A product, a camera phone, and a sensor. Those may be the essential tools of advertising in the 21st century. Increasingly, we’re witnessing the disappearance of the classic, 30-second ad. Now products are looking to lure us with humor (I’m looking at you, Old Spice Guy) or whiz-bang theatrics (think Jean-Claude Van Damme straddling Volvos). … Continue reading “Innovation Hub: Advertising’s New Age”
Category: Detroit
Pixel Velocity Expands in IoT With $10M From Draper Triangle
Earlier this month, venture capital firm Draper Triangle announced an investment of $10 million in Ann Arbor’s Pixel Velocity, with plans to quickly grow the company to take advantage of the rise of cloud technologies and Internet of Things applications. Jonathan Murray, Draper Triangle’s Michigan-based managing director, has taken a seat on Pixel Velocity’s board … Continue reading “Pixel Velocity Expands in IoT With $10M From Draper Triangle”
Milestones of Innovation 3: ‘Modern Pioneers’ at the Waldorf–1940
When people made lists of leading innovators 75 years ago, they saw a landscape very different from today’s for putting discoveries, techniques, money, workers, and customers together to get something new and useful onto the market. In the brief interval between the Depression and World War II, the dominant factor was the large, vertically integrated … Continue reading “Milestones of Innovation 3: ‘Modern Pioneers’ at the Waldorf–1940”
From Lab Bench to Plant: Scale-Up Workshop
During this five-day workshop, attendees will learn about the issues that result from moving a chemical process from the laboratory bench to a chemical plant, including safety, chemical testing of raw materials, environmental and waste regulations, scale-up economics, and “war stories” from experienced entrepreneurs. For details and registration, click here.
SBIR and STTR Training Program
Join SBIR/STTR expert Michael Kurek for this introduction to the government’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, which make capital available to innovative small companies. Participants will learn about program basics including eligibility, selecting the right agency, and key components of a competitive proposal. Click here to register.
Ann Arbor’s Warmilu Hopes to Save Preemies With High-Tech Blankets
Grace Hsia, CEO of the Ann Arbor, MI-based med tech startup Warmilu, was a pre-term baby. Now, she and her company are on a mission to help premature babies in developing countries survive, with the help of high-tech blankets. “Just over three years ago, we began as material science engineering students at the University of … Continue reading “Ann Arbor’s Warmilu Hopes to Save Preemies With High-Tech Blankets”
To Manage a Successful Sports Team, Focus on Data
The mantra of youth sports where “everyone gets a trophy” is permeating professional leagues. These days every team can claim some semblance of winning. In the bygone era of the NFL, two teams made the playoffs and that consisted of one game, the Super Bowl. Today six teams from each conference advance, and there is … Continue reading “To Manage a Successful Sports Team, Focus on Data”
Commentary: TechTown’s Leslie Smith Leaving For New Gig in Memphis
I got the news that Leslie Smith, TechTown‘s CEO since 2011, was leaving for a new gig in Memphis through an invitation to her going-away party. I was promptly crushed. Not only has Leslie been a great source who’s always good for a no-b.s. quote, she’s also a person who has worked tirelessly to better … Continue reading “Commentary: TechTown’s Leslie Smith Leaving For New Gig in Memphis”
U-M’s Michigan Business Challenge Awards Top Student Startups
The Michigan Business Challenge, the University of Michigan’s annual business competition for innovative, student-led startups, ended Friday after a four-month process. More than $129,000 in grants and prizes went to the winners, including Applebaum Dare to Dream and Mayleben Venture Shaping grants. New this year was a social impact track, which organizers hoped would attract … Continue reading “U-M’s Michigan Business Challenge Awards Top Student Startups”
Innovation Hub: Meet the Science Evangelist
Ainissa Ramirez says she’s a “Science Evangelist,” and she travels the country to preach her gospel in classrooms. As a result, the former Yale professor hopes to invigorate students, amping up their engagement with everything from nanotech to material science. I talked to her about how you help a generation of kids find their inner … Continue reading “Innovation Hub: Meet the Science Evangelist”
Stratos Secures $1,387,290 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=9931b9b6-8b3f-49bb-b514-aac159247642 Date 2/20/2015 Company Name Stratos Mailing Address 617 Detroit St. Ann Arbor, MI 48104 USA Company Description We’re a team of creative thinkers, engineers and software developers. And we’re bringing simplicity, security and intelligence to something we all use every day. Go ahead. Look in your wallet. Credit cards. Loyalty cards. … Continue reading “Stratos Secures $1,387,290 New Financing”
Electric-Car Battery Maker A123 Sues Apple for Poaching Employees
A123 Systems, an electric-car battery maker, is suing Apple because it believes the computing giant “poached” A123’s employees to help develop a competing large-scale battery business. The complaint (see below) names five of A123’s former employees as defendants in the suit, which was filed Wednesday in Massachusetts federal court, for allegedly breaking noncompete and nonsolicit … Continue reading “Electric-Car Battery Maker A123 Sues Apple for Poaching Employees”
MagicBook App Transforms Reading into an Active, 3D Endeavor
These days, it seems kids learn how to operate their parents’ iPads before they learn to read—and that can be problematic, says Marjorie Knepp, co-founder of Ann Arbor, MI-based augmented reality startup MagicBook. After all, how can a set of bound pages possibly compare to a gadget that produces colors, sounds, games, cartoons, and movies? … Continue reading “MagicBook App Transforms Reading into an Active, 3D Endeavor”
Fears Percolate as Billion-Dollar Private Company Valuations Climb
There are 73 private companies in the world with valuations of more than $1 billion, up from 40 just one year ago, according to a report published by The Wall Street Journal yesterday. Some of those 40 companies are no longer on the list. Beats, valued in February 2014 at $1.1 billion, was sold to … Continue reading “Fears Percolate as Billion-Dollar Private Company Valuations Climb”
For Life Science Industry, Social Media Takes on New Significance
It seemed like a question out of left field at the time: “How many of you maintain and monitor Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Tumblr accounts?” The question was posed by Jeremy Levin, former president and CEO of Teva Pharmaceuticals (NYSE: [[ticker:TEVA]]), and just a few hands went up at the 2014 CED Life Science conference … Continue reading “For Life Science Industry, Social Media Takes on New Significance”
MI Roundup: U-M, Duo Security, MGCS, NVCA, Grand Circus
Here’s a look at news from around Michigan’s innovation hubs: — After repeatedly hearing from business owners who need more employees with .NET expertise, software guru Bill Wagner is teaming with Grand Circus to offer a .NET bootcamp this spring. Having .NET skills is critical for developers working in the corporate world, Wagner says, and … Continue reading “MI Roundup: U-M, Duo Security, MGCS, NVCA, Grand Circus”
Biotech M&A by Slow Simmer: An Inside Look at the Build to Buy Deal
Here’s a question for consideration: What does it mean to acquire a virtual, single asset biotech that was ‘built’ for the sole purpose of being bought? The answer is much more complex than you might think. In this post I’ll explain by peeking under the hood at The Medicines Co.’s recent acquisition of Annovation Biopharma, … Continue reading “Biotech M&A by Slow Simmer: An Inside Look at the Build to Buy Deal”
Civionics Wins Cash, Aims to Help Manufacturers Increase Profits
A University of Michigan spinoff startup was the big winner at the 15th Annual Collaboration for Entrepreneurship (ACE) event held in Ann Arbor, MI. Ten startups pitched as part of the ACE Challenge, and Civionics walked away with the $5,000 grand prize thanks to its embedded wireless-sensor technology. “We’re not the typical startup,” says Civionics … Continue reading “Civionics Wins Cash, Aims to Help Manufacturers Increase Profits”
Ready, Aim, CRISPR: Will Gene-Editing Tools Hit Their Targets?
Gene therapy is finally upon us. After more than two decades of work, one product is approved in Europe. Others are steadily advancing through clinical trials, and gene therapy companies are doing big deals and raising big sums of cash. Now here comes a more precise version of gene therapy—gene editing. Instead of trying to … Continue reading “Ready, Aim, CRISPR: Will Gene-Editing Tools Hit Their Targets?”
Bet the Jockey…and the Horse…and the Track
Earlier this month we announced a new investment in Iora Health, a fascinating company run by an extraordinary entrepreneur transforming an enormous sector of the healthcare economy: primary care. Rushika Fernandopulle (CEO and co-founder) is fundamentally re-architecting how many of us will buy and consume primary care—and in so doing, he has created a passionate, … Continue reading “Bet the Jockey…and the Horse…and the Track”
Start Garden Expands to Keep Up with Changing Grand Rapids Ecosystem
In 2012, Amway scion Rick DeVos launched Start Garden, a $15 million seed fund based in Grand Rapids, MI, that would support early-stage startups in $5,000 increments. Those startups would then be invited back a few months later to update the investors on their progress. If Start Garden liked what it heard, it awarded the … Continue reading “Start Garden Expands to Keep Up with Changing Grand Rapids Ecosystem”
Innovation Hub: The Data Behind Online Dating
Online dating is big business. As of last year, it’s worth over 2 billion dollars, having grown at a steady 3.5 percent rate since 2008. And that big business has transformed the way we find love. If you’re getting married this year, there’s a one in three chance that you’ve met your spouse online. That’s … Continue reading “Innovation Hub: The Data Behind Online Dating”
MI’s Tech Industry Still Growing, Automation Alley Report Finds
Southeast Michigan’s tech industry continued to grow in 2014, and tech job creation in the region appears to remain on the rise. That’s according to Automation Alley, the Southeast Michigan business accelerator and association of technology professionals. The group announced the findings from its annual technology industry outlook today at a luncheon in downtown Detroit. The … Continue reading “MI’s Tech Industry Still Growing, Automation Alley Report Finds”
NIH Opens Discussion: How to Build a U.S. Health Research Database?
National Institutes of Health director Francis Collins kicked off a two-day meeting in Bethesda, MD, this morning to discuss how to turn President Obama’s call for a national health research database into reality. The database, which NIH officials are calling the National Research Cohort, is one of two main thrusts of the administration’s precision medicine … Continue reading “NIH Opens Discussion: How to Build a U.S. Health Research Database?”
Local Investing Training for Washtenaw Co. Residents
Revalue offers this class to teach Washtenaw County residents about local investing, due diligence, managing risk, and more. The interactive format includes teaching, facilitated discussion, and a simulation game. For details and registration, click here.
MI Kickstarter Report: Hardware Rules List of Top 5 Projects in 2014
Last week, I wrote about a Michigan-based company’s struggle to complete a 2013 Kickstarter project that raised more than $500,000 toward the development of Bluetooth headphones. Today, let’s focus on the best-funded tech-based Kickstarter projects across the state in 2014. Perhaps not surprisingly in a state that has given birth to so many world-changing machines, … Continue reading “MI Kickstarter Report: Hardware Rules List of Top 5 Projects in 2014”
“21st Century Cures” By Year’s End? Its Backers Want More Ideas
If you have an idea to include in the bipartisan initiative known as 21st Century Cures, Fred Upton (R-MI) and Diana DeGette (D-CO) say they are all ears. But speak up quickly: They want to present a bill to the House of Representatives by Memorial Day. That was the message the two members of Congress … Continue reading ““21st Century Cures” By Year’s End? Its Backers Want More Ideas”
Metasurvey Says: Fewer Biopharmas Capturing More Venture Dollars
In biotech, young companies have been raising money from public and private investors alike at an astounding rate. But all the rain isn’t letting a thousand flowers bloom. In other words, there’s more money going into new biopharma companies, but the cash is not being spread widely. That’s according to a new survey released today … Continue reading “Metasurvey Says: Fewer Biopharmas Capturing More Venture Dollars”
With FDA Hold Lifted, Esperion Cholesterol Drug Heads to Phase 3
In 1998, Xconomist Roger Newton co-founded a company called Esperion Therapeutics and drove the development of atorvastatin (Lipitor), a blockbuster cholesterol-lowering statin drug that is reportedly the most widely prescribed medicine in the world. After ushering in the age of statins, Newton eventually sold Esperion to Pfizer for $1.3 billion in 2008. The deal represented … Continue reading “With FDA Hold Lifted, Esperion Cholesterol Drug Heads to Phase 3”
Blackstone LaunchPad Pitch Contest
Entrepreneurs will have an opportunity to pitch their business ideas to a panel of investors at the fourth annual Blackstone LaunchPad Funding Symposium. Panelists include representatives from Patronicity, Kiva Detroit, Comerica Bank, Detroit Development Fund, Growth Capital Network, Mission Throttle, Invest Detroit, and Dynamic Wealth. Following a presentation about funding options that exist for startups, … Continue reading “Blackstone LaunchPad Pitch Contest”
Resistance Is Futile: Why That’s A Good Thing In Biomedicine
Fans of Star Trek: The Next Generation are very familiar with the Borg, a society of cybernetic individuals linked together in a collective mindset. The Borg navigate the universe in cube-shaped spacecraft actively seeking members of other races to absorb into their collective. Whenever others oppose their efforts, the Borg let them know, in no … Continue reading “Resistance Is Futile: Why That’s A Good Thing In Biomedicine”
Innovation on Kickstarter: The 10 Top-Funded Tech Ideas of 2014
A lot of ink has been spilled about the Coolest Cooler, a re-imagined picnic cooler equipped with a built-in blender, waterproof Bluetooth speaker, and UBS charger (among other things). To fund the project, inventor Ryan Grepper of Portland, OR, raised a record $13.3 million from 62,642 backers last summer on Kickstarter. The $13.3 million Grepper … Continue reading “Innovation on Kickstarter: The 10 Top-Funded Tech Ideas of 2014”
Milestones of Innovation 2: Gregor Mendel on Heredity, 1865
Today, as 150 years ago, for an innovation to happen, the idea it rests on must be understood by the people who hear it. On the 8th of February and the 8th of March 1865, the Augustinian monk Gregor Mendel told his local natural science society about a decade of results from thousands of cross-breeding … Continue reading “Milestones of Innovation 2: Gregor Mendel on Heredity, 1865”
Gener8tor’s Winter Program Draws Startups From Miami, Boston, Detroit
Gener8tor co-founder Troy Vosseller describes the Wisconsin startup accelerator’s latest group of companies as its most diverse class to date. When Gener8tor launched its program three years ago, the first couple of sessions featured only Wisconsin-based software and device companies. But its next few sessions attracted startups from around the Midwest and as far away … Continue reading “Gener8tor’s Winter Program Draws Startups From Miami, Boston, Detroit”
Innovation Hub: Meet Amy, Your AI Assistant
Amy Ingram is the most well-liked personal assistant in New York City. She was created by Dennis Mortensen to do a real job: schedule business meetings. And, given the fact that she’s artificially intelligent, she’s very good at it. But Mortensen, CEO and founder of x.ai, envisions more. His AI trainers are researching ways to … Continue reading “Innovation Hub: Meet Amy, Your AI Assistant”
The Clean Energy Promise of Student Entrepreneurs
[This article was co-authored by MBA candidates Molly Bales and Eric Kirchblum at the MIT Sloan School of Management.] Cleantech investing has taken quite a hit in recent years. Last year, CBS News highlighted the “cleantech crash” on U.S. primetime television, and Bloomberg New Energy Finance, a Bloomberg-owned energy data firm, has tracked the multi-year … Continue reading “The Clean Energy Promise of Student Entrepreneurs”
FDA’s Hamburg Stepping Down With Biopharma Turnaround as Her Legacy
[Corrected 2/6/15, 2:40 pm. See below.] FDA Commissioner Margaret “Peggy” Hamburg will step down in March after nearly six eventful years, transforming the agency from one of the life science industry’s biggest bete noirs into, arguably, a fairly reliable arbiter for innovators. She announced her decision this morning in an open letter to FDA employees. … Continue reading “FDA’s Hamburg Stepping Down With Biopharma Turnaround as Her Legacy”
Sound Band Saga Continues After Redesign; Hybra Founder Not Worried
[Corrected on 4/25/16, 1:58 pm. See below.] In December, the calls and e-mails from concerned Sound Band backers started coming in once again. “Please, please do an update on Hybra,” read one e-mail, whose author asked to remain anonymous. “267 backers now formally want a refund. Considering that most people probably forgot about the project … Continue reading “Sound Band Saga Continues After Redesign; Hybra Founder Not Worried”
Coolhouse Labs Incubator to Expand to Ann Arbor, Offer More Funding
Coolhouse Labs, the incubator that has run a successful “summer camp” for startups for the past two years in Harbor Springs, MI, announced this week that it is planning to expand its operations to Ann Arbor next year, where it will host approximately 10 early-stage companies between January and April of 2016. Founder Jordan Breighner … Continue reading “Coolhouse Labs Incubator to Expand to Ann Arbor, Offer More Funding”
Linkner Announces New Business Leadership Venture Based in Detroit
Serial entrepreneur, best-selling author, and Xconomist Josh Linkner today announced he is launching a new venture called Fuel Leadership in order to innovate something he considers to be woefully outdated: leadership development events. “Having spoken at many business events, I’ve seen how the general model is flawed,” he says. “The need for leadership is greater … Continue reading “Linkner Announces New Business Leadership Venture Based in Detroit”
Now Playing: California’s $1 Billion Stem-Cell Renovation Show
Home remodeling shows are a reality TV staple. But no Park Avenue mansion or country estate can top the nearly $1 billion price tag of the house C. Randal Mills is trying to renovate on the fly in California. Mills, who goes by Randy, is the president of the State of California’s stem cell agency, … Continue reading “Now Playing: California’s $1 Billion Stem-Cell Renovation Show”
Catching Up With Kidpreneur, and One of Its Kids, a Year Later
Last year, serial entrepreneur Thanh Tran launched a new venture to teach kids about Web design, coding, robotics, and the “lean startup” philosophy of entrepreneurship. In October, the company moved into a new office space in Wixom, MI, and Ben Seidman, Kidpreneur’s business and marketing manager, says things are booming. “Out here, we have more … Continue reading “Catching Up With Kidpreneur, and One of Its Kids, a Year Later”
Sportsman Tracker Secures $950,000 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=4e96d957-6869-41c9-8180-93da0816feda Date 2/2/2015 Company Name Sportsman Tracker Mailing Address 4647 Shearwood Ct. Grand Rapids, MI 49525 USA Company Description Sportsman Tracker is exactly what I needed to record and identify consistent hunting patterns. Website http://www.sportsmantracker.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $950,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds will be used to … Continue reading “Sportsman Tracker Secures $950,000 New Funding”
Innovation Hub: 10 Years After the Larry Summers Controversy
Ten years ago, Harvard’s then-president, Larry Summers, wondered why women are so scarce in elite math and science departments. Is it because they’re less ambitious than men? Or, perhaps, they’re less inclined to be extremely smart? His comments caused a national furor, and Summers stepped down as president the following year. Now, Professor Eileen Pollack, … Continue reading “Innovation Hub: 10 Years After the Larry Summers Controversy”
Big Data and Business Analytics Symposium
Wayne State University hosts this second annual conference, which examines how big data can serve as a bridge to the next wave of innovation and growth for Southeast Michigan. Several keynote speakers will discuss the fundamentals of big data management, including Kenneth Park, vice president of research environment and business solutions at HealthCore; Michelle Eissele, … Continue reading “Big Data and Business Analytics Symposium”
Roundup: U-M, NextEnergy, Blackstone LaunchPad, Rockwell Medical & More
Here’s a look at news from around Michigan’s innovation hubs: —The University of Michigan is constructing a 32-acre mini-city to test driverless vehicles on the northern part ofcampus. Called M City, it will include a network of roads with up to five lanes, intersections, roundabouts, traffic signs and signals, sidewalks, bus facilities, benches, simulated buildings, … Continue reading “Roundup: U-M, NextEnergy, Blackstone LaunchPad, Rockwell Medical & More”
Obama Wants You (And 1 Million Others) For ‘Precision’ Health Data
[Updated 1/30/15 1:15 pm. See below.] President Obama’s precision medicine plan just got a bit more precise, and it has a $215 million price tag. Starting with that cash, his administration wants to build a massive national database to study long-term public health trends, gathering head-to-toe health data from a million or more volunteers over … Continue reading “Obama Wants You (And 1 Million Others) For ‘Precision’ Health Data”
Capital Midwest Eyes $150M for 3rd WI VC Fund
Capital Midwest Fund is courting investors as it tries to raise between $100 million and $150 million for its third fund, the Wisconsin venture capital firm told Xconomy. Capital Midwest, based in Mequon, WI, is one of a handful of venture capital funds with offices in the state. It’s currently investing from its second fund, … Continue reading “Capital Midwest Eyes $150M for 3rd WI VC Fund”
Thumbs Up Detroit Conference & Exposition
Josh Linkner, founding partner at Detroit Venture Partners and best-selling author, and John Barfield, founder of Bartech Group, will headline this conference designed to capture the feeling of Detroit’s reinvention and celebrate the history and people who made it possible. Additional conference speakers include Detroit-area entrepreneurs and thought leaders. For details and registration, click here.
National Hardware Cup at TechShop
TechShop Detroit is partnering with Autodesk, Alphalab Gear, and others to host a competition for hardware startups. Any company with a physical product component is eligible to apply: manufactured products, Internet of Things/connected devices, robotics, furniture, medical devices, etc. The regional winners are eligible to compete in the national finals for the Startbot grand prize of … Continue reading “National Hardware Cup at TechShop”