Seeking to engage innovators outside of the traditional defense sector, the federal government’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) recently launched the Fast, Adaptable, Next-Generation Ground Vehicle (FANG) Challenges, a military design competition. And officials say Michigan engineers should take note. Ricardo, a global engineering and consultancy company with Michigan operations in Van Buren Township, will administer … Continue reading “MI Innovators: Compete in DARPA’s $4M Vehicle Design Challenges”
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."
Detroit in 2012: The Year Our Tech Scene Became Legit
Late December is the time for media reflection, so let me officially say in this space that Detroit has had a hell of a year. A breakthrough year, just as I hoped it would when I wrote the 2011 wrap-up piece last December. In 2012, Detroit’s nascent tech scene finally gained recognition and legitimacy in … Continue reading “Detroit in 2012: The Year Our Tech Scene Became Legit”
Protean Payment’s Echo Card: The Only Card You’ll Ever Need?
If you’re like me, your wallet is bulging with cards. Debit card, library card, loyalty cards, gift cards, etc. They’re stacked up in the little sleeves and can sometimes be a real pain in the arse to wiggle free. But an Ann Arbor-based startup called Protean Payment has a solution: Its Echo card and accompanying … Continue reading “Protean Payment’s Echo Card: The Only Card You’ll Ever Need?”
Mobile Madness Motor City is Coming Soon—Join Us!
We are now less than a month away from the Mobile Madness Motor City forum, Xconomy’s first mobile event in Detroit. We hope to see you there, and are offering special rates to students and startups designed to fit a range of budgets. The event takes place on Jan. 17 from 2 p.m. to 5:30 … Continue reading “Mobile Madness Motor City is Coming Soon—Join Us!”
NextEnergy, MEDC Launch Michigan Accelerating Technologies Grant
On Dec. 1, the Detroit-based nonprofit NextEnergy launched the new Michigan Accelerating Technologies Energy Grant (MATch) program, a three-year initiative funded by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. It’s the latest tool in the state’s arsenal to help Michigan companies in the advanced energy sector compete for federal research and development dollars. A similar effort directed … Continue reading “NextEnergy, MEDC Launch Michigan Accelerating Technologies Grant”
Detroit’s LevelEleven Launches LeaderTV
When LevelEleven launched in late October, CEO Bob Marsh said the company planned to incorporate client feedback and build on his company’s enterprise gamification software. The Detroit-based startup today announced it has done just that, creating something called LeaderTV. LevelEleven had been working on the idea for months based on feedback from clients and prospective customers, … Continue reading “Detroit’s LevelEleven Launches LeaderTV”
Aastrom Names New Interim CEO, Mayleben To Remain Active in Fundraising
Ann Arbor, MI-based biotech startup Aastrom Biosciences (Nasdaq: ASTM) announced this week that president and CEO Tim Mayleben has retired and a new interim CEO, Dan Orlando, has been named by Aastrom’s board. Orlando was hired at Aastrom in August to be the company’s chief commercial officer, and Mayleben says his experience getting products to … Continue reading “Aastrom Names New Interim CEO, Mayleben To Remain Active in Fundraising”
NanoSteel to Open Metro Detroit Office Focusing on Automotive Business
NanoSteel, the Providence, RI-based nano-materials company, announced yesterday that it will open an office in metro Detroit. It has named Craig Parsons, a former Gestamp executive with more than 20 years experience working in the automobile supply chain and manufacturing, to lead the operation. The metro Detroit office will focus on NanoSteel’s automotive initiatives as … Continue reading “NanoSteel to Open Metro Detroit Office Focusing on Automotive Business”
Credentialock China to Focus on International Student Verification Market
When we spoke to Royal Oak, MI-based startup Credentialock last spring, CEO Scott Slyfield told us he was in talks with an Ann Arbor startup called Educatrium to partner and focus on student document verification for the Chinese market. Called Credentialock China, that effort has formally launched and last month, it won the University of … Continue reading “Credentialock China to Focus on International Student Verification Market”
New Battery Cluster Caps Busy Year for U-M Research and Technology
Reserch and tech activities out of the University of Michigan have been on a roll lately. In late November, U-M announced the National Science Foundation had ranked it first in the nation in terms of research spending by a public university—$1.3 billion total during the 2011 fiscal year. The Office of Technology Transfer also published its … Continue reading “New Battery Cluster Caps Busy Year for U-M Research and Technology”
Swift Biosciences Strikes Licensing Deal with Vela Diagnostics
Ann Arbor, MI-based Swift Biosciences announced this week that it has signed a licensing deal with Vela Operations, the Singapore-based parent company of Vela Diagnostics. The agreement gives Vela non-exclusive rights to incorporate Swift’s myT Primer technology into its cancer detection tests. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. Founder and CEO David Olson … Continue reading “Swift Biosciences Strikes Licensing Deal with Vela Diagnostics”
Get Out of the Car and Start Exploring with Landmarked Detroit App
Suburbanites and tourists, we thank you for visiting Detroit and pumping some of your hard-earned cash into the local economy. We have a request, though: Next time you’re here for a Lions game or a concert at the Fox, would you consider adding an hour onto your trip to walk around downtown to see more … Continue reading “Get Out of the Car and Start Exploring with Landmarked Detroit App”
Ann Arbor Startup MyFab5 Aims to Disrupt Yelp
MyFab5 co-founder Omeid Seirafi-Pour owns a house in Chicago, but when the startup bug bit him, he packed one suitcase and headed back to Ann Arbor, home of his alma mater, the University of Michigan. He had an idea, and it was directly related to his annoyance with the long-winded, often “negative just to hear … Continue reading “Ann Arbor Startup MyFab5 Aims to Disrupt Yelp”
TechTown Takes Business Acceleration Services to Brightmoor Neighborhood
The TechTown business incubator, which is affiliated with Wayne State University in Detroit, announced last month that it has received a $150,000 grant from the Marjorie S. Fisher Endowment Fund to support its efforts in the Brightmoor neighborhood in far Northwest Detroit. One reason this is notable is that it represents the first time a … Continue reading “TechTown Takes Business Acceleration Services to Brightmoor Neighborhood”
U-M’s MCubed Seed Grants Fund 50 Researcher-Led Innovation Projects
The University of Michigan today announced the first 50 research projects to receive seed funding as part of the new MCubed program. MCubed is a first-of-its-kind, two-year, $15 million initiative that puts university professors in charge of divvying up immediate startup funds for “novel, high-risk, and transformative research projects.” The MCubed grants come just days after the … Continue reading “U-M’s MCubed Seed Grants Fund 50 Researcher-Led Innovation Projects”
Detroit’s Ubi Video Offers Smaller Cable Providers a Way to Compete
The only shows I watch on regular TV anymore are sporting events. I’m an avid consumer of television, particularly those shows in the HBO-Showtime-AMC stable, but appointment television has become a thing of the past as I’ve discovered the joys of on-demand and its magnificent pause and fast-forward buttons. On Thanksgiving, I took my TV … Continue reading “Detroit’s Ubi Video Offers Smaller Cable Providers a Way to Compete”
Mobile Madness Motor City: Linkner, Song, & More at Jan. 17 Forum
All of you smartphone-toting innovators know it’s true: Five short years since the first iPhones sparked lines around Apple stores, mobile computing has completely transformed our lives. Whether revolutionizing the way we communicate or how we run our companies, there’s hardly a business in operation that hasn’t been affected by the power of mobile. In … Continue reading “Mobile Madness Motor City: Linkner, Song, & More at Jan. 17 Forum”
CampDoc Offers Web-Based Way to Manage Campers’ Medical Needs
Michael Ambrose grew up going to Tamarack Camps in Ortonville, MI, each summer. Once he was too old to attend Tamarack, he began volunteering. All throughout college and medical school at the University of Michigan, he loved working in the camp’s health center, organizing health forms, distributing medications, and tending to injuries. As the world … Continue reading “CampDoc Offers Web-Based Way to Manage Campers’ Medical Needs”
Harvest Express Brings Online Grocery Service to Detroit
[Corrected 11/26/12, 9:21 a.m. See below.] Jenile Brooks was born in raised in Detroit, and she always knew that one day she’d be back. Brooks headed East after high school and eventually settled in New York City, where she was working as a film producer. It was in that capacity that she finally returned to … Continue reading “Harvest Express Brings Online Grocery Service to Detroit”
Women 2.0, Google Partner to Launch Detroit Founder Friday
A popular networking series for female tech entrepreneurs that began in the Bay Area has now launched in Detroit. Called Founder Friday, it’s the product of the San Francisco-based Women 2.0, a media company offering “content and community” for current and aspiring women in tech, and Google for Entrepreneurs. Detroit is the only Midwestern city … Continue reading “Women 2.0, Google Partner to Launch Detroit Founder Friday”
Algal Scientific is Big Winner at Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition
The annual Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition, the business-plan contest targeting mid-to-late-stage startups located in the state, wrapped up last night at Orchestra Hall in downtown Detroit, where a slew of overall and sector-specific winners were announced. At stake was more than $1 million in cash prizes, plus in-kind awards of services, staffing, and software. Plymouth-based Algal Scientific won … Continue reading “Algal Scientific is Big Winner at Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition”
Arboretum Ventures’ Petersen on VC in MI, What the Future Holds
The Michigan Venture Capital Association (MVCA) held its annual awards dinner last week, where it honored the VCs and deals of the year, so we thought it would be a good time to catch up with Arboretum Ventures‘ Tim Petersen, who also serves as the MVCA’s board chair. Petersen says the most interesting thing about … Continue reading “Arboretum Ventures’ Petersen on VC in MI, What the Future Holds”
TechTown Hosts First “MITX Up Detroit” For Startups
The Boston-based Massachusetts Innovation and Technology Exchange (MITX), a trade organization representing the digital marketing and IT communities, will expand its programming outside of Boston for the first time with a MITX Up Detroit event that it’s hosting with Wayne State incubator TechTown tonight. “We wanted to go to a place that wasn’t getting all the headlines; … Continue reading “TechTown Hosts First “MITX Up Detroit” For Startups”
Detroit Nation Connects Ex-Pats, Entrepreneurs In Need of Mentorship
Detroit Nation, a new organization of Motor City ex-pats who want to help with the city’s revitalization from afar, will kick off its Drive program next week with events in Ann Arbor, MI, and Chicago. The purpose of Detroit Nation, says program manager Meg Pouncy, is to connect national mentors from all walks of life … Continue reading “Detroit Nation Connects Ex-Pats, Entrepreneurs In Need of Mentorship”
Echo360 Acquires Ann Arbor’s Lecture Tools
Virginia-based education tech company Echo360 announced today that it has acquired Ann Arbor, MI-based startup Lecture Tools, which makes a digital student-engagement platform. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Perry Samson, the University of Michigan professor who developed Lecture Tools, will remain in his position as U-M’s Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Atmospheric, … Continue reading “Echo360 Acquires Ann Arbor’s Lecture Tools”
Michigan Venture Fellows Program Makes Inaugural Placements
The Michigan Venture Capital Association has placed four fellows from the inaugural class of its Michigan Venture Fellows Program. Sam Hogg has joined the Kalamazoo office of Open Prairie Ventures; Jared Stasik has joined Detroit Venture Partners; William Blake has joined Farmington Hills-based Beringea; and Linda Chamberlain has joined the Grand Rapids-based Michigan Accelerator Fund. Funded last November … Continue reading “Michigan Venture Fellows Program Makes Inaugural Placements”
Message Blocks: Event Planning in the Digital Age
Len Gauger, founder of the Ann Arbor-based startup Message Blocks, is pumped; his event-planning software company is off to a good start, he says. Cheerful and friendly by nature, he could be the poster boy for the kind of young entrepreneur that state government officials dream of when they preach about the need for talent … Continue reading “Message Blocks: Event Planning in the Digital Age”
U-M Student Accelerator TechArb Churns Out Success Stories
The University of Michigan’s entrepreneurship efforts have been steadily gaining attention and acclaim—U-M’s graduate program in entrepreneurship was recently named the second in the nation by the Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine—and its student startup accelerator, TechArb, is no exception. Since its inception in 2009, TechArb has produced a host of successful companies, including Mobiata, which … Continue reading “U-M Student Accelerator TechArb Churns Out Success Stories”
Beringea Invests $3.2 Milion in InSkin Media
Michigan’s largest venture capital firm, Beringea, announced this week that it has invested $3.2 million in InSkin Media, a British digital advertising company. InSkin Media will use the investment to develop its mobile format and build international operations. Launched in 2009, InSkin appealed to Beringea because of its innovative online advertising formats that wrap around … Continue reading “Beringea Invests $3.2 Milion in InSkin Media”
Ann Arbor’s Llamasoft Raises $6M Series A Round
Lllamasoft, the Ann Arbor-based analytics software company, announced this week that it has raised a $6 million Series A round with investments from Ann Arbor-based Augment Ventures, Detroit-based First Step Fund, and MK Capital, which has offices in California, Illinois, and Ann Arbor. “We’ve been on a significant growth path, and we’ve established Llamasoft as … Continue reading “Ann Arbor’s Llamasoft Raises $6M Series A Round”
LevelEleven Spins Out of ePrize With $1 Million in Seed Funding
A new enterprise gamification company called LevelEleven officially launched in Detroit today, backed by $1 million in seed funding from investors like Detroit Venture Partners and ePrize, and fueled by the hope that the company’s software will transform the way managers keep salespeople motivated. The relationship between LevelEleven’s CEO Bob Marsh and DVP’s CEO Josh … Continue reading “LevelEleven Spins Out of ePrize With $1 Million in Seed Funding”
Seven Tech Startups Snag $232,000 in State Microloans
Seven early-stage tech startups have received loans from the Michigan Microloan Fund Program, the state announced earlier this month. The funding, dispersed quarterly, this time amounted to a total of $232,000. To date, the microloan fund program has lent $2.8 million to Michigan companies that are on the brink of being revenue-ready. “The criteria is … Continue reading “Seven Tech Startups Snag $232,000 in State Microloans”
RIIS On Android Security (And Why Consumers Should Be Worried)
Nolan Godfrey, founder and president of a Southfield, MI-based IT company called RIIS, has the soul of a writer. An early expert on Java security, he eventually fell in love with the written word and only reluctantly came back to computers after realizing he wrote “too slowly to make any money.” But he also has … Continue reading “RIIS On Android Security (And Why Consumers Should Be Worried)”
TiE Detroit Establishes New Angel Investment Group
TiE Detroit, the local chapter of the global entrepreneurial network, announced it has established an angel investment group to leverage the skills, capital, and connections of its members in an effort to bolster up-and-coming Michigan startups. Sonali Vijayavargiya, chair of the TiE Detroit Angels and managing director at Ann Arbor, MI-based Augment Ventures, says the group … Continue reading “TiE Detroit Establishes New Angel Investment Group”
Credit Suisse, State Investment Funds Parting Ways
Back in July, Credit Suisse, the global banking giant, announced that is was selling off its Customized Fund Investment Group (CFIG). Since the CFIG administers more than than $500 million in capital spread across the state government’s various investment funds—one of the largest pools of private equity capital in Michigan—there are potentially big ramifications if the CFIG is sold. Now, … Continue reading “Credit Suisse, State Investment Funds Parting Ways”
MoneyTree Report: Q3 Venture Activity in Detroit Strongest Ever
According to MoneyTree Report data released today by the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) and PricewaterhouseCoopers, Detroit had its strongest quarter in venture activity since the firm began tracking the data in 1995. In the third quarter of 2012, there were five deals worth a whopping $106.3 million, according to the report. One has to … Continue reading “MoneyTree Report: Q3 Venture Activity in Detroit Strongest Ever”
Jaitly Leaving Knight Foundation to Lead Twitter’s Efforts In India
Xconomist Rishi Jaitly, who has led the Knight Foundation‘s efforts in Detroit for nearly the past two years, announced yesterday in an email to local grantees that he’s leaving Knight to take a job leading Twitter‘s efforts in India. This represents a return to big tech companies—prior to taking the position at Knight, Jaitly worked … Continue reading “Jaitly Leaving Knight Foundation to Lead Twitter’s Efforts In India”
U-M Announces Venture Shaping, Dare to Dream Grant Recipients
The University of Michigan’s Zell Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies has awarded nearly $30,000 in grants to student startups as part of its Mayleben Venture Shaping and Dare to Dream programs. Each year, the programs award up to $100,000 to student companies semi-annually. This round’s funded entrepreneurs are working in a wide range of sectors, … Continue reading “U-M Announces Venture Shaping, Dare to Dream Grant Recipients”
Course Hack Lets Students Automatically Organize Assignments
When Course Hack co- founder and CEO Chris Roszell was attending Michigan State University, he spent a lot of time transcribing what was on his syllabi into iCal, the native calendar app on iPhones. “It took a lot of time,” he explains. “I knew if I could come up with some kind of script [to … Continue reading “Course Hack Lets Students Automatically Organize Assignments”
Accelerate Michigan Announces 2012 Semi-Finalists
The 53 semi-finalists competing in Accelerate Michigan, the business-plan competition targeting mid-to-late-stage startups located in the state, have been announced. At stake is more than $1 million in cash prizes, plus in-kind awards of services, staffing, and software. More than that, Accelerate Michigan winners are usually considered among Michigan’s most promising startps and companies to watch. Winners … Continue reading “Accelerate Michigan Announces 2012 Semi-Finalists”
Hygieia’s Insulin Guidance System Approved for European Use
Ann Arbor, MI-based Hygieia announced this week that its d-Nav Diabetes Insulin Guidance System (DIGS) has received a CE Mark, which is the European equivalent of FDA approval. This fall, two diabetes treatment centers in England and Ireland plan to start using the d-Nav DIGS, which was developed with technology from the University of Michigan. … Continue reading “Hygieia’s Insulin Guidance System Approved for European Use”
Ann Arbor’s Compendia Bioscience Acquired by Life Technologies
Compendia Bioscience, an Ann Arbor, MI, startup spun out of technology developed at the University of Michigan, announced today that it has been acquired by California-based Life Technologies Corp. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Compendia, which has 34 employees, was started in 2006 to commercialize Oncomine, a cancer genomics research database that pharmaceutical companies … Continue reading “Ann Arbor’s Compendia Bioscience Acquired by Life Technologies”
New Kiva Zip Program Lets Detroiters Lend Directly to Entrepreneurs
At the end of September, the microfinance initiative Kiva Detroit announced it was launching Kiva Zip to allow Detroiters to lend directly to small-business entrepreneurs using digital tools like PayPal. Similar to the Kickstarter model, any resident can nominate a local entrepreneur for community support as well as contribute directly to a crowd-funded, interest-free loan. Lenders … Continue reading “New Kiva Zip Program Lets Detroiters Lend Directly to Entrepreneurs”
Bringing Fantasy Sports to the Bar With MyInteractiveVision
“Come on, girls,” my mom said with a heavy sigh. “This is getting ridiculous.” It was a beautiful Sunday in September, and she was talking to my sister and me. We were sitting in a Montauk, NY, hotel room on a ladies weekend vacation/wedding-venue search mission. My mom was miffed because we were late to … Continue reading “Bringing Fantasy Sports to the Bar With MyInteractiveVision”
Fusion Coolant Systems Grows, Opens Detroit Tech Center
The University of Michigan has a good reputation for spinning out technology developed and pioneered at the university into successful startups, and cleantech startup Fusion Coolant Systems is no exception. The company, which was based in Ann Arbor before opening a tech center on the west side of Detroit, was launched in 2010 to commercialize an … Continue reading “Fusion Coolant Systems Grows, Opens Detroit Tech Center”
Bongotones Launches 3.0 Version, Mobile Apps, Detroit Location
Metro Detroit-based startup Bongotones, which sells customized ringtones, wallpaper, MP3s, games and more to a global customer base, recently launched its overhauled platform. Meant to be more appealing to users, Bongotones’ 3.0 version has a cleaner interface. On Monday, Bongotones will launch the mobile version of its site, followed by iPhone and Android apps a … Continue reading “Bongotones Launches 3.0 Version, Mobile Apps, Detroit Location”
U-M Grad Program in Entrepreneurship Ranked No. 2 in Nation
The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine have named University of Michigan’s graduate program in entrepreneurship one of the best in the nation, the university announced this week. Coming in at the No. 2 spot—the highest it’s ever been ranked—this is the third year in a row that the Samuel Zell & Robert H. Lurie Institute for … Continue reading “U-M Grad Program in Entrepreneurship Ranked No. 2 in Nation”
Detroit Leading U.S. Development of New Vehicle-to-Grid Technology
It’s no secret that auto manufacturers, battery manufacturers, government officials, and champions of renewable energy everywhere are disappointed by the slow rate of consumer adoption when it comes to electric vehicles like the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf. But imagine how that might change if consumers could earn money from their electric cars. That concept, … Continue reading “Detroit Leading U.S. Development of New Vehicle-to-Grid Technology”
Social News Reader Flud Expands to Serve Businesses
Flud, creator of a social news reader that delivers visually appealing, shareable news streams to consumers’ mobile and tablet devices, has pivoted slightly to offer a version of its platform tailored to businesses. The San Diego and Detroit-based startup wants to disrupt the current intranet and inter-office email mode of conversation, with all those annoying … Continue reading “Social News Reader Flud Expands to Serve Businesses”
Detroit’s LocalData Wins Knight Foundation Funding
LocalData, a digital information-gathering and sharing platform born out of the work done by three Code for America fellows deployed to Detroit, has just been awarded funding from the Knight Foundation. The $300,000 grant was announced this week at San Francisco’s Online News Association conference as part of Knight’s News Challenge competition. Knight, along with the … Continue reading “Detroit’s LocalData Wins Knight Foundation Funding”