Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=01eaf427-d2af-4d9f-b1e9-1f12bf346b60 Date 10/19/2015 Company Name Akadeum Life Sciences Mailing Address 401 W Morgan Rd. Ann Arbor, MI 48108 USA Company Description The company offers its products for use in purifying cells from blood and tissues for research or diagnostics areas; recovering pathogenic bacteria from agricultural and industrial settings for assuring food and … Continue reading “Akadeum Life Sciences Secures $1,000,000 Seed Financing”
Category: Detroit
Dyson Acquires Sakti3 for Undisclosed Sum
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=2cb78294-14c2-4ecf-9422-6b26d4cdafc5 Date 10/19/2015 Company Name Sakti3 Mailing Address 1490 Eisenhower Place Building 4 Ann Arbor, MI 48108 USA Company Description Sakti3 is a Michigan-based company that is developing an advanced solid-state rechargeable lithium-ion battery technology. We aim to further enable electric drivetrain vehicles that are capable of getting over 100 miles per … Continue reading “Dyson Acquires Sakti3 for Undisclosed Sum”
WSU’s New IBio Center Plans Holistic Approach to Urban Health Issues
Wayne State University held a grand-opening ceremony Wednesday for its new $93 million Integrative Biosciences Center (IBio), situated on a formerly abandoned 2.7-acre block in Detroit’s Midtown neighborhood. Mike Brinich, WSU’s associate director of communications, says the facility will be the first of its size and kind, due to its holistic approach to studying and … Continue reading “WSU’s New IBio Center Plans Holistic Approach to Urban Health Issues”
Retaking Control of the Hotel Digital Experience
The digital entertainment landscape is constantly changing and the rapid adoption of mobile devices coupled with cloud-based platforms has revolutionized how people consume TV. This has led to significant challenges, particularly in the hospitality industry where companies are struggling to adapt to the changing demands of their consumers. But with change comes opportunity. The ability … Continue reading “Retaking Control of the Hotel Digital Experience”
Q3 Venture Funding Surges Near Record Levels, and Top 10 Deals
Buoyed by some giant deals, venture capital continues to flow at near-record levels in 2015, according to just-released data from two nationwide surveys that track quarterly VC activity. While the $16.3 billion that venture firms put into 1,070 deals in the third quarter was down a notch from the previous quarter, according to the MoneyTree … Continue reading “Q3 Venture Funding Surges Near Record Levels, and Top 10 Deals”
Is the Hit TV Series “Mr. Robot” an Accurate Portrayal of Hackers?
This summer, USA Network premiered the series Mr. Robot, a drama/thriller that uses computer security and hacking as plot devices. Elliot Alderson, the protagonist, is a reclusive computer security professional who suffers from social anxiety disorder and delusions. When someone triggers his curiosity, he hacks their online accounts, from social media to bank accounts, in … Continue reading “Is the Hit TV Series “Mr. Robot” an Accurate Portrayal of Hackers?”
Selling Your Company? Don’t Make These Five Common Mistakes
You always believed your startup would be a success. Now others are realizing it, too, and you’re fielding offers for an acquisition of your company. Before you ink any agreements, protect your company, your employees, and yourself by avoiding these five common mistakes. Rushing to sell. Take the case of a biotech startup CEO, who found himself literally … Continue reading “Selling Your Company? Don’t Make These Five Common Mistakes”
Eureka Summit
Workforce Intelligence Network’s Eureka Summit will explore how leading-edge technologies such as 3D printing and Internet of Things products will transform Michigan’s world of work and business. Panelists will discuss innovation’s impact on job creation and training. For details, click here.
Driven by Big Deals, VC Funding So Far Already Has Eclipsed 2014
U.S. venture firms invested $19.8 billion in 1,035 companies during the third quarter that ended September 30, putting VC funding on track to reach a five-year high, according to a quarterly Venture Pulse Report being released today by CB Insights and KPMG. While the deal count was lower than the 1,276 companies that got venture … Continue reading “Driven by Big Deals, VC Funding So Far Already Has Eclipsed 2014”
Sportsman Tracker’s Mobile App Helps Hunters Find Their Prey
It’s fall, and to a segment of Michigan’s population, that means one thing: The start of hunting season. A Grand Rapids, MI-based hunting-tech startup, Sportsman Tracker, unveiled a new mobile app late last month at San Francisco’s TechCrunch Disrupt conference in anticipation of the season, and company CEO Jeff Courter says the app’s algorithm is … Continue reading “Sportsman Tracker’s Mobile App Helps Hunters Find Their Prey”
5 Risk Management Practices Innovators Should Follow
High-tech and investment company startups plan for big successes – and this planning should include putting in place features that startup leaders may think are only necessary for established companies. However, whether business is boom or bust, new business leaders should seriously consider tried-and-true best practices. Before you launch your business with customers or take … Continue reading “5 Risk Management Practices Innovators Should Follow”
MI Roundup: GM, WSU, MichiganX, Detroit Blight Removal Task Force
Here’s a look at news from around Michigan’s innovation communities: —The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded a $3 million grant to Wayne State University as part of a project to change how STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) classes are taught. The grant will be disbursed in competitive awards of up to $100,000 to … Continue reading “MI Roundup: GM, WSU, MichiganX, Detroit Blight Removal Task Force”
For $67B, Dell-EMC Deal May Have Little Impact on Tech Industry
OK, so this really happened. For $67 billion, the biggest technology deal in history. What’s surprising is how little impact people seem to think it will have on the industry. Texas computer giant Dell has agreed to acquire Hopkinton, MA-based EMC (NYSE: [[ticker:EMC]]) for roughly $67 billion in cash and stock in VMware (NYSE: [[ticker:VMW]]), … Continue reading “For $67B, Dell-EMC Deal May Have Little Impact on Tech Industry”
Better Batteries for Future Energy Demands
We often take for granted the fact that when we flick a switch a light turns on. In reality, the seemingly simple act of turning on a light is a complicated process that requires a precise balance between generation and transmission of energy as demand varies throughout the day. With consumers increasingly interested in getting their … Continue reading “Better Batteries for Future Energy Demands”
New U-M Battery Lab Will Help Industry Test, Scale New Technologies
Last week, the University of Michigan announced a new public, shared lab space that will be open to any researchers—from professors and students to entrepreneurs and company employees—who are trying to push the boundaries of battery technology. The U-M Energy Institute’s Battery Fabrication and Characterization User Facility is a 2,700-square-foot lab space funded by $9.1 … Continue reading “New U-M Battery Lab Will Help Industry Test, Scale New Technologies”
Innovation Lab Open House
Automation Alley hosts an open house of its Innovation Lab at Oakland University. The lab, which is part of the Automation Alley Technology Center, was created to showcase the technology shaping the future of manufacturing, such as 3D printing and scanning, robotics, and modeling and simulation. For details and registration, click here.
Tangent Medical Technologies Garners $1,000,000 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=494ea96f-e0a2-43e0-a228-76a82e63678e Date 10/9/2015 Company Name Tangent Medical Technologies Mailing Address 8170 Jackson Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 USA Company Description Tangent Medical Technologies, Inc., is a development stage medical device development company formed in 2009 as a spinout from the University of Michigan’s Medical Innovation Center fellowship program. Website http://www.tangentmedical.com Transaction Type … Continue reading “Tangent Medical Technologies Garners $1,000,000 New Financing Round”
Techstars’ Cohen on Promoting Diversity and Preparing for a Downturn
Techstars has made its views on diversity in the tech sector no secret. The Boulder, CO-based accelerator operator made commitments to the White House earlier this year, alongside various other prominent national organizations, to improve diversity in the industry by doubling the number of women or underrepresented minorities in its startup programs. Even more recently, … Continue reading “Techstars’ Cohen on Promoting Diversity and Preparing for a Downturn”
Entrepreneurs of Color Fund Seeks Minority-Owned Small Businesses
Runaway valuations and the piles of money pouring into hot tech startups grab lots of headlines these days. That can make it easy to forget about traditional small businesses that might not have as much job-growth potential as startups, but still play an important role in the economy, especially in cities like Detroit. Many in … Continue reading “Entrepreneurs of Color Fund Seeks Minority-Owned Small Businesses”
Zipcar and LogMeIn Veterans Out to Reshape Car Insurance With Censio
Remember when drivers talking on cell phones were annoying? OK, they still are—but at least that usually means they aren’t looking down at their screen as they plow into a bike, pedestrian, or your car. Distracted drivers are the worst. Now they’re the target of a Boston startup that’s using—guess what—smartphones and apps to monitor … Continue reading “Zipcar and LogMeIn Veterans Out to Reshape Car Insurance With Censio”
Biopharma CEOs, VCs, and Hedge Fund Managers: Fifty Shades of Greed
I just returned from a family vacation and was going through my accumulated mail. I got a notice that the terms of my auto loan were being adjusted. Instead of paying $300 a month, I was shocked to find out that I would now be paying $16,667 per month. My car company (the lender) explained … Continue reading “Biopharma CEOs, VCs, and Hedge Fund Managers: Fifty Shades of Greed”
Urban Entrepreneurship Symposium
New technologies and business innovations are creating disruptive opportunities for entrepreneurs to improve urban life. This event strives to provide information, resources, and connections that will empower aspiring entrepreneurs to create sustainable, profit-making businesses that address important urban community needs. For more information, click here.
Amid Nobel Prize Suspense, Making Sense Of Latest Gene-Editing News
There was a meeting Monday in Washington, D.C., to discuss some of the latest advances in gene editing, a field that has profound medical, agricultural, social, and ethical implications for society. At the lunch break, the webcast played over and over a genteel piece of classical music—Albinoni’s string concerto No. 4 in G major, to … Continue reading “Amid Nobel Prize Suspense, Making Sense Of Latest Gene-Editing News”
Michigan Roundup: Automation Alley, MSU, U-M, Xuriden & More
Here’s a look at innovation news from around Michigan: —Automation Alley, the Troy-based technology and business organization, has opened its 7Cs program—which helps early-stage companies connect to their first customers—to mid-stage companies. Any tech- or manufacturing-based company with between five and 100 employees in need of sales training or team building is eligible for the … Continue reading “Michigan Roundup: Automation Alley, MSU, U-M, Xuriden & More”
From Dance Clubs to Syn Bio: MIT’s Collins on Startups, Second Chances
It happens over and over again with new science. A discovery prompts crazy hype and massive investment that the data aren’t ready to support. A crash ensues, backers lose millions, egos are bruised—yet the pioneers slowly trudge forward. They regroup, away from the limelight, and try to learn from failure. When it comes to synthetic … Continue reading “From Dance Clubs to Syn Bio: MIT’s Collins on Startups, Second Chances”
Campless Decamps to Detroit, Plans Expansion Into Other Collectibles
Perhaps the most unexpected revelation to come out of the demo day event held by Detroit Venture Partners a few weeks ago was that Campless, a Philadelphia-based website that calls itself “the Kelley Blue Book for sneakers,” had been enticed to relocate to the Motor City by DVP founder and Quicken Loans chairman Dan Gilbert. … Continue reading “Campless Decamps to Detroit, Plans Expansion Into Other Collectibles”
Women in Mobile Tech Career Event
The Michigan Mobile Technology Association is hosting this event to educate women about career opportunities in mobile technology. This event will feature women working in the areas of app development, user experience/user interface, and Agile, and will offer round table discussions on each topic. For more information and registration, click here.
Toast of the Town
TechTown Detroit hosts this celebration and fundraiser honoring the collective success of entrepreneurs that have received support from the organization. For details and registration, click here.
U-M’s Zell Lurie Fund Invests in Phasiq’s Diagnostic Technology
The University of Michigan’s student-led Zell Lurie Commercialization Fund has invested in Phasiq, a U-M spinout startup working on a cheaper, faster, more accurate way to test multiple health-indicator proteins in a single patient sample. The startup is particularly focused on research and diagnostic tests related to cancer and other diseases affecting the immune and … Continue reading “U-M’s Zell Lurie Fund Invests in Phasiq’s Diagnostic Technology”
Goldman Sachs Leads Llamasoft’s $50M Series B Round
Llamasoft, the Ann Arbor, MI-based supply-chain software company, announced Tuesday that it has closed a Series B round valued at $50 million. Goldman Sachs is the round’s sole investor, and it will take a seat on Llamasoft’s board as part of the deal. Toby Brzoznowski, co-founder and executive vice president of Llamasoft, says the company … Continue reading “Goldman Sachs Leads Llamasoft’s $50M Series B Round”
My Déjà Vu Moment in Genomics: Why We Need Industry Standards Now
I am a serial entrepreneur who has spent the past couple of decades advancing the front lines of technology in digital healthcare, wireless communications, and semiconductor industries. And I’ve been experiencing a déjà vu moment in genomics. Back in 1994, when I was designing electrical circuits as part of my doctorate program at the University … Continue reading “My Déjà Vu Moment in Genomics: Why We Need Industry Standards Now”
Llamasoft Receives $50,000,000 Series B Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=4953a021-1c74-4738-ac7a-63dcbefea335 Date 9/29/2015 Company Name Llamasoft Mailing Address 201 South Main St. 4th Floor Ann Arbor, MI 48104 USA Company Description LLamasoft provides software and expertise to help large organizations design and improve their supply chain network operations. Supply Chain Guru is the leading Supply Chain Design and predictive analytics application available … Continue reading “Llamasoft Receives $50,000,000 Series B Financing Round”
Amazon Plans to Open “Tech Hub” in Downtown Detroit
Twitter, Google, and Microsoft have all established a significant presence in Detroit during the past few years, helping legitimize the Motor City as a place on the rebound, and now Amazon will join them. The Seattle-based online retailer announced today that it will open a downtown technology hub (whatever that means) and a corporate office … Continue reading “Amazon Plans to Open “Tech Hub” in Downtown Detroit”
Trinity’s Fred Wang on Thinking Outside the Silicon Valley Box
When it comes to investing in technology startups, anywhere beyond Silicon Valley is considered a “secondary market.” It’s just not possible to find a comparable density of super angel investors, venture capital firms, and tech startups anywhere else. Of the nearly $31 billion that venture firms have invested nationwide through the first half of 2015, … Continue reading “Trinity’s Fred Wang on Thinking Outside the Silicon Valley Box”
Rising Tide Fund Aims to Get More Women Comfortable with Investing
A new Silicon Valley-based angel fund meant to get women more comfortable with investing officially launched today with support from the Kauffman Foundation. The Rising Tide Fund employs a collaborative investing model, with nine seasoned women angel investors serving as advisers to 90 women—all accredited investors—from across the United States, who will be non-managing members … Continue reading “Rising Tide Fund Aims to Get More Women Comfortable with Investing”
Techstars Mobility Lures New Companies, Documentary Crew to Detroit
The Techstars Mobility accelerator program’s first cohort graduated earlier this month, and the demo day event held to showcase technologies the startups are working on also contained a few surprise announcements, including company updates and a new documentary in the works about the rise of Detroit’s entrepreneurial culture. Ted Serbinski, who manages the Techstars Mobility … Continue reading “Techstars Mobility Lures New Companies, Documentary Crew to Detroit”
Shkreli Implodes And Provides Hillary A Perfect Medicare Moment
It was already a good political time for Hillary Clinton to unveil her plan to control the cost of prescription drugs. Martin Shkreli made it perfect. As you’ve probably heard by now, the front-running Democratic candidate Clinton on Tuesday outlined about a dozen ways she would aim to alter the American healthcare landscape if elected … Continue reading “Shkreli Implodes And Provides Hillary A Perfect Medicare Moment”
Roundup: Arboretum Ventures, NEI, U-M, Pegasystems, MTRAC & More
What’s cooking in Michigan’s innovation ecosystem? A lot, this time of year. Here’s a look at news from around the state: —Arboretum Ventures, the Ann Arbor-based healthcare venture capital firm, has closed its fourth fund, with commitments totaling $220 million. This nearly doubles the firm’s capital under management to $450 million. According to the firm, … Continue reading “Roundup: Arboretum Ventures, NEI, U-M, Pegasystems, MTRAC & More”
In 2015, U-M Tech Transfer Topped Record-Breaking 2014 Numbers
The University of Michigan’s Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) has topped its record-breaking 2014 numbers for patents, agreements, startups, and revenues, according to data released by the university Monday. During the 2015 fiscal year, which ended June 30, OTT spun out 19 startups, compared to 14 last fiscal year. “The momentum is continuing to be … Continue reading “In 2015, U-M Tech Transfer Topped Record-Breaking 2014 Numbers”
Phasiq Obtains New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=5cd75414-0db5-41e9-9750-2f295b0a16ae Date 9/22/2015 Company Name Phasiq Mailing Address 1600 Huron Parkway Building 520 2nd Floor Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA Company Description PHASIQ is commercializing high quality multiplex immunoassays with unprecedented time- and cost-savings. Our proprietary micropatterned phase separation (MPS ) technology makes PHASIQ the only company that provides a highly user-friendly … Continue reading “Phasiq Obtains New Funding Round”
Houston’s Fannin Forms Company to Fight Inflammation-Induced Cancers
Houston’s Fannin Innovation Studio is forming a new biotech startup to add to its portfolio called ACF Pharmaceuticals, along with the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and a Michigan-based drug company. ACF Pharmaceuticals, which will be based in Houston, will work closely with MD Anderson and Ann Arbor, MI-based Cayman Chemical on discovering … Continue reading “Houston’s Fannin Forms Company to Fight Inflammation-Induced Cancers”
Podcast Fans Can Connect and Share Episode Highlights on Fireside
When the podcast genre was first taking shape about a decade ago, we fans were considered hopeless dorks. Or maybe it was just me. I remember sending out a link once, via my family’s group e-mail, to a Snap Judgment segment about an amazing cat—the piece made me ugly-cry in the middle of a bike … Continue reading “Podcast Fans Can Connect and Share Episode Highlights on Fireside”
Kickstarting Entrepreneurs in San Diego by Testing Market Demand
In the six or seven years since Kickstarter and Indiegogo launched their crowdfunding sites, the way entrepreneurs raise money to finance their endeavors has fundamentally changed. These two companies have become the gold standard for helping entrepreneurs get their startups off the ground. In the old days (before 2008), an entrepreneur would typically come up … Continue reading “Kickstarting Entrepreneurs in San Diego by Testing Market Demand”
Innovate State: Henry Balanon
The Michigan State University Innovation Center’s Innovate State speaker series continues with Henry Balanon, Detroit/Ann Arbor Xconomist and co-founder and chief technology officer for Stratos. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required; click here.
Innovate State: Christen Rochon
The Michigan State University Innovation Center kicks off the Innovate State speaker series with Christen Rochon, MSU alum and founder of Divas and Dorks, a popular blog that focuses on lifestyle and technology for an African American audience. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required; click here.
Reality Check: Cancer Experts Discuss Hurdles Facing CAR-T Therapy
There’s a lot of excitement these days about a type of cellular immunotherapy known as CAR-T, a method of modifying peoples’ immune cells to fight cancer. But you could also fill a book listing all the problems its makers will have to solve—how to test, manufacture, and even the define the nature of these cancer-killing … Continue reading “Reality Check: Cancer Experts Discuss Hurdles Facing CAR-T Therapy”
Have an Idea to Fix Transportation in Detroit? You Could Win $250K
If there’s one thing that makes Detroiters’ blood boil, it’s when people from out of town parachute into the city full of plans on how to supposedly improve the lives of Motor City residents—without ever consulting said residents before plowing ahead. It’s incredibly condescending, usually, and often smacks of paternalism. There’s a right way and … Continue reading “Have an Idea to Fix Transportation in Detroit? You Could Win $250K”
Education in the Second Machine Age
We are in the early innings of a Second Machine Age—one relying on fewer people and more technology—yet we’re largely educating students for a bygone era. The (First) Machine Age, which is typically bracketed by the introduction of the automobile in the late 1880s and the invention of the transistor shortly after WWII, led to … Continue reading “Education in the Second Machine Age”
The Risks and Opportunities of Doing Business in Emerging Markets
If you’re a startup or small business based in the U.S., chances are that you’re engaging with other emerging markets in some way or another. Perhaps you’re serving customers in those markets – or you have partners, suppliers, or consultants located there – or perhaps some of your team members are based there, or traveling … Continue reading “The Risks and Opportunities of Doing Business in Emerging Markets”
Obama Nominates Duke Veteran Rob Califf To Lead FDA
President Obama has nominated cardiologist Rob Califf to be the next head of the Food and Drug Administration, replacing the outgoing Margaret “Peggy” Hamburg. The nomination is no surprise. Speculation that Califf could be the next commissioner gained momentum in late January when the FDA named him a top deputy. Two weeks later, Hamburg said … Continue reading “Obama Nominates Duke Veteran Rob Califf To Lead FDA”