This is the story of a reawakening. I’ve come home to the world of real home stereo sound, after too many years hooked on music trickling through smartphone earbuds and devices with small, crappy speakers. Don’t worry, I haven’t turned into an audiophile. I’m not going to preach to you about some $40,000 turntable with … Continue reading “Trading Quality for Ease: Confessions of an Earbud Junkie”
Category: Detroit
Michigan Growth Capital Symposium
The University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business hosts this annual conference showcasing nearly 40 high-growth companies and emerging technologies. This year’s symposium will feature a new Tech Transfer Alley, which will highlight tech transfer offices in Midwest universities and the companies spinning out of them. For details and registration, click here.
What’s Ahead for Biotech in 2016: Q&A With BIO Chair Ron Cohen
Biotechnology is a tricky business. We all know the trials and tribulations—and costs—of bringing novel drugs to market. In the past six months or so, a new round of drug pricing upheaval (think Martin Shkreli) and corporate tax “inversions” (think Pfizer-Allergan merger with new headquarters in Ireland) have ignited public debate. Ron Cohen has been … Continue reading “What’s Ahead for Biotech in 2016: Q&A With BIO Chair Ron Cohen”
TransLoc Steps on the Gas With $8M for Mass Transit Software
For commuters and transit system operators, travel planning is a headache. Many commuters use a hodge-podge of transit modes to get around cities. Meanwhile, mass transit operators have a hard time gathering accurate and timely data about how their systems are used—data crucial to planning expensive and necessary upgrades. TransLoc, a transportation technology startup based … Continue reading “TransLoc Steps on the Gas With $8M for Mass Transit Software”
Detroit 101 Tour
Wayne State University’s Detroit Orientation Institute and the Detroit Experience Factory host Detroit 101, a half-day tour and interactive group conversation about the city’s revitalization. Participants will talk with community leaders along the route, including Ritchie Harrison (Detroit RiverFront Conservancy), Brittany Sanders (Belle Isle Conservancy), Vittoria Katanski (Hatch Detroit), and Kim Tandy (Mayor’s Office, Department … Continue reading “Detroit 101 Tour”
Detroit Startup Week
Startup Week, part of a national series of events, is coming to Detroit. The five-day conference is designed to celebrate the startup community and build momentum and opportunity around entrepreneurship. Startup Week is led by local entrepreneurs and hosted in different venues around the city. More details and registration will be available soon; click here … Continue reading “Detroit Startup Week”
The Xconversation: Vaccine Developer Meets Energy Innovator, Part II
There’s no such thing as failure, as long as you view it in the proper light. That’s the philosophy of scientist-entrepreneurs Darrick Carter, vice president of adjuvant technology at Seattle-based IDRI (Infectious Disease Research Institute) and biotech company founder, and Aaron Feaver, co-founder and chief technology officer of energy-storage materials company EnerG2, who shared their … Continue reading “The Xconversation: Vaccine Developer Meets Energy Innovator, Part II”
WaitTime Screens Are Now Live at the Palace and in Pistons App
Basketball fans in Michigan haven’t had much to cheer about lately. The Detroit Pistons are battling for an NBA playoff spot despite being ranked eighth in the Eastern Conference, and we won’t even mention what happened at the NCAA tournament a few weeks ago. However, Motor City startup WaitTime is trying to add a little … Continue reading “WaitTime Screens Are Now Live at the Palace and in Pistons App”
The Xconversation: Vaccine Developer Meets Energy Innovator, Part I
What do vaccines have to do with batteries? Let your mind’s eye travel to the cellular membrane, where a ligand is enveloped by a receptor, spurring a subtle change in the cell. (Bear with me.) In some respects, it’s similar to what’s happening inside a battery when electrolytes interact with engineered materials to cause a … Continue reading “The Xconversation: Vaccine Developer Meets Energy Innovator, Part I”
Is Money Everything? Behind the Scenes of Tech Hiring
Have you tried to hire a software developer recently? The current job market is bananas! It’s crazy in Boston. New York City is booming with tech startups. In Silicon Valley and the Bay Area, the cost of living is exploding as salaries in the tech sector grow. It’s getting more expensive every year to hire … Continue reading “Is Money Everything? Behind the Scenes of Tech Hiring”
U-M Spinout Virta Labs Awarded $750K for Healthcare Security Tech
Virta Laboratories, the healthcare security startup spun out of the University of Michigan, today announced it has received a $750,000 small business innovation research [SBIR] grant from the federal government to expand its commercialization efforts. This is Virta Labs’ second SBIR grant; it snagged a smaller, phase one award in 2015. Established in 2014, Virta … Continue reading “U-M Spinout Virta Labs Awarded $750K for Healthcare Security Tech”
How VR, AR Innovation Can Finally Fulfill Its Potential
This post was co-authored by Matt McIlwain, managing director, Madrona Venture Group, and Steve Seitz, professor of computer science and engineering at University of Washington and “teleportation lead” at Google. Virtual reality (VR), which immerses the user in the virtual world, and augmented reality (AR), which overlays digital information onto the physical world, are being … Continue reading “How VR, AR Innovation Can Finally Fulfill Its Potential”
As Equity Crowdfunding Debuts in U.S., Will More Regulations Follow?
Ready or not, equity crowdfunding is coming to the U.S. this spring. The funding mechanism allows companies to sell shares of their firms to the general public (not just accredited investors) through online portals. The practice has already gained traction in places like the U.K. in recent years, but it has taken a while to … Continue reading “As Equity Crowdfunding Debuts in U.S., Will More Regulations Follow?”
Roundup: U-M “Me-Search,” Zoetis, Rockwell Medical in China & More
Here’s a look at startup and innovation news from around Michigan: —Multiple departments across the University of Michigan and its medical school are participating in the Michigan Microbiome Project, with a mission to study the structure, functions, and dynamics of the human microbiome, as well as how the microbiome can be managed to improve a … Continue reading “Roundup: U-M “Me-Search,” Zoetis, Rockwell Medical in China & More”
Duo Security and GTRI Partner on International STEM Talent Event
Dozens of international students finishing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields were on hand at Duo Security’s Ann Arbor, MI, office last week for a tech talent matchmaking event sponsored by the Michigan Global Talent Retention Initiative (GTRI) and Global Detroit. The event was the first in a series designed to connect … Continue reading “Duo Security and GTRI Partner on International STEM Talent Event”
Dear Biopharma: Give Us Better Therapies for Pain
The CDC released on March 15th new guidelines that advise strict limits on the prescription of opioids for pain. These guidelines respond to a stunning increase in deaths and addiction related to the prescription of opioids like OxyContin and Percocet. The CDC recommended against providing patients more than a seven-day supply of opioids for acute … Continue reading “Dear Biopharma: Give Us Better Therapies for Pain”
Re:Build Highland Park
Parker Village hosts this open discussion about rebuilding the community and infrastructure of Highland Park, MI. The goal is to generate actionable solutions an advocacy group or public/private partnership can achieve. Guest speakers include Edi Demaj from Rocket Fiber, Brian Tell from Solartronics Solar Energy, and representatives from the Parker Village Urban Aquaponics Garden. For … Continue reading “Re:Build Highland Park”
Holland-Based MDC Scores $1M Round for Absorbable Orthopedic Device
Holland, MI-based medical device startup Magnesium Development Company (MDC) announced earlier this month that it has raised a $1 million seed round. Start Garden’s venture fund and Genesis Innovation Group led the round. MDC plans to use the money to embark on the next phase of pre-clinical testing for its lead product, BioMg 250. The … Continue reading “Holland-Based MDC Scores $1M Round for Absorbable Orthopedic Device”
Beware the Potential Downside of Venture Capital Relationships
Conventional wisdom has it that entrepreneurs benefit from wide networks and strong ties with other organizations. Venture capital (VC) firms, in particular, are seen as a valuable source of funding, social status, technical knowledge, and expert advice for fledgling new businesses. But what if these same relationships can also create new liabilities for entrepreneurs? As … Continue reading “Beware the Potential Downside of Venture Capital Relationships”
India Business Conference
The University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business hosts this event featuring business leaders like Yashwant Sinha, India’s former minister of finance; Sachin Bansal, co-founder of Flipkart; Niren Chaudhary, global president of KFC; and many others. To learn more, click here.
Big Data & Business Analytics Symposium
Wayne State University hosts this event focusing on practical and pragmatic business approaches to the hot new field of data science. Keynote speakers include Lawrence Weber, director of analytics platform services for IBM, and Paul Ballew, global chief data and analytics officer for Ford. For details, click here.
Roundup: Weyn, Detroit R&B, Swift Biosciences, STEMinistas, & More
Here’s a look at startup and innovation news from around Michigan: —The Michigan Science Center has launched a new program designed to support and cultivate interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) among middle school girls. The STEMinista Project has several goals: to spark and maintain an interest in STEM among female students, broaden the … Continue reading “Roundup: Weyn, Detroit R&B, Swift Biosciences, STEMinistas, & More”
Can You Land an IT Job If You’re Self-Taught?
The path to a successful career used to be so straightforward. You’d graduate high school, go to college, earn your undergraduate and maybe even your graduate degree, then hit the job market for a full-time job. Employers knew exactly what they were looking for: candidates with degrees from reputable colleges who could demonstrate a significant … Continue reading “Can You Land an IT Job If You’re Self-Taught?”
Denver Proposal Calls for Smarter Electric and Autonomous Vehicles
Denver was named one of seven finalists in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Smart City Challenge last week, inching the city closer toward receiving up to $50 million in tech-centric transportation funding. U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx formally announced the finalists during a transportation conference at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, TX, on … Continue reading “Denver Proposal Calls for Smarter Electric and Autonomous Vehicles”
Cars, Virtual Reality, Blockchain (& Grumpy Cat) Lead Pack at SXSW
Austin — Since Twitter made a name for itself at South by Southwest in 2007, attendees have tried in vain to predict the next big tech breakout. Facebook made headlines in 2008, and Foursquare followed a year later. But nothing seemed to be the same as Twitter. By 2013, Grumpy Cat was dubbed winner of … Continue reading “Cars, Virtual Reality, Blockchain (& Grumpy Cat) Lead Pack at SXSW”
As Detroit Transforms, Foley’s Book Teaches Jackasses How to Behave
On Friday night, while delivering late-night fast food to my fiancé at work, I drove around the outer reaches of my Midtown Detroit neighborhood for the first time since I put my bike up for the winter. I felt a bit like a stranger in a strange land as I passed gaggles of young professional … Continue reading “As Detroit Transforms, Foley’s Book Teaches Jackasses How to Behave”
Racing Zika: For Every Short Cut, There’s An Open Question
[Updated 3/15/16, 7:16pm; corrected 3/16/16, 7:00pm. See below.] In the Luganda language, zika means “overgrown.” It’s also the name of the Ugandan forest where, in the mid-20th century, researchers discovered the now-notorious virus. Dense forest is an appropriate and vivid image for the latest global health threat. So much about the virus and its effects … Continue reading “Racing Zika: For Every Short Cut, There’s An Open Question”
Equinox Gym Founder Funds Scholarships for U-M Student-Entrepreneurs
Earlier this month, the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business and Zell Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies announced that a fitness mogul made a “sizable” donation to establish the Spevak Fund for Entrepreneurial Studies. The fund will grant scholarships for students focused on entrepreneurship. Donor Harvey Spevak is the CEO of Equinox Holdings, a … Continue reading “Equinox Gym Founder Funds Scholarships for U-M Student-Entrepreneurs”
GM Bets Big Bucks on Cruise Automation and a Driverless Future
According to reports in Fortune and other media outlets, GM has forked over more than $1 billion in cash and stock to acquire Bay Area startup Cruise Automation, a producer of “after-market” kits that can turn existing cars into autonomous vehicles. If the figure is correct, that makes company co-founder Kyle Vogt a “two-time unicorn … Continue reading “GM Bets Big Bucks on Cruise Automation and a Driverless Future”
Will 10-Gig Internet Help Revitalize Detroit? Rocket Fiber Says Yes
There has been no shortage of news stories about the abysmal state of Internet connectivity in the city of Detroit. As the Motor City attempts to remake itself as a tech hub, the fact remains that only 40 percent of households here are online—the second-lowest number in the nation after Laredo, TX. The state of … Continue reading “Will 10-Gig Internet Help Revitalize Detroit? Rocket Fiber Says Yes”
INRIX Buys OpenCar in Seattle Auto Tech Tie-up
INRIX, the Kirkland, WA-based company providing traffic data and other services for connected cars, acquired OpenCar, a Seattle startup making a platform to unite app developers and car manufacturers. The deal combines two significant players in the Seattle area’s cluster of automotive IT and telematics companies. INRIX plans to maintain, and possibly expand, OpenCar’s Seattle … Continue reading “INRIX Buys OpenCar in Seattle Auto Tech Tie-up”
Life Boost Secures $1,250,000 Series D Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=5bfc7d1c-1605-491c-81c0-478ccc38f36f Date 3/9/2016 Company Name Life Boost Mailing Address 455 East Cady Street Northville, MI 48167 USA Company Description As consumers we are inundated with advertisements, recommendations and claims making it difficult and confusing to know what’s right. Three years ago we set out to simplify the process and provide a better … Continue reading “Life Boost Secures $1,250,000 Series D Financing Round”
Women in Tech: Career Options
The Mobile Technology Association of Michigan hosts this event designed to educate women about various kinds of tech careers. The event will feature roundtable discussions with women working in the areas of app development, UX/UI, ethics in hacking, and more. For details and registration, click here.
DTX Launch Detroit Information Session
Are you a college student or recent college graduate with a great idea for a tech startup, or a desire to be part of a startup team? Come to this informational session to learn more about DTX’s summer accelerator program. Free and open to the public. Click here to register.
Cross-Border Health IT Summit
This event—meant to connect innovative healthcare companies in Canada with U.S. investment, collaboration, and market growth opportunities—will feature panel discussions, networking, keynote speakers, and a pitch contest. This is also meant to be a companion event to the Hacking Health conference, planned for May 13-15 in Windsor, Ontario. For more info and registration, contact [email protected].
Zendrive is First Participant in U-M’s New TechLab Program at MCity
The University of Michigan’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Mobility Transformation Center are partnering on a new collaboration at MCity called TechLab, designed to help get connected and driverless car technologies to market faster. Meant to unite the efforts of university researchers, student innovators, and advanced transportation startups, TechLab is part startup incubator and part interactive … Continue reading “Zendrive is First Participant in U-M’s New TechLab Program at MCity”
Tomorrow Tour Detroit
This event, organized by NBC Universal and Technical.y, will explore how Detroit fits into the national entrepreneurial landscape and is part of a seven-city tour of innovation clusters. Kelly Hoey, investor and CNBC contributor, will serve as the keynote speaker. For details and registration, click here.
Biotech Dealmaking Is Tough, But AgBio Deals Prove Even Tougher
It’s a familiar story: a biotechnology company develops a promising product but falls short of sales projections. The company then cuts staff, realigns resources, and turns to startups to fill its depleted pipeline. While this scenario does play out in pharmaceuticals, it also describes what is happening in agriculture. Big ag companies face pressures to … Continue reading “Biotech Dealmaking Is Tough, But AgBio Deals Prove Even Tougher”
How Self-Driving Vehicles Could Take Root in Indiana
Imagine a tractor-trailer without anyone at the wheel that has driven across three states. It exits the interstate and drops its trailer at a truck yard. Soon, another truck—this one driven by a human—hooks to the trailer and hauls it to a factory in a nearby city. This is the future of trucking—if systems engineer … Continue reading “How Self-Driving Vehicles Could Take Root in Indiana”
MI Roundup: Automation Alley, Baker College, Google DevFest, & More
Here’s a look at startup and innovation news from around Michigan: —Automation Alley, a Southeast Michigan technology business association, has released its annual economic report, and it contains a bold prediction: The region will outperform Silicon Valley in several key areas, including revenue, R&D investment, and hiring. To compile the report, Automation Alley surveyed senior … Continue reading “MI Roundup: Automation Alley, Baker College, Google DevFest, & More”
Famed Cryptographers, Turing Awardees Back Apple at RSA Conference
No surprise—the conflict between Apple and the FBI is dominating many sessions at the big RSA Conference in San Francisco this week. Some of the most intriguing comments came from a panel of distinguished cryptographers, including Whitfield Diffie, former chief security officer of Sun Microsystems, and Stanford professor Martin Hellman. On the RSA stage before … Continue reading “Famed Cryptographers, Turing Awardees Back Apple at RSA Conference”
FAST Act Offers More Goodies to Emerging Growth Companies
Once again proving that you can’t judge a gift by its box, emerging growth companies (EGCs) received a pleasant, but oddly wrapped, surprise in December with the enactment of a new law authorizing spending on highway and transit projects. Although adopted with less fanfare than the JOBS Act, the new FAST Act (that’s short for … Continue reading “FAST Act Offers More Goodies to Emerging Growth Companies”
PawnGuru Takes Process of Buying, Selling, and Negotiating Online
Anyone who has watched “Hardcore Pawn”—the reality show set in Detroit that follows the Gold family, owners of American Jewelry and Loan—knows that getting a fair price for the stuff they want to sell can be a challenge. One has to first bring an item to pawn that is considered attractive to pawnshop owners, and … Continue reading “PawnGuru Takes Process of Buying, Selling, and Negotiating Online”
Cengage Continues Down Edtech Path, Unveils Remedial Math Software
Education’s ongoing shift toward digital content and learning experiences has pushed entrenched textbook publishers to try to reinvent themselves as software companies. Boston-based Cengage Learning, one of those industry stalwarts, seems to be making progress on that transformation. CEO Michael Hansen projects that digital products will make up the majority of Cengage’s revenue within two … Continue reading “Cengage Continues Down Edtech Path, Unveils Remedial Math Software”
Unequal Pay: The Worst and Best Cities for Women in Tech
It’s no secret that a wage gap exists between men and women, and that there are groups working to narrow the divide. But did you know that the disparity of pay between male and female workers, in the tech field at least, is larger in some areas of the country than others? While that much … Continue reading “Unequal Pay: The Worst and Best Cities for Women in Tech”
It Takes Guts: Blue Turtle Bio on Treating Gaucher with Microbes
In 2012, Nilesh Joshi walked into the offices of Wayne State University’s Blackstone LaunchPad program with a startup idea in need of validation. At the time, he was working to develop bio-manufacturing processes for chemicals derived from cellulose-based feedstock. Joshi signed on to work with Blackstone’s startup coaches and soon developed a rapport with Adham … Continue reading “It Takes Guts: Blue Turtle Bio on Treating Gaucher with Microbes”
MIT Spinout Arctic Sand Surges With $19M From Murata, GE, Others
Arctic Sand Technologies announced Thursday it raised $19 million to boost its business selling power conversion semiconductors used in mobile devices and data centers. The Cambridge, MA-based company’s Series B round was led by Murata Manufacturing, along with co-investors GE Ventures, Northwater Capital and Arsenal Venture Partners. Arctic Sand raised $9.6 million in a Series … Continue reading “MIT Spinout Arctic Sand Surges With $19M From Murata, GE, Others”
Neurable Uses Thoughts to Control 3D Objects. Are Video Games Next?
When Ramses Eduardo Alcaide-Aguirre was eight years old, his uncle was involved in a devastating car accident and lost the use of his legs. Seeing his uncle struggle with what were once mundane tasks had a big impact on young Alcaide. “It made me want to help people with disabilities,” he recalled. That desire to … Continue reading “Neurable Uses Thoughts to Control 3D Objects. Are Video Games Next?”
Emissions May Rise if Self-Driving Cars Become Too Convenient
If a road trip from Seattle to Portland meant three hours of focused work rather than gripping the wheel and gritting your teeth through traffic, would you be more likely to go by car than take the train, plane, or bus? That’s one scenario that could cause a transition to fully automated self-driving cars to … Continue reading “Emissions May Rise if Self-Driving Cars Become Too Convenient”
The Road to Safe, Secure Driverless Cars
The development of autonomous vehicles promises a future of safe and efficient roads, unimpeded by distracted, impaired, aggressive, or deliberately speeding drivers. But to achieve this, the companies involved in developing driverless cars will have to navigate significant obstacles. The transition from personally controlled to automated vehicles can be likened to the shift that occurred … Continue reading “The Road to Safe, Secure Driverless Cars”