Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=57d88ee0-cd49-4abc-aa08-020f390ab7b8 Date 10/2/2013 Company Name Dwllr Mailing Address 1411 Vine Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 Company Description DWLLR provides an array of products and services for real estate agents, brokers, MLS organizations and associations. Our goal is to develop the most innovative products and services for our partners, clients, and our friends in … Continue reading “Dwllr Garners $20,000 Seed Funding Round”
Category: Detroit
Tapfit Secures $20,000 Seed Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=bff12b1e-0d3b-48e7-b312-c1fcddd55bed Date 10/2/2013 Company Name Tapfit Mailing Address 1411 Vine St Cincinnati, OH 45202 Company Description TapFit is fitness on your own terms. Browse through hundreds of expertly-curated gyms and studios, view upcoming class schedules, and book classes – all through the convenience of your mobile phone. Website http://www.tapfit.co Transaction Type Accelerator … Continue reading “Tapfit Secures $20,000 Seed Funding”
Frameri Garners $20,000 Seed Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=162d9b73-b31c-48f6-8cfc-c8a7671bf272 Date 10/2/2013 Company Name Frameri Mailing Address 1411 Vine St Cincinnati, OH 45202 Company Description Just like you, our glasses are designed to change. One set of lenses, as many frames as you want. And every frame has a story to tell: challenging the way you see and the way others … Continue reading “Frameri Garners $20,000 Seed Round”
Sqrl Secures $20,000 Seed Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=5befadc9-915c-4aaa-b500-f202ba227947 Date 10/2/2013 Company Name Sqrl Mailing Address Undisclosed Columbus, OH 43220 Company Description Sqrl is a product designed to eliminate the time, profitability, and patience lost gathering information from and following-up with clients. As accountants, lawyers, and other professional service providers spend as much as 25% of their weeks trying to … Continue reading “Sqrl Secures $20,000 Seed Financing Round”
The Memo That Spawned Microsoft Research—Analysis and Download
Microsoft Research, the central research arm of that tech giant of the northwest, was founded in September 1991. This is the prehistory. With the recent stepping down of Rick Rashid—the head of the organization since its inception, who took a new job at Microsoft in July—I have decided to post the memo that gave birth … Continue reading “The Memo That Spawned Microsoft Research—Analysis and Download”
The Memo That Spawned Microsoft Research—and Its Lessons for Today
How many great corporate organizations were created with the words, “Once upon a time?” Not many, I’ll wager. Yet that is exactly how Microsoft Research, one of the world’s biggest and most prestigious corporate research institutions, came to life back in 1991. “Once upon a time,” former Microsoft CTO Nathan Myhrvold wrote to Bill Gates … Continue reading “The Memo That Spawned Microsoft Research—and Its Lessons for Today”
The End of Personal Computers
Lately, we’ve been hearing a lot about the idea that we are witnessing “the end of personal computers,” the “post-PC era,” or, as Microsoft would have it, the “PC-plus era.” The difference in terminology is telling, revealing the intense commercial competition and staggering financial stakes that underlie this transition. For those who have been in … Continue reading “The End of Personal Computers”
A Wild September for Wireless: Putting it in Context
A wild and wacky wireless September it was. In one of the most frenzied months in the history of nearly any tech sector, we saw the following developments dominate the headlines: Verizon bought out Vodafone’s stake in Verizon Wireless for $130 billion. In a week, this financing went from “can they do it” to being … Continue reading “A Wild September for Wireless: Putting it in Context”
PaletteApp Receives Series A Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=01fd29e4-bc62-49d5-a6d8-5324525621ee Date 10/1/2013 Company Name PaletteApp Mailing Address PO Box 641051 Chicago, IL 60664 Company Description PaletteApp is a digital design program that is a virtual library of thousands of architectural manufacturer products. The program allows the user to quickly sort through hundreds of thousands of products by entering project data, and … Continue reading “PaletteApp Receives Series A Financing”
Algaeon Lands $50,000 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=91b28428-2e66-4503-90ee-cbf554ad700a Date 10/1/2013 Company Name Algaeon Mailing Address 8440 West 82nd Street Indianapolis, IN 46278 Company Description Algaeon is focused supplying high-value products derived from algae to leading companies in the Nutraceutical and Animal Micronutrient markets. This opportunity rich market focus will be served by Algaeon’s breakthrough patent pending industrial scale Micro-algae … Continue reading “Algaeon Lands $50,000 New Financing Round”
Foodjunky Aims to Take the Pain Out of Ordering Lunch for Meetings
I have so much lunch-ordering shame. Should some poor soul offer to pick up lunch for me, I have to write my order down in such ridiculous detail—veggie sandwich, no sprouts, no cucumbers, light onions, extra banana peppers; if they have vinegar and oil, ask for lots of vinegar but just a splash of oil—that … Continue reading “Foodjunky Aims to Take the Pain Out of Ordering Lunch for Meetings”
The Pharma Bureaucracy Index: Who’s Nimble, and Who’s Sloooowww?
Bureaucracy is one of the dirty words in business. Nobody wants to publicly admit their company is bogged down with too many layers of management, or needs a dozen committees to sign off on every little decision. For a couple years now, I’ve been hearing entrepreneurs complain about suffocating bureaucracy in pharma. So I started … Continue reading “The Pharma Bureaucracy Index: Who’s Nimble, and Who’s Sloooowww?”
Choose Energy Acquires Power2Switch for Undisclosed Sum
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=12b99ba7-12ec-48b1-a4fd-a04ce9b6af07 Date 9/30/2013 Company Name Power2Switch Mailing Address 820 W Jackson Blvd Chicago, IL 60607 Company Description Power2Switch empowers both households and businesses by providing access to practical information and continuing education, enabling our clients to make smart, cost-effective, and sustainable decisions about energy usage. Website http://www.Power2Switch.com Transaction Type M&A Transaction Amount … Continue reading “Choose Energy Acquires Power2Switch for Undisclosed Sum”
Tackk Receives $1,200,000 Seed Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=a7738b9a-bcec-4da1-b043-ed7d33d5a8d9 Date 9/30/2013 Company Name Tackk Mailing Address 5000 Euclid Ave. Cleveland, OH 44103 Company Description Tackk allows you to customize and edit your message the moment you visit the homepage. Simply click and start typing. There is no login required. It’s just like tacking a flyer to a telephone pole. Website … Continue reading “Tackk Receives $1,200,000 Seed Financing”
Crowdfunding Workshop With RocketHub Founders
The MidMichigan Innovation Center and Ann Arbor SPARK host this two-day workshop about how to successfully utilize crowdfunding. RocketHub founders, Brian Meece and Alon Hillel-Tuch, who have lectured on crowdfunding at SXSW, TEDxBrooklyn, Columbia University, Maker Faire, and White House Roundtables, will be on hand. To register, click here.
Brandcamp Detroit
This one-day conference brings together leading entrepreneurs, investors, and startups from around the country. This year’s speakers include Alexis Ohanian, founder of Reddit; Greg Selkoe, founder of Karmaloop; and Brad Feld, managing director at Foundry Group. For more information and registration, click here.
Roundup: Covisint Stocks Soar After IPO, Longbow Software Opens U.S. Office in Ann Arbor
It’s been a busy week in Southeast Michigan’s tech scene. Here’s a roundup of some of the recent news: –On Wednesday, Compuware announced the pricing of its initial public offering of shares of Covisint, its wholly owned subsidiary. The offering includes 6.4 million shares, representing approximately 17.6% of its issued and outstanding shares of Covisint. The shares … Continue reading “Roundup: Covisint Stocks Soar After IPO, Longbow Software Opens U.S. Office in Ann Arbor”
Reimagining Work: Scott Berkun’s Year Without Pants at Automattic
From my desk at Xconomy San Francisco—aka my Potrero Hill apartment—I can look out the window at Highway 280, watch the traffic that crawls into the city every morning and back out every evening, and chuckle smugly. There’s never any traffic congestion on the commute from my bed to my coffee machine to my laptop. … Continue reading “Reimagining Work: Scott Berkun’s Year Without Pants at Automattic”
LeadPages Lands $5,000,000 Series A Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=03aebf54-7606-40db-9831-76eca251da3a Date 9/27/2013 Company Name LeadPages Mailing Address 2038 Ford Parkway St. Paul, MN 55116 Company Description Based in Minneapolis, LeadPages launched in January of 2013 by co¬founders Clay Collins, Tracy Simmons, and Simon Payne. The company was created in response to increasing demand for customizable mobile¬friendly landing page templates that publishers … Continue reading “LeadPages Lands $5,000,000 Series A Round”
Revenew Lands $4,500,001 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=39a1d31f-9e77-4bc1-b98b-e7ed3df3ac39 Date 9/27/2013 Company Name Revenew Mailing Address 1540 Dundee Avenue Palatine, IL 60074 Company Description Revenew is the leader in Channel Networking and is the only technology platform that enables a network of manufacturers, resellers and industry groups to promote brands and generate demand together through distributed marketing. Website http://www.revenew.com Transaction … Continue reading “Revenew Lands $4,500,001 New Funding Round”
Agenda Live for Xconomy Healthcare Summit Oct. 15–Get Your Invite
Quick question: What is so important to Americans that the U.S. Congress is willing to shut the government down over it? The answer (as if you didn’t know already): healthcare. Here at Xconomy, we have long been tired of the political spin doctoring that surrounds healthcare. So we set out to convene a very exclusive, … Continue reading “Agenda Live for Xconomy Healthcare Summit Oct. 15–Get Your Invite”
Entrepreneur-YOU Competition Showcases Women-Led Startups
On Tuesday, at Walsh College in Troy, MI, fifteen startups led by women competed for $75,000 in venture funding and in-kind support at the second annual Entrepreneur-YOU business plan competition. Huntington Bank, the Ford Motor Company Fund, and the Kellogg Foundation provided the funding, and the panel of judges included Nancy Phillippart, general partner of Belle Michigan; Maria … Continue reading “Entrepreneur-YOU Competition Showcases Women-Led Startups”
Biotech CEOs Don’t Know It All. They Need Mentors
Biotech CEOs are human beings too. But somehow they are often portrayed, particularly by themselves, as herculean beings that can independently solve it all. Time for brutal honesty: every CEO relies heavily on others’ guidance regarding how the company collective can be successful. Much of this input is appropriately provided by the rest of the … Continue reading “Biotech CEOs Don’t Know It All. They Need Mentors”
eBay Acquires Braintree for $800,000,000
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=e7760ee2-617f-4078-8365-7e3e56e0837a Date 9/26/2013 Company Name Braintree Mailing Address 111 N. Canal St. Chicago, IL 60606 Company Description We help businesses process credit card payments by providing a merchant account, payment gateway, recurring billing and credit card storage. We work with companies primarily based in the U.S. but do have several large international … Continue reading “eBay Acquires Braintree for $800,000,000”
Ford Motor Company Acquires Livio Radio for Undisclosed Sum
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=3a252eff-4555-4119-b441-a97e9b97a368 Date 9/26/2013 Company Name Livio Radio Mailing Address 3136 Hilton Ferndale, MI 48220 Company Description Livio Connect is a liaison between your customers’ various apps and hardware devices. It’s a protocol that enables users to control today’s apps with their voice or fingers through the physical buttons on hardware equipment — … Continue reading “Ford Motor Company Acquires Livio Radio for Undisclosed Sum”
Spensa Technologies Secures $50,000 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=177710b2-e729-473d-ad95-67cfaabf4cee Date 9/26/2013 Company Name Spensa Technologies Mailing Address 1281 Win Hentschel Blvd West Lafayette, IN 47906 Company Description Spensa provides innovative solutions for the agriculture industry. Our services and products leverage our world-leading expertise in wireless sensor networks, embedded computing, computer vision, and robotics. We support research and development programs for … Continue reading “Spensa Technologies Secures $50,000 New Financing Round”
Foundation’s IPO Isn’t Bubbly, It’s a Jolt for Genomic Diagnostics
Foundation Medicine, the Cambridge, MA-based cancer diagnostic company, reminded me of the 2000 genomics bubble when it went public this week. The company sold its IPO shares at $18, and the stock (NASDAQ: [[ticker:FMI]]) almost doubled in its first day of trading, closing at $35.35, a 96 percent increase off an already bumped-up IPO price. … Continue reading “Foundation’s IPO Isn’t Bubbly, It’s a Jolt for Genomic Diagnostics”
Google Partners with Technology Hubs in 7 Cities
Google’s outreach program for entrepreneurs is planting its flag in seven new outposts in the U.S. and Canada with new “tech hubs” that will offer technical and infrastructure support for fledgling tech startups, the company announced today. The six U.S. cities are Denver, Detroit, Chicago, Minneapolis, Nashville, TN, and Durham, NC. The only Canadian city … Continue reading “Google Partners with Technology Hubs in 7 Cities”
Balancing Act: How a Working Mom Built Steals.com
Working mothers are constantly struggling to strike a balance between spending time with their kids and making the most of their professional skills or supporting their families financially. Jana Francis, co-founder of Steals.com, has achieved this balance, and for her, the most rewarding part is that her employees are able to strike a balance as … Continue reading “Balancing Act: How a Working Mom Built Steals.com”
Humanitarian Toolbox Cranks Out Open-Source Apps for Disaster Relief
Bill Wagner spent his career building SRT Solutions, a successful software development company based in Ann Arbor, MI, that was recently acquired by Atomic Object. Now, he’s putting his coding skills to use for the benefit of human welfare with a new startup called Humanitarian Toolbox, a global effort led by four co-founders in Michigan, … Continue reading “Humanitarian Toolbox Cranks Out Open-Source Apps for Disaster Relief”
The Best Biotech Graduate Schools in Real Life
[Updated 2 pm ET 9/30] Let’s imagine, for a second, you are someone in your 20s or 30s, getting started in the biotech industry. You want to work somewhere you can acquire a well-rounded set of experiences over the next five to 10 years so that you will have what it takes to be qualified … Continue reading “The Best Biotech Graduate Schools in Real Life”
Campus Shift Garners Seed Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=4d4849f8-3a68-4482-859f-7e9fa217b3a9 Date 9/23/2013 Company Name Campus Shift Mailing Address 1786 Adelaide Blvd Akron, OH 44305 Company Description Campus Shift is here to help shift your money away from buying textbooks to help you buy more pizza and beer (or whatever you really want). We are a couple of guys that have been … Continue reading “Campus Shift Garners Seed Financing”
Lavin Lift Strap, Invented for Family, Lightens Load for Caregivers
When Manuel Lavin’s father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease a few years ago, his mother was adamant about her desire to keep him at home as long as possible. As the disease progressed, however, his father became combative. Particularly challenging tasks were changing and cleaning him. Lavin’s mother didn’t have the physical strength to lift … Continue reading “Lavin Lift Strap, Invented for Family, Lightens Load for Caregivers”
10 Ways to Live Longer, Without Help from Google
With a simple blog post or news exclusive, Google can instantly glamorize any field of research, whether it’s teaching cars to drive themselves, sending robotic rovers to the Moon, blanketing Earth with wireless data from balloons, or—this week—helping people live longer. The airiest of promises from the company evokes the world’s awe and admiration, and … Continue reading “10 Ways to Live Longer, Without Help from Google”
Workface Receives $2,551,678 New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=d26b778d-a800-4006-98a4-288981fd5420 Date 9/20/2013 Company Name Workface Mailing Address 1500 Jackson Street NE Minneapolis, MN 55413 Company Description Workface Inc. is solving some of the world’s most complex business problems with thoughtfully designed web-based software. At the heart of our company is a team of technology enthusiasts who are passionate about applying new … Continue reading “Workface Receives $2,551,678 New Round”
GM Opens the Doors to Revamped Battery Lab in Warren
This week, General Motors announced it has tripled the size of its Global Battery Systems Laboratory in Warren, MI. The facility is now the largest North American battery lab owned by a major auto manufacturer. Greg Ross, GM’s director of business development alliances, says that even though wireless connectivity seems to be dominating the conversation … Continue reading “GM Opens the Doors to Revamped Battery Lab in Warren”
Healthcare Megatrends, Part 1: Shifting Risk
While debates continue on the pros and cons of health reform, one fact remains: the marketplace is changing. There has been approximately $1 trillion in health care M+A activity since 2008. Payers are becoming providers, providers are becoming payers and placing insurance products on the exchanges, benefit consultants are creating exchanges, payers are looking increasingly … Continue reading “Healthcare Megatrends, Part 1: Shifting Risk”
Patch of Land Obtains $1,200,000 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=eda6df94-948f-4d39-95c2-08b36136e2a9 Date 9/19/2013 Company Name Patch of Land Mailing Address 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza Chicago, IL 60654 Company Description Patch of Land is the world first crowd-funded Real Estate Rentals investment service. With your help, we rescue homes and neighborhoods. Own a Patch of Land today! Website http://www.patchofland.com Transaction Type Venture … Continue reading “Patch of Land Obtains $1,200,000 New Financing”
Patch of Land Garners $1,200,000 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=eda6df94-948f-4d39-95c2-08b36136e2a9 Date 9/19/2013 Company Name Patch of Land Mailing Address 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza Chicago, IL 60654 Company Description Patch of Land is the world first crowd-funded Real Estate Rentals investment service. With your help, we rescue homes and neighborhoods. Own a Patch of Land today! Website http://www.patchofland.com Transaction Type Venture … Continue reading “Patch of Land Garners $1,200,000 New Funding Round”
Report from Techonomy Detroit: Can Technology Rebuild the Middle Class?
Though members of the so-called middle class weren’t necessarily in the room at yesterday’s Techonomy Detroit conference, they seemed to be on a lot of attendees’ minds. One recurring theme to the day’s programming was the idea of utilizing technology as a democratizing agent to give people better access to education, jobs, government services, and investment … Continue reading “Report from Techonomy Detroit: Can Technology Rebuild the Middle Class?”
Apiary Secures $1,600,000 Seed Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=8a5590cb-db4f-4c56-aa5a-d32fe1a5a1ea Date 9/18/2013 Company Name Apiary Mailing Address Undisclosed Minneapolis, MN 55409 Company Description From the beginning, Apiary’s development strategy has been to create awesome and efficient workspaces that actually help its clients thrive and outgrow their spaces — and move into larger spaces also owned and managed by Apiary. Website http://www.apiary.com … Continue reading “Apiary Secures $1,600,000 Seed Financing”
Mobile Delivery Platform Zipments Closes $2.2M Seed Round
Zipments, a New York City-based online delivery platform with roots in Grand Rapids, MI, announced yesterday that it has raised $2.25 million in seed funding from a national syndicate of investors, including First Mark Capital, Huron River Ventures, the Windquest Group, the New York City Economic Development Corporation, Chicago Ventures, and Robert Safrata, CEO at … Continue reading “Mobile Delivery Platform Zipments Closes $2.2M Seed Round”
Don’t Be Naïve: 7 Things to Know Before Taking a Biotech Startup Job
You’ve spent years working hard to hone your skills in science, medicine, or business. You’ve accomplished things, and you have the talent and desire to do more. You may be bored, or stuck at a dead end job in academia, Big Biotech, or Big Pharma. You are intrigued by a job posting you just saw … Continue reading “Don’t Be Naïve: 7 Things to Know Before Taking a Biotech Startup Job”
Do VCs Add Value?
Vinod Khosla’s recent comment during an interview with Michael Arrington that 95 percent of VCs don’t add value (and that 70-80 percent might actually add negative value in their advising) got me thinking about the underlying dynamics of the question. I agree with Khosla that a surprisingly large portion of VCs add little value, but … Continue reading “Do VCs Add Value?”
CloudCover Obtains $3,140,000 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=2ff59f6c-d124-4676-a390-4dbcd8445565 Date 9/16/2013 Company Name CloudCover Mailing Address 2999 County Road 42 West Burnsville, MN 55306 Company Description We are a new risk management entity within the insuring and security technology industry. CloudCover is a revolutionary risk solution to proactively mitigate online exposure at the incremental data level as online business is … Continue reading “CloudCover Obtains $3,140,000 New Financing Round”
Mentoring Startups is Hard: Five Ways to Be a Better Mentor
Mentoring has become a more significant part of the economy today than since, perhaps, apprenticeships in the Craftsman Age. Why? The rise of entrepreneurship and our expanding freelance economy are driving massive transformation, and workers are increasingly required to find their own means of making a living. During the Industrial age, most labor was focused … Continue reading “Mentoring Startups is Hard: Five Ways to Be a Better Mentor”
Roundup: LevelEleven Raises $2M, Atomic Object Acquires SRT Solutions
Lots of action in the Southeast Michigan startup world this week: —LevelEleven, the Detroit-based enterprise gamification startup spun out of ePrize, announced this week that it has raised another $2 million in equity financing, bringing the total venture investment in the company up to $3.5 million. Investors in LevelEleven’s latest round include CRM giant Salesforce, … Continue reading “Roundup: LevelEleven Raises $2M, Atomic Object Acquires SRT Solutions”
The iPhone 5S and 5C: Everything Is Amazing and Nobody Is Happy
Our expectations about how fast personal technology should evolve have come totally unglued from reality. That was all I could think this week as I surveyed media and consumer commentary about the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5C, which Apple unveiled at a Sept. 10 press event. From any reasonable point of view, these new … Continue reading “The iPhone 5S and 5C: Everything Is Amazing and Nobody Is Happy”
Covaron Garners $550,000 Seed Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=4bc3df5d-2880-494b-a7e5-36dc7b26f4a6 Date 9/13/2013 Company Name Covaron Mailing Address 106 East Liberty Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Company Description Covaron Advanced Materials (Covaron) is a seed-stage advanced materials company with a patent pending, new-to-the-world product: thermosetting ceramics. Based on technology invented by the founder, Vince Alessi, and fully owned by the company, Covaron Advanced … Continue reading “Covaron Garners $550,000 Seed Funding Round”
TruReview: An Online Feedback Process That Can’t Be Faked?
A few years ago, Dwight Zahringer owned a web development company called Trademark Productions in Royal Oak, MI. After Google went mainstream, customers began asking him to “play” in search engine optimization, an Internet marketing strategy that involves manipulating a website’s visibility in search results and its association with particular keywords—positive and negative. “I was … Continue reading “TruReview: An Online Feedback Process That Can’t Be Faked?”