While teaching high school as he was pursuing his phD at the University of Michigan, Azarias Reda spent a lot of time with kids. However, something always bothered him: These students were always online, but what were they telling the world about themselves? “They’re actively generating content, except not a lot of it is useful … Continue reading “Former LinkedIn Researcher Starts Meritful, a Network for Students”
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 Lions Pledge $500K to Support Local Entrepreneurs
The entrepreneurial momentum in Detroit these days has apparently touched even our reborn NFL team, the Detroit Lions. The team announced a new philanthropic initiative yesterday called Living for the City, part of which involves a partnership between the Lions and Hatch Detroit, a popular local business plan competition, to help entrepreneurs in neighborhoods outside … Continue reading “Detroit Lions Pledge $500K to Support Local Entrepreneurs”
Stik.com Relocates From San Francisco to Downtown Detroit
Stik.com, a website that allows users to seek and provide business referrals via Facebook, announced today that it’s relocating operations from San Francisco to Detroit. It’s the first time we know of that a Bay Area startup has decided to pick up and move to join the Motor City’s burgeoning tech hub. Co-founders Nathan Labenz … Continue reading “Stik.com Relocates From San Francisco to Downtown Detroit”
Lessons from Techonomy Detroit: Thought Leaders Must Push City Hall
On Wednesday, Detroit served as the host city for Techonomy, the annual national confab billed by its organizers as “a one-day convergence of today’s brightest minds, gathered to reignite U.S. competitiveness, job creation, and urban revitalization in a technologized age.” Held at Wayne State University, Techonomy was crawling with “thought leaders,” including Jack Dorsey, creator … Continue reading “Lessons from Techonomy Detroit: Thought Leaders Must Push City Hall”
Detroit Bus Company: Disrupting Old Models in a Transit-Starved City
Gail Lanzon is clearly having the time of her life. Though she drives a school bus in tiny Clintondale, MI, during the week, her weekend nights belong to Detroit. It’s the last Friday of summer, and downtown is a zoo. The International Jazz Festival is going on in Hart Plaza, and the Tigers game has … Continue reading “Detroit Bus Company: Disrupting Old Models in a Transit-Starved City”
On Pixels, Atoms, and Gentrification: What Drives Detroit’s Future?
I attended the Knight Foundation‘s “Civic Engagement Showcase and Learning Conference” this morning in Detroit, and it was an eye-opening experience. (Search for #DetroitShowcase on Twitter to read the attendees’ tweets.) Predictably, non-profits and arts groups were heavily represented—I sat next to Detroit Opera House founder and director David DiChera in our small-group breakout session—but … Continue reading “On Pixels, Atoms, and Gentrification: What Drives Detroit’s Future?”
U-M’s New Drug Discovery Center to Commercialize Research
Last week, the University of Michigan announced a new Center for the Discovery of New Medicines (CDNM) to help speed the school’s research findings to the marketplace. The new initiative is a cross-departmental effort to leverage resources like former Pfizer researchers, unique libraries of compounds, and a culture of data sharing to streamline early-stage drug … Continue reading “U-M’s New Drug Discovery Center to Commercialize Research”
Detroit Startup Chalkfly Helps Customers Give Back to Schools
As a new school year starts today for Detroit kids, a new Bizdom startup has launched that allows customers to help make lives of local students and teachers a little bit easier. It’s called Chalkfly, an office and school supplies website that donates 5 percent from each purchase back to the schools or teachers of the … Continue reading “Detroit Startup Chalkfly Helps Customers Give Back to Schools”
It’s Time to Woo More Foreign Students and Companies, Says Paul Krutko
Paul Krutko is the president and CEO of Ann Arbor SPARK, the city’s economic development agency. He’s just back from Washington, D.C., where he was part of a delegation—along with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Mike Finney; JoAnn Crary, president of Saginaw Future; and Ray Byers, Wayne County’s chief economic development officer—who attended this week’s … Continue reading “It’s Time to Woo More Foreign Students and Companies, Says Paul Krutko”
How the Daily Office Birthday Email Became the Startup Cup of Zup
There was a time, at the turn of the century, when my chief purpose in life seemed to be serving as the stenographer for my tight-knit group of friends. All of us were newly graduated from college and, for one reason or another (often not at our own choosing), we were back in our hometown. … Continue reading “How the Daily Office Birthday Email Became the Startup Cup of Zup”
Blackstone LaunchPad Fosters Entrepreneurship, Possibility
Energy, hope, and possibility: That, essentially, is what Bill Green says the Launch Pad program is about. Green, senior vice provost and dean of undergraduate education at the University of Miami, co-founded the Launch Pad there as a way to integrate the values of entrepreneurship campus-wide and turn students into CEOs of startups, which Green believes is key … Continue reading “Blackstone LaunchPad Fosters Entrepreneurship, Possibility”
U-M Student Startup Fetchnotes Wins TechStars Spot
Fetchnotes, the Ann Arbor, MI-based startup founded by a group of University of Michigan students, announced today that it has been accepted into the national business accelerator TechStars Boston. It’s a prestigious program that accepts only 1 percent of startups that apply to participate, and Fetchnotes is the first U-M student startup to earn the … Continue reading “U-M Student Startup Fetchnotes Wins TechStars Spot”
After Acquisition, ePrize Committed to Mobile Growth, Hiring
On Monday, Pleasant Ridge, MI-based digital marketing and engagement company ePrize announced it had been acquired by Greenwich, CT-based Catterton Partners. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, though ePrize CEO Matt Wise points out that the company’s backers, including Quicken Loans‘ Dan Gilbert, scored a healthy return on their investments. “Most of ePrize’s … Continue reading “After Acquisition, ePrize Committed to Mobile Growth, Hiring”
Daily Deals Go Mobile With Ford’s New Roximity App
The days of considering a leisurely Sunday afternoon drive as a peaceful refuge from a busy week are clearly over. Now, we expect to be able to take our hyperconnected lives with us on the road, and if we can tell our cars exactly how and who to connect with, all the better. In the … Continue reading “Daily Deals Go Mobile With Ford’s New Roximity App”
Michigan eLab Connects Silicon Valley VC to U-M Entrepreneurs
A group of University of Michigan alumni have formed the Michigan eLab, a new venture capital fund that aims to connect tech startups from the university community with Silicon Valley cash and resources. The co-founders all have significant entrepreneurial chops: Rick Bolander launched Blue Sky Ventures and has been involved with Apex Venture Partners; Scott … Continue reading “Michigan eLab Connects Silicon Valley VC to U-M Entrepreneurs”
U-M Program Steers Detroit Kids Toward STEM Careers
I love my job for many reasons. Among them is the fact that every week, I learn something new. This week, an invitation to watch a robotics demo put on by local high school teams at the Compuware Building in downtown Detroit led me to the Michigan Engineering Zone (MEZ), an innovative University of Michigan program that introduces … Continue reading “U-M Program Steers Detroit Kids Toward STEM Careers”
Four SE Michigan Universities Launch TurboVote
TurboVote, a voter-assistance startup that was launched last fall while its founders were attending Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, announced yesterday that it has partnered with four Michigan universities to make voting easier for Detroiters. Just in time for the presidential election, Wayne State University in Detroit, University of Michigan-Dearborn, Marygrove College in Detroit, and Eastern Michigan … Continue reading “Four SE Michigan Universities Launch TurboVote”
Lots of Local Investors Join Livio’s Series C Round
Ferndale, MI-based Livio announced this week that it has completed a Series C round of funding for an undisclosed amount. Plenty of local investors participated in the round, including longtime backer Beringea, North Coast Technology Investors, and the First Step Fund. Rhode Island-based Angel Street Capital and Silicon Valley’s Western Technology Investment also contributed to the round. Jake … Continue reading “Lots of Local Investors Join Livio’s Series C Round”
Taking the Moneyball Approach to Healthcare with ArborMetrix
It’s clear, despite pre-election uncertainty, that accurate data will be crucial to the future of American healthcare. The name of the game will soon be metrics, as in: If you don’t meet these benchmarks, we’re not going to pay you. Having the best, most up-to-date data not only helps doctors improve care, but it also … Continue reading “Taking the Moneyball Approach to Healthcare with ArborMetrix”
Mapping the Cloud With Ann Arbor’s DeepField Networks
When I was talking to Craig Labovitz last week about his new big data startup, DeepField Networks, there were moments when I wished the Internet really was just a series of tubes. That would probably be easier to understand than the massive, many-headed beast that it is today, which is why Labovitz launched his company … Continue reading “Mapping the Cloud With Ann Arbor’s DeepField Networks”
Real Time Farms, Food52 Explore Merger
Real Time Farms, the Ann Arbor, MI-based online guide to local and organic food, has entered into a partnership with Food52, a popular cooking website based in New York City, to develop “a shared vision of community building and sustainable eating,” says co-founder Cara Rosean. Real Time Farms is part of a fledgling food tech … Continue reading “Real Time Farms, Food52 Explore Merger”
Wayne State Offers Free Patent Clinic to Detroit Entrepreneurs
On the heels of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office opening up its first-ever satellite location in Detroit, Wayne State’s law school has announced it will offer a free patent procurement clinic to qualifying local entrepreneurs. It’s the only pro bono patent law procurement clinic in Michigan. The clinic, located in Midtown at 471 Palmer, … Continue reading “Wayne State Offers Free Patent Clinic to Detroit Entrepreneurs”
GM Ventures Leads $12M Series C Round for NanoSteel
GM Ventures, the Detroit-based venture fund run by General Motors, announced it has made an investment in Providence, RI-based NanoSteel. David Paratore, CEO of NanoSteel, says GM Ventures was “one of the largest investors” in a $12 million Series C round, which also included investment from EnerTech Capital and Fairhaven Capital Partners. “GM brings to … Continue reading “GM Ventures Leads $12M Series C Round for NanoSteel”
Atterocor Lands $16M Series A Round For Cancer Therapy
Ann Arbor, MI-based Atterocor announced Friday that it has raised $16 million in a Series A round led by Frazier, based in Seattle and Menlo Park, CA, and 5am Ventures, based in Waltham, MA and Menlo Park. The funding will go toward developing the company’s adrenal cancer therapy. Atterocor was founded in 2012 by Julia Owens, Raili Kerppola, … Continue reading “Atterocor Lands $16M Series A Round For Cancer Therapy”
D:Hive, Rock Ventures Partner to Lure Entrepreneurs to Detroit
Rock Ventures, Dan Gilbert’s umbrella company that oversees nearly all of his efforts in downtown Detroit, announced this week that it will partner with D:Hive to help enliven downtown by drawing entrepreneurs and young professionals to the city. We introduced you to D:Hive, which functions as a welcome center/resource hub to new Detroit arrivals, a … Continue reading “D:Hive, Rock Ventures Partner to Lure Entrepreneurs to Detroit”
Power Panel Brings Solar Manufacturing to Detroit
Solar panel manufacturing in Detroit? I didn’t know it either until I received an e-mail from Adam Stratton, Power Panel‘s vice president of business development. An affable Canadian, he invited me out to the company’s manufacturing facility on the far western edge of the city, in a corner of Detroit I had yet to visit. … Continue reading “Power Panel Brings Solar Manufacturing to Detroit”
SenseAide: Digital Eldercare Coming to a Computer Near You
Sri Rao, founder of the Rochester Hills, MI-based startup SenseAide, knows firsthand how challenging it can be to care for an aging loved one, especially from a remote location. After his mother-in-law had a stroke, Rao saw the delicate balance in play that comes after someone suffers a health setback and needs a bit of … Continue reading “SenseAide: Digital Eldercare Coming to a Computer Near You”
State Launches Pure Michigan Venture Fund
Last month, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) announced it was accepting applications for the newly created Pure Michigan Venture Fund (PMVF). The fund, which has $5 million to invest and will seek an additional $4 million from the legislature, is targeting first- and second-generation venture capital firms that have raised at least $1 million … Continue reading “State Launches Pure Michigan Venture Fund”
Detroit’s UpTo Talks Traction, New Expanded Features
Detroit-based mobile startup UpTo, which aims to fill the “future void” by taking the appointment calendar and making it social, announced this week that users can now share third-party event streams with their Twitter and Facebook networks. To showcase its new functionality, UpTo launched an events stream from British shopping center Westfield, which sits in the … Continue reading “Detroit’s UpTo Talks Traction, New Expanded Features”
Detroit’s Savorfull Applies Birchbox Model to “Free-From” Food
Who doesn’t love getting a box of surprises shipped to them? Birchbox, the subscription service that sends members a box of beauty samples each month based on their preferences, pioneered the model. Now, Detroit-based startup Savorfull is taking that model and applying it to “free-from food” (as in dairy-free, gluten-free, etc.) as a way to … Continue reading “Detroit’s Savorfull Applies Birchbox Model to “Free-From” Food”
Auto Supplier Faurecia Delves Into Social Media Marketing
French auto supplier Faurecia, which has its North American base of operations in Auburn Hills, MI, is taking a page out of the social media marketing playbook that has served its automaker clients so well. Last week, the company announced a new car interior-design contest open to Pinterest users. It represents one of the fist … Continue reading “Auto Supplier Faurecia Delves Into Social Media Marketing”
Detroit Venture Investments Down, U.S. Investments Up in Second Quarter
According to a new report from the analysts at CB Insights, VCs invested $8.1 billion in more than 800 deals in the second quarter of 2012, the highest total since the dot-com era. The findings were generally confirmed by the latest MoneyTree survey, which reported that venture firms invested just over $7 billion in 898 deals across … Continue reading “Detroit Venture Investments Down, U.S. Investments Up in Second Quarter”
Food Tech Startup Trend Takes Hold in Michigan
As concerns about the effects of globalization on the food supply and genetically modified “frankenfood” grow, locavores are having their moment in the spotlight. More and more, consumers want to know where their food comes from, and they want it to be fresh, local, and free of harmful chemicals. They’re also willing to pay a premium … Continue reading “Food Tech Startup Trend Takes Hold in Michigan”
GM, RelayRides, OnStar Partner in New Car Sharing Program
On Tuesday, GM, OnStar, and peer-to-peer car-sharing service RelayRides teamed up to give 6 million OnStar subscribers the ability to instantly rent out their vehicles through the RelayRides marketplace. RelayRides users will be able to access their reserved cars using any mobile device. “It’s very exciting,” Shelby Clark, RelayRides founder and chief community officer, says of the … Continue reading “GM, RelayRides, OnStar Partner in New Car Sharing Program”
Steve Blank on Detroit’s Renaissance and Why Startups Aren’t Cool
Xconomist and startup guru Steve Blank swept into Detroit last night for a sold-out, wide-ranging discussion at the Madison Building. (Kudos to Bizdom, Detroit Venture Partners, Startup Michigan, and Grow Detroit for packing the auditorium with over 100 people on less than 24 hours notice of Blank’s appearance.) Prone to tangents that are no less insightful … Continue reading “Steve Blank on Detroit’s Renaissance and Why Startups Aren’t Cool”
Detroit4Detroit’s Digital Philanthropy Off to a Brisk Start
Detroit4Detroit, the first-of-its-kind microphilanthropy initiative in an American city, has met its goal of recruiting 150 citizen philanthropists to fund community-improvement projects using a strategy that’s heavy on social networking and other digital tools. The goal of Detroit4Detroit—which is managed by Michigan Corps and Citizen Effect with a financial assist from the Knight Foundation—is to turn everyday Detroiters into … Continue reading “Detroit4Detroit’s Digital Philanthropy Off to a Brisk Start”
Genome Dynamics on Taking Overactive Bladder Biomarker Tests Mainstream
Though the pharmaceutical industry seems to want to do its best to make us giggle with its cutesy advertising campaigns, to Martin Bluth, an overactive bladder is no laughing matter. Bluth, co-founder of Detroit-based Genome Dynamics International (GDI), says treatments for overactive bladders represent a $26 billion market—and that’s not including the social costs of … Continue reading “Genome Dynamics on Taking Overactive Bladder Biomarker Tests Mainstream”
EcoMotors Closes $32.5 Million Series C Round—Eyes China Expansion
Allen Park, MI-based EcoMotors, maker of energy efficient engines, this week announced that it had raised $32.5 million in a Series C round of financing led by New York-based Braemar Energy Ventures. Also participating in the round were Bill Gates and Menlo Park, CA-based Khosla Ventures, who previously invested $23 million in an earlier round of financing. To … Continue reading “EcoMotors Closes $32.5 Million Series C Round—Eyes China Expansion”
Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund Invests $600K in Three Tech Startups
The Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund announced this week that it has invested $600,000 in three tech startups: Flocktag, Larky, and FreeStride Therapeutics. To date, the Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund has invested $16.5 million in 75 Michigan companies. While Flocktag and Larky both want to leverage customer satisfaction and their hunger for discounts, FreeStride Therapeutics is working on treatments for … Continue reading “Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund Invests $600K in Three Tech Startups”
Oakland University Incubator Focuses on Cleantech, Outreach
Tucked amid the gorgeous rolling hills surrounding Meadowbrook Hall in Rochester Hills, MI, is the Oakland University Incubator. Despite being a sprawling space complete with a demonstration hall the size of a football field, it’s a four-person operation. Amy Butler runs the place, and she’s got a vision to not only attract more tenants and … Continue reading “Oakland University Incubator Focuses on Cleantech, Outreach”
Greenlancer: Clean Tech Engineering From the Cloud
Bizdom-backed, Detroit-based startup Greenlancer has been receiving a lot of local attention lately. Earlier this year, co-founder and CEO Patrick McCabe was named one of metro Detroit’s rising stars in Crain’s “20 in their 20s” list. In June, Greenlancer won a $10,000 prize in the advanced energy sector in the Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest. Now the … Continue reading “Greenlancer: Clean Tech Engineering From the Cloud”
U-M Tech Transfer Office, MVCA Announce Partnership
The University of Michigan’s Tech Transfer office and the Michigan Venture Capital Association (MVCA) have announced that they will partner on a new, collaborative office inside Tech Transfer’s Venture Accelerator. The partnership, the first of its kind for the MVCA, will give the organization’s members direct access to the startups and technology spun out of university research. … Continue reading “U-M Tech Transfer Office, MVCA Announce Partnership”
TechTown Hosts North African Entrepreneurs as Part of State Dept. Program
What brings a group of entrepreneurs from the Mahgreb region of Africa to Detroit’s TechTown? It’s an interesting story that started in Egypt three years ago. On June 4, 2009, President Obama delivered a speech in Cairo that was aimed promoting harmony between the United States and the Muslim world. Tensions were high after eight … Continue reading “TechTown Hosts North African Entrepreneurs as Part of State Dept. Program”
Trendspotting with Ford: How the Auto Industry Prepares for the Future
Sheryl Connelly, whose title at Ford is “Global Trends and Futuring Expert,” doesn’t spend much time thinking about cars. Her mind is on big-picture global trends: what’s going on socially, technologically, economically, environmentally, and politically. “My approach is, what are the things we have no control over?” Connelly says when reached by phone. “What is … Continue reading “Trendspotting with Ford: How the Auto Industry Prepares for the Future”
Credit Suisse on Supporting (And Increasing) MI’s Capital Continuum
In 2005, as Michigan continued limping along in an economic slump that had begun early in the decade, the state government decided to try something different. It passed legislation that allocated $1 billion from Michigan’s share of the settlement from a national lawsuit against tobacco companies and established the 21st Century Jobs Fund, a 10-year … Continue reading “Credit Suisse on Supporting (And Increasing) MI’s Capital Continuum”
Top Detroit Tech Companies Launch Program to Beef Up Talent
It’s a criticism that’s often heard in Michigan tech circles: The biggest challenge in growing the local IT sector is a glaring lack of talent. It’s not that we don’t produce people capable of filling the many open tech jobs here, it’s that we have a hard time keeping them in the state. A new … Continue reading “Top Detroit Tech Companies Launch Program to Beef Up Talent”
“Like” It? Now You Can Also Want It (And Tell Your Network)
A new startup called Want aims to take the “Like” button one step further. Based in Farmington Hills, MI, and backed by the Camelot Venture Group, Want has created a Facebook-integrated social button for online retailers that enables consumers to track what they want to buy while spreading the word across their social network. “People … Continue reading ““Like” It? Now You Can Also Want It (And Tell Your Network)”
MitoStem Wins Big at GLEQ; Stays Hopeful About Future of Detroit Biotech
The winner of the top prize at last week’s Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest (GLEQ) competition was TechTown tenant and Wayne State University spin-off company MitoStem. Jim Eliason, the founder and CEO of MitoStem, says he’s thrilled with the win, and will use the $100,000 prize to build the business and marketing side of the regenerative … Continue reading “MitoStem Wins Big at GLEQ; Stays Hopeful About Future of Detroit Biotech”
Astia and Inforum on Pulling Women Into MI’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
I was talking to a female entrepreneur recently. I can’t say who because, in that self-effacing way that women do so well, she had reservations about criticizing Michigan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem without the protection of anonymity. She suggested I look up a picture of the recent winners of the Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest to see that only … Continue reading “Astia and Inforum on Pulling Women Into MI’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem”
Kiva Detroit, MEDC Partner to Grow and Replicate Microlending Model
Kiva Detroit, Kiva’s first domestic microlending initiative—and the country’s first community-led microlending program—spent its first year focused on growing the social network of lenders and community volunteers on the ground actively recruiting small businesses in need of a loan. Now, it will partner with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to build capacity and, if … Continue reading “Kiva Detroit, MEDC Partner to Grow and Replicate Microlending Model”