taking shape about a decade ago, we fans were considered hopeless dorks. Or maybe it was just me. I remember sending out a link once, via my family’s group e-mail, to a Snap Judgment segment about an amazing cat—the piece made me ugly-cry in the middle of a bike … Continue reading “Podcast Fans Can Connect and Share Episode Highlights on Fireside”
Have an Idea to Fix Transportation in Detroit? You Could Win $250K
If there’s one thing that makes Detroiters’ blood boil, it’s when people from out of town parachute into the city full of plans on how to supposedly improve the lives of Motor City residents—without ever consulting said residents before plowing ahead. It’s incredibly condescending, usually, and often smacks of paternalism. There’s a right way and … Continue reading “Have an Idea to Fix Transportation in Detroit? You Could Win $250K”
INRIX Acquires ParkMe—and Its Reams of Data—for Undisclosed Sum
ParkMe, the Santa Monica, CA-based service that allows drivers to find and reserve parking spaces in busy urban centers, has been acquired by Kirkland, WA-based INRIX. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. Alex Israel, ParkMe’s co-founder, says the entire 25-person ParkMe operation will join INRIX, but the company will maintain its “brand and … Continue reading “INRIX Acquires ParkMe—and Its Reams of Data—for Undisclosed Sum”
U-M Announces $100 Million Data Science Initiative
Last week, the University of Michigan announced a big, new public-private initiative similar to its Mobility Transformation Center—only this time, the focus is on big data and the ever-improving technologies to gather, store, search, and analyze large collections of information. The $100 million Data Science Initiative (DSI) will establish the Michigan Institute for Data Science … Continue reading “U-M Announces $100 Million Data Science Initiative”