Category: Detroit

Survey: Tech Startup Leaders Want Diversity, Not Sure How to Reach It

Tech startup leaders “want to create an inclusive and diverse workforce, but many simply don’t know what to do to build inclusive teams.” That’s how Techstars co-founder and co-CEO David Cohen put it in a blog post earlier this week summarizing the results of a survey of 680 startup founders and top executives, mainly of … Continue reading “Survey: Tech Startup Leaders Want Diversity, Not Sure How to Reach It”

Biotech Roundup: CRISPR’s 3rd IPO, Gender Diversity, Buyouts & More

Across the nation, and even looking back into the past, health was in the headlines this week. Our presidential candidates were either recovering from pneumonia or talking up their health records. New documents came to light that showed the sugar industry paid for studies downplaying the ties between sugar and heart disease. And the drug-price … Continue reading “Biotech Roundup: CRISPR’s 3rd IPO, Gender Diversity, Buyouts & More”

What Startups Can Do About Cyber Attacks

A cybersecurity report by Ponemon Institute, in association with Keeper Security, found that in the 12 months leading up to June 2016, 55 percent of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) experienced a cyber attack, while 50 percent encountered data breaches involving customer and employee information. These statistics belie the common notion that cybercriminals attack only … Continue reading “What Startups Can Do About Cyber Attacks”

Pixel Velocity Lands $1,300,000 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=2fae3a00-d068-4a64-a990-65432bd905a1 Date 9/16/2016 Company Name Pixel Velocity Mailing Address 3917 Research Park Drive Ann Arbor, MI 48108 USA Company Description A center for image processing research and the development of advanced sensor technology. Website http://www.pixel-velocity.com Transaction Type Debt Transaction Amount $1,300,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. 34 … Continue reading “Pixel Velocity Lands $1,300,000 New Financing”

Roundup: Lansing Proto, MCWT, BizGrid, GM Wayfinder App & More

Here’s a look at tech and innovation news from around Michigan: —Plymouth Ventures has sold its position in 365 Retail Markets, the Troy-based developer of point-of-sale hardware, software, and mobile technologies for the workplace, to Omaha, NE-based McCarthy Capital Fund VI. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. “It is an impressive achievement for … Continue reading “Roundup: Lansing Proto, MCWT, BizGrid, GM Wayfinder App & More”

How to Teach Computational Thinking

Computational thinking is going to be a defining feature of the future—and it’s an incredibly important thing to be teaching to kids today. There’s always lots of discussion (and concern) about how to teach traditional mathematical thinking to kids. But looking to the future, this pales in comparison to the importance of teaching computational thinking. … Continue reading “How to Teach Computational Thinking”

HDL Therapeutics Secures $1,486,610 New Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=6b624510-f4d4-43f3-9b36-c1c027d58daa Date 9/15/2016 Company Name HDL Therapeutics Mailing Address 46701 Commerce Center Drive Plymouth, MI 48170 USA Company Description We are a privately held cardiovascular device company and a leader in the field of reversing coronary atherosclerosis. Our innovative acute care therapeutic device called PDS-2™ System transforms a patient’s own plasma into … Continue reading “HDL Therapeutics Secures $1,486,610 New Round”

Fund Worth Up To $100M Seeks to Increase Diversity in Tech Workforce

A first-of-its-kind fund has launched with the mission to increase diversity in the tech industry by removing financial barriers and increasing access to tech education for anyone interested in pursuing it. The Tech Opportunity Fund is a partnership between the Iron Yard and Code Fellows, which offer tech training, and the financial literacy organization Operation … Continue reading “Fund Worth Up To $100M Seeks to Increase Diversity in Tech Workforce”

Entrepreneurial Workshop for Women

Men are welcome too at this free Impact Odyssey workshop aimed at empowering existing and aspiring businesswomen. Panel discussions and breakout sessions will cover how you can take your business to the next level. For details, click here.

Millendo Launches Phase 2b Study of PCOS Drug After Year of Growth

Millendo Therapeutics, the Ann Arbor, MI-based biotech company developing drugs to treat endocrine diseases, last month began Phase 2b clinical trials for MLE4901, a non-hormonal therapy for the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). There currently aren’t any approved therapies for PCOS, which is the most common endocrine disease in women. Julia Owens, president and … Continue reading “Millendo Launches Phase 2b Study of PCOS Drug After Year of Growth”

Entrepalooza 2016

The University of Michigan’s Zell Lurie Institute hosts this annual symposium for students, alumni, faculty, and entrepreneurial leaders from the broader business community. This year’s theme is “Creativity through Entrepreneurship”; the keynote address will be given by Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Jerry Greenfield. To learn more, click here.

Urban Entrepreneurship Symposium

The Urban Entrepreneurship Initiative hosts its third annual symposium convening entrepreneurs and thought leaders in business, academia, community organizations, and government to brainstorm solutions that bring increased economic opportunities and quality-of-life improvements to urban communities. The location and focus of this year’s event will be Flint, and the events will be held at multiple locations … Continue reading “Urban Entrepreneurship Symposium”

Code: Debugging the Gender Gap

Mutually Human, Calvin College, and the Michigan Council of Women in Technology host the screening of “Code,” a documentary that explores the country’s lack of female and minority software engineers. A panel discussion will follow the movie. For details and registration, click here.

How We Won $50,000 in SBA Growth Accelerator Fund Contest

Recently, the student accelerator program mystartupXX, a joint program of UC San Diego’s Rady School of Management and the Jacobs School of Engineering, won a $50,000 grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration as a Growth Accelerator Fund Competition winner. We were one of 68 winners announced Aug. 31 in the nationwide contest. This was … Continue reading “How We Won $50,000 in SBA Growth Accelerator Fund Contest”

Start Garden Spins Off Venture Fund Focused on Early-Stage Startups

Start Garden, the Grand Rapids, MI-based accelerator working to boost West Michigan’s startup ecosystem, has spun out its investing arm into a private, independent entity called Wakestream Ventures. Wakestream will be led by Amway scion Rick DeVos, Start Garden’s founder, and will make venture investments primarily in technologies with high growth potential, including “hardware-software convergence … Continue reading “Start Garden Spins Off Venture Fund Focused on Early-Stage Startups”

Bio Roundup: Cancer Wishes and Shopping Lists, Allergan Pricing & More

[Corrected, 9/12/16, 4:28 p.m. See below.] What do cancer experts want? The moon, perhaps. As part of the Obama administration’s “cancer moonshot” program, a panel of scientists this week presented a set of broad, ambitious recommendations to speed up the pace of cancer research, treatment, and prevention. The scientific goals, writ large, included nationwide data … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Cancer Wishes and Shopping Lists, Allergan Pricing & More”

Tyler Jacks, Cancer Moonshot Panel Co-Chair, Discusses Roadmap

The Obama administration wants to speed up cancer research with its “Cancer Moonshot” program—packing 10 years’ worth of work on prevention and treatment programs into five is one of its rallying cries. Agreeing on what to do, and how to do it, is the first step. The FDA agreed this summer to reorganize the way … Continue reading “Tyler Jacks, Cancer Moonshot Panel Co-Chair, Discusses Roadmap”

Detroit in Tech Aims to Boost Diversity, Connect Startups to Resources

A new project to support minority entrepreneurs by highlighting their work and connecting them with the resources they need to grow their companies has launched in the Motor City. Detroit in Tech, a collaboration between Grand Circus, Google for Entrepreneurs, and Code2040, seeks to even the playing field in a growing ecosystem. According to Detroit … Continue reading “Detroit in Tech Aims to Boost Diversity, Connect Startups to Resources”

Immunotherapy Clinical Tests Spur Hope, and Plenty of Headaches

Thanks to remarkable results in a small group of patients, including former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, cancer immunotherapy has spurred talk of once impossible-to-imagine cures and has gained its share, perhaps more than its share, of hype. But immunotherapy is also creating new challenges and exacerbating old ones for doctors, patients, and researchers. These new … Continue reading “Immunotherapy Clinical Tests Spur Hope, and Plenty of Headaches”

Allergan Dips Toes into Gene Therapy With $60M Retrosense Buy

The attempt to commercialize gene therapy has been a multi-decade roller coaster, but its current upswing continues. Today Allergan, a company best known for skin and eye care products, has acquired a startup developing gene therapies for a range of eye diseases. The deal is pocket change for a company that brought in over $4 … Continue reading “Allergan Dips Toes into Gene Therapy With $60M Retrosense Buy”

Overcoming the Cybersecurity Skills Gap

For several years now, the “cybersecurity skills gap” has been a top challenge for organizations. The statistics are well-vetted, and they tell a clear story: —There are many unfilled security jobs: The industry is facing 1.5 million unfilled IT security jobs globally by 2020. —The hiring problem is getting harder to figure out: Ninety-two percent of businesses say it’s … Continue reading “Overcoming the Cybersecurity Skills Gap”

TernPro Secures $1,364,726 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=0dadade9-046a-4fe4-a062-b76708c722bf Date 9/6/2016 Company Name TernPro Mailing Address 1528 Woodward Avenue 3rd Floor Detroit, MI 48226 USA Company Description Our cloud platform allows you to easily upload, store, and organize all of your video footage. This means you and your team can easily access your video anytime, anywhere. Website http://www.ternpro.com Transaction Type … Continue reading “TernPro Secures $1,364,726 New Funding Round”

Allergan Plc Acquires RetroSense Therapeutics for $60,000,000

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=265a57a5-75bf-474d-8f14-cb009ca07fff Date 9/6/2016 Company Name RetroSense Therapeutics Mailing Address 330 East Liberty Street LL Ann Arbor, MI 48104 USA Company Description Led by a team of seasoned veterans, RetroSense Therapeutics was founded in 2009 to develop a novel gene therapy approach to vision restoration. Website http://www.retro-sense.com Transaction Type M&A Transaction Amount $60,000,000 … Continue reading “Allergan Plc Acquires RetroSense Therapeutics for $60,000,000”

Bio Roundup: RIP Roger Tsien, Novartis CAR-T Wheel, Zika News & More

A man who helped shed light—fluorescent light—on biology died far too early, at the age of 64. Nobel Prize winner Roger Tsien, a UC San Diego chemist, passed away in Oregon this week. No cause of death has been announced. He helped turn a jellyfish protein into an invaluable lab tool that every researcher knows … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: RIP Roger Tsien, Novartis CAR-T Wheel, Zika News & More”

Data Centers, Tax Credits, and the Conservative Case for Cleantech

In December, officials in Michigan approved the construction of a $2 billion data center in the western part of the state that’s projected to create 1,000 jobs over the next 10 years. The company behind the facility is Las Vegas-based Switch, which builds and operates large-scale data centers. According to Switch’s website, all of the … Continue reading “Data Centers, Tax Credits, and the Conservative Case for Cleantech”

MiSci STEMinista Project Gets a $50K Boost from Google Michigan

Google, like most other big tech companies, has struggled with a lack of diversity in its workforce. However, Google was reportedly the first industry giant to institute a diversity training program, even though the results seem to indicate that the issue lingers. According to InformationWeek, a year after the program began, the demographic makeup of … Continue reading “MiSci STEMinista Project Gets a $50K Boost from Google Michigan”

Blue Medora Obtains $7,435,221 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=0f13e7f7-3885-4760-85f1-11ce281e96e3 Date 8/31/2016 Company Name Blue Medora Mailing Address 3225 Evergreen Drive Northeast Grand Rapids, MI 49525 USA Company Description Blue Medora creates product extensions for VMware vRealize Operations (vROps), Oracle Enterprise Manager (OEM), IBM Tivoli Monitoring (ITM). Website http://www.bluemedora.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $7,435,221 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes … Continue reading “Blue Medora Obtains $7,435,221 New Funding Round”

Four Ways to Stay Safe While Using Public Wi-Fi

No matter how hard we try to unplug on vacation, most of us simply don’t—or can’t—disconnect. The availability of free Wi-Fi is sometimes too hard to resist. While we’re in a carefree state of mind, it’s especially easy to bend the rules. Even when using Wi-Fi at a familiar business, you could be putting your … Continue reading “Four Ways to Stay Safe While Using Public Wi-Fi”

Athenahealth Finds Patient-Facing Mobile App in Buyout of Patient IO

Austin—Athenahealth is buying an Austin, TX, software company with a service that aims to help healthcare providers encourage patients to follow a healthcare plan they might receive after a visit to a doctor or hospital. Watertown, MA-based Athenahealth (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ATHN]]) is paying an undisclosed amount for Filament Labs, a three-year-old startup that does business as … Continue reading “Athenahealth Finds Patient-Facing Mobile App in Buyout of Patient IO”

The XX Factor: Fixing Biotech’s Gender Imbalance in the C-Suite

Women continue to be vastly under-represented in management and executive-level positions throughout the life science industry—an inequity that came into the spotlight earlier this year when a biotech consulting firm hired female models to improve the male-female ratio at its convention after-party. The catalyzing event sparked a much-needed debate into a serious challenge that has … Continue reading “The XX Factor: Fixing Biotech’s Gender Imbalance in the C-Suite”

SPLT Tackles Non-Emergency Patient Rides, Opens Mexico Office

Detroit-based enterprise ridesharing and carpooling startup SPLT has been on a take-no-prisoners growth trajectory since CEO Anya Babbitt first set foot in the Motor City last year as part of Techstars Mobility’s inaugural cohort. So far in 2016, the two-year-old company has won a number of pitch competitions across the country, participated in Google Demo … Continue reading “SPLT Tackles Non-Emergency Patient Rides, Opens Mexico Office”

Bio Roundup: Mylan’s Shock, Hillary’s 3%, Duchenne Lessons & More

It was the tweet heard around the biotech world, again. Mylan bumped up the price of the EpiPen 400 percent, presidential nominee Hillary Clinton responded with a tirade against drug price hikes, and—much like when Clinton railed against drug pricing last year—biotech indexes promptly plummeted more than 3 percent. Last year, Clinton’s target was Martin … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Mylan’s Shock, Hillary’s 3%, Duchenne Lessons & More”

Duchenne Lessons: Advocates For Rare Spinal Disease Have Eyes on FDA

[Updated, 1:09 pm ET, see below] Heather and Jessica Tomko will tell you that they’re nothing alike. They’ve got different interests, different tastes in movies, television, and music. If Jessica hates a gift, Heather probably loves it. Heather just scored tickets to see the Broadway show Hamilton and can’t wait. Jessica sighs. “You can’t get … Continue reading “Duchenne Lessons: Advocates For Rare Spinal Disease Have Eyes on FDA”

Detroit Lean Startup Summit

Lean Startup Labs hosts this interactive training session, where participants will learn about key concepts of the lean startup methodology and how to apply them, including customer validation, building a minimum viable product, pivoting, and the build­/measure/­learn feedback loop. Speakers include Amanda Lewan, co-founder of Bamboo Detroit, and Jill Ford, the city of Detroit’s head of … Continue reading “Detroit Lean Startup Summit”

Ignition Lab Connected Car/Mobility Startup Competition

Sponsored by Autonebula and TiE, this contest seeks to identify promising entrepreneurs working on products or applications within the connected transportation space, including vehicle management, traffic management, vehicle logistics, telematics, navigation, cybersecurity, infotainment, and data analytics. Six finalists will pitch investors and industry representatives; winner will receive executive mentorship and a cash award. Deadline to … Continue reading “Ignition Lab Connected Car/Mobility Startup Competition”

U-M Spinout Fusion Coolant Systems Scores $1.25M Series B

Fusion Coolant Systems, the University of Michigan cleantech spinout with offices in Canton, MI, and Ireland, announced this week that it has raised $1.25 million in a Series B round. Investors participating in the round include U-M’s Michigan Investment in New Technology Startups (MINTS) fund and Ann Arbor’s Amherst Fund. Fusion Coolant’s technology is an … Continue reading “U-M Spinout Fusion Coolant Systems Scores $1.25M Series B”

Fusion Coolant Systems Receives $1,250,000 Series B Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=f9106752-64f4-4843-836e-fa5cb4754836 Date 8/25/2016 Company Name Fusion Coolant Systems Mailing Address 1360 Oakman Blvd. Detroit, MI 48238 USA Company Description Changing manufacturing standards with a supercritical solution that delivers unprecedented productivity and tool life gains while eliminating water-based coolants and coolant alternatives. Welcome to the (r)evolution. Website http://www.fusioncoolant.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction … Continue reading “Fusion Coolant Systems Receives $1,250,000 Series B Funding Round”

Roundup: Zoetis, Agtech Incubator, Knight Cities Challenge & More

Here’s a look at innovation news from around Michigan: —On Tuesday, Ann Arbor’s Plymouth Venture Partners announced it had sold its stake in 365 Retail Markets to Boston-based McCarthy Capital Fund VI; the terms of the deal were not disclosed. As we reported in 2013, 365 Retail Markets is a Troy-based startup that designs and … Continue reading “Roundup: Zoetis, Agtech Incubator, Knight Cities Challenge & More”

In Wake Of Infamous Biotech Party, 20 Women Join New Exec Training

[Updated 8/24/16, 1 a.m. See below.] A new program to prepare high-ranking women in the biotech industry for corporate board seats has unveiled its first class of 20. In other circumstances the five-day workshop, scheduled this fall at George Washington University in the nation’s capital, might go unnoticed among the sea of executive training programs … Continue reading “In Wake Of Infamous Biotech Party, 20 Women Join New Exec Training”

Why Resilient Teams Are More Important Than Big Ideas

How important is having a “big idea” for startups? Ideas can generate a lot of buzz and capture attention from investors and potential customers, but long-term success really depends on the capabilities of the team. It’s often said that investors typically look for an “A” team with a “B” idea rather than a “B” team … Continue reading “Why Resilient Teams Are More Important Than Big Ideas”

How a War on Climate Change Could Restore Economic Growth in America

What’s the biggest, scariest threat facing the United States right now? I know for sure that it’s not immigration, free trade, or “radical Islamic terrorism.” And I’m going to resist the easy answer that it’s Donald Trump. But I have a hard time deciding which of these two very real challenges is more urgent: a) … Continue reading “How a War on Climate Change Could Restore Economic Growth in America”

This One Simple Trick Might Help ContentOro Banish Stale Clickbait

In today’s world, where we’re never far from a screen—smartphone, laptop, television—content is king. Companies and brands need engaging material to draw the eyeballs of online customers, but younger consumers, millennials in particular, have shown a distaste for ads. Essentially, they are far more susceptible to the recommendations of friends and other influencers than they … Continue reading “This One Simple Trick Might Help ContentOro Banish Stale Clickbait”

Intelligence + Maturity = Better Leaders

There are plenty of smart executives in the world, but they often make poor leaders. That’s because it takes both intelligence and maturity to excel at leadership. And when I say maturity, I don’t necessarily mean age, although generally more life experience is helpful. Maturity is the ability to manage oneself in challenging situations and to … Continue reading “Intelligence + Maturity = Better Leaders”

Bio Roundup: FDA Says No, PCSK9 Value Fight, CRISPR Intrigue & More

When the Olympics roll around, many watchers get into a sport they previously hadn’t thought much about. This time for me, it’s volleyball. The men’s and women’s games, both indoor and beach versions, are fast, aggressive, with lightning-quick adjustments and subtle teamwork required every time a ball is dug out and popped in the air. … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: FDA Says No, PCSK9 Value Fight, CRISPR Intrigue & More”

Progenity Receives $12,000,000 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=0bc8b787-0f3e-4904-89c4-3b60515db9f9 Date 8/19/2016 Company Name Progenity Mailing Address 5230 S. State Road Ann Arbor, MI 48108 USA Company Description Progenity is a CLIA-accredited laboratory and is accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP). We operate across the United States. Website http://www.progenity.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $12,000,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed … Continue reading “Progenity Receives $12,000,000 New Funding”

Ford Says It Will Have Self-Driving Cars Within Five Years

Ask five auto executives to predict when we can expect to see self-driving cars make their commercial debut, and you’ll likely hear five different answers. Even though it’s an exciting technology that has captivated car manufacturers across the world, the industry seemed to agree that there is still a fair amount of work to do … Continue reading “Ford Says It Will Have Self-Driving Cars Within Five Years”

Change of the Guard as Women 2.0 Deepens Its Ties to the East Coast

Women 2.0 is on the move, bringing its act in a big way to New York state. The San Francisco-based network and social platform for women technology entrepreneurs is getting a new boss and relocating its headquarters to just outside of Syracuse, NY. Today, CEO and co-founder Shaherose Charania announced she transferred ownership and the leadership … Continue reading “Change of the Guard as Women 2.0 Deepens Its Ties to the East Coast”

Pharma’s Productivity Problem: Finding More Blockbuster Drugs

A recent Wall Street Journal article that raised the possibility of Biogen as the target of another huge pharma buyout cited the lack of productivity as a major driver of M&A in the pharmaceutical industry.  The authors made the point that, given the size of companies today, a single garden-variety blockbuster hardly moves the needle. … Continue reading “Pharma’s Productivity Problem: Finding More Blockbuster Drugs”