Category: Detroit

Report from Techonomy Detroit: Bridging the Digital Divide

[Correction, 9/24/2014, 9:36 a.m. See below.] Detroit’s bankruptcy, while humbling and damaging to the city, has also brought “extraordinary” national interest to the Motor City, evidenced this week by the lineup of boldface technology names gathered at the Techonomy Detroit conference this week. “It’s a sad event in some sense, but it dramatically increased attentiveness … Continue reading “Report from Techonomy Detroit: Bridging the Digital Divide”

Tolera Therapeutics Obtains $250,000 New Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=fc705627-1680-49b7-ac99-3c64c1cd0cf4 Date 9/17/2014 Company Name Tolera Therapeutics Mailing Address P.O. Box 970 Portage, MI 49081 USA Company Description Building upon research done at the University of Kentucky and the Cleveland Clinic, Tolera Therapeutics is developing and commercializing therapies for the immune suppression / modulation market with the goal of addressing unmet medical … Continue reading “Tolera Therapeutics Obtains $250,000 New Round”

Tissue Regeneration Systems Receives $500,000 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=238bb934-32e8-4484-a27b-78cd47b154ba Date 9/16/2014 Company Name Tissue Regeneration Systems Mailing Address 46701 Commerce Center Drive Plymouth, MI 48170 USA Company Description Tissue Regeneration Systems (TRS) is a start-up medical device company commercializing a breakthrough skeletal reconstruction and bone regeneration technology platform licensed from the Universities of Michigan and Wisconsin. Website http://www.tissuesys.com Transaction Type … Continue reading “Tissue Regeneration Systems Receives $500,000 New Financing Round”

Court: Dealers Can’t Stop Tesla From Selling Direct to MA Consumers

Tesla Motors, the high-performance electric car company headed by PayPal co-founder Elon Musk, has won another legal skirmish in its quest to sell cars directly to consumers. On Monday, Massachusetts’ top court ruled that car dealers in the state had no right to sue Tesla (NASDAQ: [[ticker:TSLA]]) for its direct-sales model, which cuts out any … Continue reading “Court: Dealers Can’t Stop Tesla From Selling Direct to MA Consumers”

MI Roundup: Plymouth Ventures, FarmLogs, Start Garden

Here’s a look at news from around Michigan’s innovation hubs: —Things are going gangbusters for the Ann Arbor-based ag-tech startup FarmLogs. Founder and CEO Jesse Vollmar says his company, which has developed software that helps farmers track and leverag precise agricultural data, is now being used by 15 percent of U.S. farms. That number represents … Continue reading “MI Roundup: Plymouth Ventures, FarmLogs, Start Garden”

The Rhythm of Management: What Jazz Can Teach Startup Executives

“Jazz stands for freedom. It’s supposed to be the voice of freedom: Get out there and improvise, and take chances, and don’t be a perfectionist – leave that to the classical musicians.” — Jazz great Dave Brubeck Playing in a jazz ensemble and leading a business are very, very similar. And my experiences both as … Continue reading “The Rhythm of Management: What Jazz Can Teach Startup Executives”

Innovation Hub: Why Tech’s Women Problem Is Bigger Than You Think

You’ve seen the numbers. And they’re not good. At Apple, Twitter, Google, and Facebook, women are vastly outnumbered by men. When it comes to technical positions like coders, men occupy 80 to 90 percent of the positions. Which isn’t a great sign if these represent the jobs—and skill sets—of the future. The startup scene is … Continue reading “Innovation Hub: Why Tech’s Women Problem Is Bigger Than You Think”

URC Water Tour Highlights Michigan’s Blue Economy Opportunities

Forget about oil or gold. In a few decades, clean, fresh water might be the most valuable commodity in the world, and Michigan is preparing now to stake its claim on the coming bounty. The Great Lakes surrounding Michigan hold 18 percent of the world’s fresh water and 90 percent of the nation’s surface freshwater. … Continue reading “URC Water Tour Highlights Michigan’s Blue Economy Opportunities”

How to Attract Smart People, Smart Ideas, and Smart Money

North Carolina entrepreneurs are attracting attention all over the nation—and all over the world—across the tech, life science, and advanced materials sectors. The proof is in the numbers. Last year, more than 220 entrepreneurial companies in North Carolina raised nearly half a billion dollars through equity investments, grants, and awards from 108 unique funders, according … Continue reading “How to Attract Smart People, Smart Ideas, and Smart Money”

At U-M, 40 Years Of Gaucher Research Rewarded With FDA Approval

On August 19, the FDA approved eliglustat (Cerdelga) for the rare genetic disorder Gaucher disease. Marketed by the Genzyme division of Sanofi (NYSE: [[ticker:SNY]]), it’s a pill, which gives at least some of the 10,000 Gaucher patients worldwide an alternative to the intravenous infusions currently on the market. But it also represents something else: the … Continue reading “At U-M, 40 Years Of Gaucher Research Rewarded With FDA Approval”

The Knowledge Worker’s Next Must-Have Gadget: A Telepresence Robot

If robotics startups get it right, the next piece of hardware you expense to your company may be a telepresence robot, a pedestal-shaped machine that will let you scoot around a remote office to check in on colleagues. Robots are already used in factories, warehouses, and to vacuum people’s floors, but they have yet to … Continue reading “The Knowledge Worker’s Next Must-Have Gadget: A Telepresence Robot”

An Intriguing Program Takes on Tropical Diseases—But Not Ebola

[Updated and corrected 9/10/14, 10:05 am. See below.] On August 28, Anthony Fauci, the U.S. National Institutes of Health’s top infectious disease specialist, announced a major trial in concert with GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: [[ticker:GSK]]) to test new Ebola vaccines in humans. Fauci called it an “all-hands-on-deck response” to the growing global health emergency in which more … Continue reading “An Intriguing Program Takes on Tropical Diseases—But Not Ebola”

Xconomy Q&A: Intellectual Ventures Co-founder and CTO Edward Jung

Edward Jung, co-founder and chief technology officer, of Intellectual Ventures, has been out talking about how his company—which was recently described as among Silicon Valley’s most hated—is playing a long game to attack the big problems confronting the world today. On the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia in Seattle last week, Jung sat … Continue reading “Xconomy Q&A: Intellectual Ventures Co-founder and CTO Edward Jung”

MI Roundup: Compuware, U-M, Start Garden, Ann Arbor SPARK

[Corrected, 9/10/14. See below] Here’s a look at news from around Michigan’s innovation hubs: —On the heels of last week’s announcement that Compuware had been purchased by Thoma Brava, a private equity firm, comes this news: Compuware APM will now operate under the name Dynatrace. John Van Siclen will continue to lead the business. —The … Continue reading “MI Roundup: Compuware, U-M, Start Garden, Ann Arbor SPARK”

Michigan Private Equity Conference

The University of Michigan’s Zell Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies and Center for Venture Capital and Private Equity Finance host this annual conference, which serves to highlight relevant topics at both the national and state level. This year, Detroit Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr and Miller Buckfire director Ken Buckfire will deliver keynote speeches. For more … Continue reading “Michigan Private Equity Conference”

Mobile Monday Detroit: Mobile in Transportation

The monthly meet-up will explore mobile technology’s impact on transportation. Speakers include Sue Zielinski from University of Michigan; Tim Yerdon, vice president of design, marketing and connected Services, Visteon; Matt Webb, senior project manager, M-1 Rail/HNTB; and Brad Ridenour, director of business development – automotive solution practice, Lochbridge (formerly Compuware Professional Services). For details and … Continue reading “Mobile Monday Detroit: Mobile in Transportation”

MC Hammer Offers Tips to “Innovate the Hood” at Detroit Event

Detroit Pistons fans of a certain age will always have a place for MC Hammer in their hearts, since his song “U Can’t Touch This” will forever be associated with the triumphant Bad Boys era of the early 1990s. But not many of us, perhaps, have kept up with Hammer’s career since then. It turns … Continue reading “MC Hammer Offers Tips to “Innovate the Hood” at Detroit Event”

John Maraganore: From “Prototypical Geek” To Canny Alnylam Chief

John Maraganore opened up an envelope in 1994 that changed his life. Inside were the results of the pivotal study of an anticoagulant drug Maraganore had created in the lab. It was the star prospect for Maraganore’s employer, Biogen. If the drug, bivalirudin, worked, Biogen might have its first product—and Maraganore, the glory of designing … Continue reading “John Maraganore: From “Prototypical Geek” To Canny Alnylam Chief”

Innovation Hub: John Maeda on Why Tech Loves Design

John Maeda stands at the intersection of design and technology—and attracts a bit of a cult following. He’s the first Design Partner at Kleiner Perkins, the venture capital firm that has backed companies from Amazon to Genentech to WebMD. Previously, he served as President of The Rhode Island School of Design. Maeda insists that design … Continue reading “Innovation Hub: John Maeda on Why Tech Loves Design”

What Tesla’s Gigafactory Means for Battery Startups

The most exciting news of the year in electric vehicles came today with the announcement that Tesla Motors will build its giant lithium ion battery factory in Nevada. It’s a huge vote of confidence in the future of EVs, but at the same time it points to the long road startups face getting their novel battery … Continue reading “What Tesla’s Gigafactory Means for Battery Startups”

Detroit Materials Hopes to Reinvent Steel in America’s Car Capital

Good old-fashioned iron and steel helped make Detroit the powerhouse of 20th Century industrial America. A startup called Detroit Materials is hoping to lead a renaissance for these hardworking metals, backed by technology from Wayne State University. The company finalized a licensing agreement with WSU in June, allowing it to commercialize a kind of high-strength, … Continue reading “Detroit Materials Hopes to Reinvent Steel in America’s Car Capital”

Compuware Goes Private in $2.5B Deal, Seeks Flexibility in Tech Wars

Compuware announced today that it has been purchased by Thoma Bravo, a private equity firm with offices in San Francisco and Chicago, for $2.5 billion. Under the terms of the agreement, Compuware shareholders will receive $10.92 per share, a 17 percent increase over the company’s closing stock price on Friday. Compuware’s board has approved the … Continue reading “Compuware Goes Private in $2.5B Deal, Seeks Flexibility in Tech Wars”

Which Countries Excel in Creating New Drugs? It’s Complicated

A lot has been written lately about innovation, or the lack thereof, in the world of biopharma. One question that often gets asked: which countries lead the way in creating new medicines? Many people think that drugs originate in the nation where the companies that produce them are headquartered. The truth, however, is much more … Continue reading “Which Countries Excel in Creating New Drugs? It’s Complicated”

Update: Ingress, LevelEleven, Rubicon, ArdentCause, Time Magazine

We glide into the long weekend with a report from an Ingress event held in Detroit on Aug. 23, an update on three expanding local tech startups, and brief, gloating commentary on the new story about Detroit in Time magazine. Have a lovely holiday! —The Ingress XM wagon (pictured) stopped in Detroit last weekend for … Continue reading “Update: Ingress, LevelEleven, Rubicon, ArdentCause, Time Magazine”

Tech Entrepreneur on a Mission to Get People to Unplug and Socialize

Brian Hiss is a successful, New York-based tech entrepreneur. He was the chief operating officer of eats.com, later acquired by delivery.com, and he’s currently at the helm of Dooble, his eighth startup, which offers users curated lists of fun things to do in New York City. So why is Hiss in the middle of a … Continue reading “Tech Entrepreneur on a Mission to Get People to Unplug and Socialize”

Best Shot Strategy Workshop and Pitch Competition

The MidMichigan Innovation Center hosts this sales strategy workshop and pitch competition open to any entrepreneur or business owner. The winning pitch receives a free six-month membership to MidMichigan Innovation Center, plus free business development services donated by local companies. For more information, click here.

Innovate the Hood: How to Win at the Tech Game

Join rap legend MC Hammer and Digital Undivided founder Kathryn Finney for a night of food, drink, tech ideas, and discussion about the future of black entrepreneurship. The event is free and open to the public. For details and registration, click here.

Open Data Can Help Government Be the Airbnb of Civic Services

Until recently, 99 percent of government data around the world was shrouded in darkness. It was trapped in a vault, gathering mold, and never saw the light of day. But the vibrant open data movement, which is taking hold on just about every continent, has begun to radically change this. Now, government data is being … Continue reading “Open Data Can Help Government Be the Airbnb of Civic Services”

U-M Impact Challenge Seeks to Help Detroit Kids Become Entrepreneurs

It’s their first week on campus—and for many, their first time in the United States—but that isn’t slowing down about 450 graduate students from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. Tuesday marked the kick-off of the Impact Challenge, an annual immersive leadership development program that this year focuses on getting Detroit kids interested … Continue reading “U-M Impact Challenge Seeks to Help Detroit Kids Become Entrepreneurs”

Coelacanths And Other IPO Thoughts Before The Autumn Markets Return

Ah, the final week of summer. Would that it could go on forever. And thanks for reading this on your mobile device with your toes in the sand. Just don’t forget to take a dip or toss a Frisbee when you’re done. No doubt many would like the current biotech IPO climate to stretch on … Continue reading “Coelacanths And Other IPO Thoughts Before The Autumn Markets Return”

MI Startup Wins Grant to Make Medical Devices for Developing World

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, 80 percent of the world’s medical equipment is designed for only 10 percent of the population. After all, what’s the point of having the latest cutting-edge device if you live in the developing world without a steady source of electricity? However, Grand Rapids, MI-based med tech startup Sisu … Continue reading “MI Startup Wins Grant to Make Medical Devices for Developing World”

“Plan” Versus “Vision” Entrepreneurs and How a VC Evaluates Startups

Since I first joined Mercury Fund in 2008, I’ve seen the ups (now) and downs (2009) of venture capital in just six years. Despite the wildly different environments, I’ve noticed that the types of pitches we get, and our responses to them, haven’t changed much. Although we have seen small changes to some of the … Continue reading ““Plan” Versus “Vision” Entrepreneurs and How a VC Evaluates Startups”

What I’ve Learned From 25 Years in the Tech Industry

Building and running a successful startup in America’s fiercely competitive tech industry is never easy. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution or manual for how to go about it. But as they say, experience is the best teacher. So it’s my pleasure to share with you some of my own experiences and observations in building and managing … Continue reading “What I’ve Learned From 25 Years in the Tech Industry”

Sakti3 Claims Breakthrough, a Sign of Life for Next-Gen Batteries

[Corrected, 9:35 pm.] Ask an engineer why we power our cars with gasoline rather than electric batteries and you’ll get a geeky answer: energy density. Said another way, gasoline holds far more energy in a given space than any battery ever has. Ann Arbor, MI-based Sakti3 yesterday published test results that show its battery has … Continue reading “Sakti3 Claims Breakthrough, a Sign of Life for Next-Gen Batteries”

NewCo Detroit

For the second year, Detroit’s startups and innovative companies will open their doors to conference attendees: Fifty-six host companies across several Detroit neighborhoods have signed up to deliver 58 presentations designed specifically for the NewCo audience. For details and registration, click here.

DASH Conference

Jacobs Media and Radio INK host this conference dedicated to connected car “audiotainment.” The event features lots of breakout sessions, and speakers include Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association; Chris Ruff, CEO of UIEvolution; and Geoff Snyder, vice president of automotive business development at Pandora. For more information and registration, click … Continue reading “DASH Conference”

Advanced Manufacturing Career Exploration Workshop

Comau and Automation Workz are hosting this event to help students in grades 9-12 learn more about career opportunities in skilled labor and advanced manufacturing. Attendees will tour a fully automated factory, receive an introduction to the industrial Internet and new advanced manufacturing jobs that don’t require a bachelor’s degree, participate in a series of … Continue reading “Advanced Manufacturing Career Exploration Workshop”

Entrepalooza Symposium

The University of Michigan’s Zell Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies hosts this annual event, which includes panel presentations by leaders in the local entrepreneurial and venture capital community providing expert advice on topics such as “Innovating in Corporations” and “Pathways to Entrepreneurship.” Speakers include Rob Pelinka, founder and CEO of Landmark Sports Agency; Tyler Paxton, … Continue reading “Entrepalooza Symposium”

Tissue Regeneration Systems to Collaborate with J&J, DePuy Synthes

Earlier this summer, Johnson & Johnson Innovation and DePuy Synthes Products announced a new collaboration with Plymouth, MI-based Tissue Regeneration Systems (TRS) to help develop patient-specific, resorbable bone implants. (That means implants that can be broken down by the body after an interval of time passes.) Last week, TRS celebrated the opening of its new … Continue reading “Tissue Regeneration Systems to Collaborate with J&J, DePuy Synthes”

RetailCapital Secures New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=f1e559d2-48d5-417b-ba84-5dd9da263c97 Date 8/21/2014 Company Name RetailCapital Mailing Address 1250 Kirts Blvd. Troy, MI 48084 USA Company Description At RetailCapital, we strive to meet the demands and needs of small businesses nationwide that are underserved by banks. With over 50 years of experience in the capital markets and retail industry, we work diligently … Continue reading “RetailCapital Secures New Financing”

U-M Launches New Accelerator Open to All Michigan Startups

The University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business and College of Engineering have teamed up to launch the Desai Family Accelerator, which will help support early-stage ventures with mentorship and financial resources. Plus, there’s a twist: Despite being backed by U-M, the accelerator is open to any Michigan startup. “They don’t have to have a … Continue reading “U-M Launches New Accelerator Open to All Michigan Startups”

Detroit Aircraft Takes Flight With Lockheed Deal, Airport Renovation

In 2007, Jon Rimanelli began researching Detroit’s history in the aviation industry as part of a proposal to convince organizers of the Red Bull Air Races to pick the Motor City as the host. The bid was successful and resulted in Red Bull race planes zipping up and down the Detroit River for the next … Continue reading “Detroit Aircraft Takes Flight With Lockheed Deal, Airport Renovation”

Vestaron Receives $10,000,000 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=33c11690-ec1e-436c-8081-b4ab71812b57 Date 8/19/2014 Company Name Vestaron Mailing Address 4717 Campus Drive Kalamazoo, MI 49008 USA Company Description Vestaron Corporation is developing a new generation of insecticides by employing peptides sourced from spiders – insecticides that are ideally suited for the environmentally conscious, twenty-first century. Over 50 unique, spider-venom peptides with novel sites … Continue reading “Vestaron Receives $10,000,000 New Funding”

Innovation Hub: Your Brilliant Other Half

We spend a lot of time celebrating one-in-a-million entrepreneurs: the Mark Zuckerbergs, the Steve Jobs, the Elon Musks. But what if most entrepreneurs are more like two in a million? People who couldn’t realize their vision without a brilliant partner. Joshua Wolf Shenk writes about this phenomenon in Powers of Two: Finding the Essence of … Continue reading “Innovation Hub: Your Brilliant Other Half”

MI Roundup: Michipreneur, Fanzoo, Start Garden, Beringea, iVantage

Here’s a look at recent news from around Michigan’s innovation community: —The fine folks at Michipreneur have put together an online, statewide startup directory. Searchable by keyword, industry, or city, the directory has more than 100 companies listed and is growing by the day. Want to add your startup to the directory? Click here to … Continue reading “MI Roundup: Michipreneur, Fanzoo, Start Garden, Beringea, iVantage”

Carless in Cambridge: Bike & Car Sharing and the Future of Traffic

Nine weeks ago, I lost my fancy hybrid street/trail bike to one of San Francisco’s plentiful bicycle thieves. Seven weeks ago, in preparation for a big move east, I sold my car. Now I’m settling into a new apartment in Cambridge, MA, and for the first time in my adult life, I don’t own a … Continue reading “Carless in Cambridge: Bike & Car Sharing and the Future of Traffic”

New MVCA Fellow Will Focus on Transportation Mobility at Fontinalis

The Michigan Venture Capital Association’s (MVCA) Venture Fellows Program has placed a new fellow: Daniel Ratliff has joined Detroit-based Fontinalis Partners, where he’ll work on researching and evaluating prospective investments, assist in managing current portfolio companies, and focus on finding Michigan companies for Fontinalis to invest in. Chris Stallman, a principal at Fontinalis, says his … Continue reading “New MVCA Fellow Will Focus on Transportation Mobility at Fontinalis”