Category: Detroit

Recovery Technology Solutions Obtains $16,500,000 Series A Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=2a06a64a-cc4f-44bb-934c-3df05b10a411 Date 9/12/2013 Company Name Recovery Technology Solutions Mailing Address 7700 Equitable Drive Eden Prairie, MN 55344 Company Description Recovery Technology Solutions, LLC (“RTS”) is a development stage company created to commercialize a proprietary disruptive process technology for the recycling of asphalt shingles and the extraction and recovery of asphalt cement, fiberglass/felt, … Continue reading “Recovery Technology Solutions Obtains $16,500,000 Series A Funding Round”

Eso-Technologies Obtains $600,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=e2cec07a-5821-4891-9c2b-c5b2a0542498 Date 9/12/2013 Company Name Eso-Technologies Mailing Address 1317 Boundary Road Middleton, WI 53562 Company Description Eso-Tech is a medical device company that is driven by an experienced management team. The company is developing an esophageal cardiac vital signs monitoring system. The system is minimally invasive, safe, and accurate. Clinical studies have … Continue reading “Eso-Technologies Obtains $600,000 New Funding Round”

Kauffman Report: It Takes Decades to Build a Startup Hub

The Kauffman Foundation caused a stir in economic-development circles last month with a report showing that high-tech startups are more evenly spread across the United States than many people assume. When researcher Ian Hathaway, an economic advisor with the advocacy group Engine, ranked metropolitan areas in terms of their per-capita density of high-tech startups, his … Continue reading “Kauffman Report: It Takes Decades to Build a Startup Hub”

Workshop: Got a Tech Business Idea?

This workshop, hosted by TechTown, features entrepreneur, author, and educator David Tarver. Tarver will use lessons he detailed in his book, “Proving Ground: A Memoir,” to teach attendees the steps to validate their business concepts. For more information and registration, click here.

TechTown Open Office Hours

Charlie Moret, TechTown’s managing director of technology-based entrepreneurship, will be on hand to offer his expert advice to tech entrepreneurs on their big idea or how to secure funding, line up resources, make connections, and more. Free and open to anyone in the community, but registration is required; click here.

Xconomy is Looking for Detroit Innovation Champions

In 2010, Xconomy opened its fourth news bureau in Detroit, joining Boston, Seattle, and San Diego. Even though this was a time when record numbers of global media were parachuting into town and writing stories showcasing “ruin porn” and what they deemed as the hopelessness of the Motor City’s plight, Xconomy had a different mission … Continue reading “Xconomy is Looking for Detroit Innovation Champions”

Former Auto, Bomber Plant to Become Connected Vehicle Research Center

A 5 million-square-foot former automotive factory in Ypsilanti Township, MI—the site where Henry Ford perfected his system of producing a new World War II bomber every minute—has taken its first step toward new life as a connected vehicle research center. “This is the next big thing in transportation technology,” says Paul Krutko, president and CEO … Continue reading “Former Auto, Bomber Plant to Become Connected Vehicle Research Center”

Qualcomm Joins “Formula E” (as in Electric) Auto Racing Series

Auto racing enthusiasts often point out that many of the innovations in today’s standard production automobiles—including disc brakes, direct shift gearboxes, and dual overhead cams—were pioneered in race cars built by elite race teams. So the idea behind the FIA Formula E Championship, a 10-city tour of motorsport races for electrically-powered “formula” cars (Le Mans-type … Continue reading “Qualcomm Joins “Formula E” (as in Electric) Auto Racing Series”

5 Reasons You Should Drop Everything and Start Growing Bugs

Around the world, since the dawn of time, humans have eaten insects. The Western aversion to the idea is a recent phenomenon. With feed conversion ratios double that of chicken, and nearly six times that of beef, edible species like the common house cricket are a popular food source worldwide. In countries such as Thailand, … Continue reading “5 Reasons You Should Drop Everything and Start Growing Bugs”

Valley of Death: Surviving the Financial Rut

Paul A. Glantz, founder and chairman of Emagine Entertainment Inc. and CEO of Proctor Financial Inc., will present a workshop on how to keep the focus and momentum going when startups are going through the “valley of death” stage. For details, click here.

Narrative Science Receives $11,500,000 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=65b64f36-b453-4037-a730-310fed1508c2 Date 9/10/2013 Company Name Narrative Science Mailing Address 303 East Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60601 Company Description Narrative Science started life as a joint research project at Northwestern University Schools of Engineering and Journalism. Our first automatically generated story described a Northwestern Wildcats baseball game. Formally launched in early 2010, the … Continue reading “Narrative Science Receives $11,500,000 New Funding”

ClaimForce Garners $150,000 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=6cad7137-42e8-4981-a217-cdd99da0af53 Date 9/10/2013 Company Name ClaimForce Mailing Address 1751 Lake Cook Road Deerfield, IL 60015 Company Description We serve all the people whose businesses are related with claim processing. ClaimForce is a highly automated claims processing system that saves time and reduces administration costs for insurers and gives great business platform to … Continue reading “ClaimForce Garners $150,000 New Financing Round”

Cloud Takeoff Receives $300,000 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=4b738991-d55e-4326-a311-e48c27d90496 Date 9/10/2013 Company Name Cloud Takeoff Mailing Address 5155 Financial Way Mason, OH 45040 Company Description Cloud Takeoff brings together the very latest in web technologies to deliver a powerful yet surprisingly easy to use, web based software as a service solution. We believe that Cloud Takeoff will transform the way … Continue reading “Cloud Takeoff Receives $300,000 New Financing”

Ifbyphone Lands $4,000,000 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=40dfe6d9-67b1-4272-a29e-f22c6c3a4030 Date 9/10/2013 Company Name Ifbyphone Mailing Address 300 West Adams Chicago, IL 60606 Company Description Ifbyphone is a hosted voice application and platform company with a simplified approach to the deployment of stand-alone and web-integrated voice services for small and medium sized businesses (SMB). Website http://www.ifbyphone.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction … Continue reading “Ifbyphone Lands $4,000,000 New Financing”

Hybra Advance Technology on the Future of Wireless Audio

Ryan Wells and Joe Thiel, co-founders of the Traverse City, MI-based startup Hybra Advance Technology, formed their company in 2009 with the idea to build a business plan around the rapidly growing market for innovative wireless audio devices. “We were discussing what the headsets of the future would look like, how they’d interact [with consumers],” … Continue reading “Hybra Advance Technology on the Future of Wireless Audio”

Are Some Degrees Better than Others for Big Pharma Leaders?

Biopharmaceutical companies are under a great deal of financial pressure these days, and many are tinkering with long established business models. There can be no doubt that the industry is in flux as a result of pricing pressures from insurance companies, changing patent regulations and expirations, healthcare reform, and an increased focus on proving significant … Continue reading “Are Some Degrees Better than Others for Big Pharma Leaders?”

Which VCs Are Poised to Profit From the Biotech IPO Boom?

Biotech venture capitalists, as a group, haven’t had much to cheer about the past few years. But this is shaping up to be the year the storyline changes, thanks to the ripple effect from the biotech IPO class of 2013. The story of biotech venture capital over the past few years, as many readers know … Continue reading “Which VCs Are Poised to Profit From the Biotech IPO Boom?”

LevelEleven Obtains $2,000,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=11c405d2-3cc7-40ac-995d-3a794930b3a6 Date 9/9/2013 Company Name LevelEleven Mailing Address 1555 Broadway St 3rd Floor Detroit, MI 48226 Company Description LevelEleven develops easy-to-use software tools that help sales and other managers keep their teams focused on the right things. Our flagship product, Contest Builder, is a salesforce.com app that gives companies new ways to … Continue reading “LevelEleven Obtains $2,000,000 New Funding Round”

Entre-Slam

Being an entrepreneur can be a little like being on a rollercoaster ride. Most entrepreneurs have a story to tell. Entre-slam, a rowdy storytelling competition, is the perfect place to get if off your chest. For more information and registration, click here.

Bootstrappers Breakfast

Early stage tech startups are invited to compare notes on operational, business, and development issues with their peers. Sponsored by Bizdom. For more information, click here.

Marketing, Messaging & Media: Storytelling to Build Your Business

This two-day conference aims to empower entrepreneurs and business owners to do their own public relations and marketing activities. Speakers include Your People chief creative officer Lynne Golodner, Source Movement entrepreneur Donna Orbovich, business coach Nick Hansinger, entrepreneur Lisa Diggs, Karma Yoga business owner Katherine Austin, Rich Donley of MCCI, Brenda Meller of Walsh College, and … Continue reading “Marketing, Messaging & Media: Storytelling to Build Your Business”

Toyota Invests $28M in Expansion of Ann Arbor Tech Center

Yesterday, Toyota announced it will invest $28 million in its technical center located in Ann Arbor, MI. The  new expansion will support the development of Toyota’s powertrain, specifically in the areas of calibration, evaluation, and design on new engine and transmission projects. Toyota also expects to hire 60 employees; there are currently 999 employees working … Continue reading “Toyota Invests $28M in Expansion of Ann Arbor Tech Center”

Get Your Own Personal NPR Station with Swell

We’ve hit the time of year dreaded by all public radio fans: pledge drive season, when stations hold your favorite NPR and American Public Media programs hostage until enough listeners pay up. Until recently, there’s only been one way around this semiannual torture ritual, and it’s only been available to listeners of KQED here in … Continue reading “Get Your Own Personal NPR Station with Swell”

Venture for America Town Hall Mixer

The Association of Chinese Americans presents this event to bring together startups, young professionals, and students to alert them to the opportunities Venture for America offers. VFA’s CEO, Andrew Yang, will deliver the keynote speech. Panelists include Damien Rocchi of Grand Circus and Jake Cohen of Detroit Venture Partners. To register, click here.

Discount Aggregation App Larky Forms Partnership With Blue Cross

When the Ann Arbor, MI-based startup Larky launched its mobile app and website in April, its mission was to aggregate the many discounts offered by alumni associations, stores like Costco, organizations like AAA and AARP, and other groups looking to add value to their memberships. The problem, says co-founder Andrew Bank, was that Larky’s research … Continue reading “Discount Aggregation App Larky Forms Partnership With Blue Cross”

5 Things Biotechs Should Do to Take Advantage of The Boom

We are currently enjoying a much needed resurgence in the biotechnology industry. The industry has been the best performing sector in the stock market for the last two years and it appears it will be again this year. This performance has enabled companies to raise capital, either publicly or privately, in record amounts. We expect … Continue reading “5 Things Biotechs Should Do to Take Advantage of The Boom”

AdYapper Receives $1,200,000 Seed Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=8c3f82c2-15ca-488a-90b1-7a4b1274289a Date 9/5/2013 Company Name AdYapper Mailing Address 222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza 12th Floor Chicago, IL 60654 Company Description We’re AdYapper and our mission is to empower you to take back your eyes and ears by giving you a voice in advertising. If you have to be inundated with advertising all … Continue reading “AdYapper Receives $1,200,000 Seed Funding”

Respicardia Receives $10,000,006 Series D Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=7a3659db-9065-4d14-b7d0-a5857608b499 Date 9/5/2013 Company Name Respicardia Mailing Address 12400 Whitewater Dr Minnetonka, MN 55343 Company Description Founded in 2006 and headquartered near Minneapolis, Minnesota, Respicardia is dedicated to improving the lives of heart failure patients by developing implantable therapies designed to improve respiratory rhythm management and cardiovascular health. Website http://www.respicardia.com Transaction Type … Continue reading “Respicardia Receives $10,000,006 Series D Financing Round”

Platform Ecosystems in Big Data

I have written about the platform eco-system trend in technology recently. To recap, a business that has been gaining ground in the tech world is the technology platform developer network model, wherein large numbers of developers can use the platform to build their businesses cost-effectively without the handicap of huge infrastructure expenditure. Some of the … Continue reading “Platform Ecosystems in Big Data”

Thermalin Diabetes Secures $2,525,000 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=4c3ae239-0871-4cdf-8561-1f5448db19ba Date 9/4/2013 Company Name Thermalin Diabetes Mailing Address 10000 Cedar Avenue 2nd Floor Cleveland , OH 44106 Company Description Thermalin Diabetes Inc. is developing a portfolio of insulin analogs to address both the fast-acting and long-acting insulin markets. Website http://www.thermalin.com Transaction Type Debt, Venture Equity Transaction Amount $2,525,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed … Continue reading “Thermalin Diabetes Secures $2,525,000 New Funding”

Thermalin Diabetes Secures $2,525,000 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=4c3ae239-0871-4cdf-8561-1f5448db19ba Date 9/4/2013 Company Name Thermalin Diabetes Mailing Address 10000 Cedar Avenue 2nd Floor Cleveland , OH 44106 Company Description Thermalin Diabetes Inc. is developing a portfolio of insulin analogs to address both the fast-acting and long-acting insulin markets. Website http://www.thermalin.com Transaction Type Debt, Venture Equity Transaction Amount $2,525,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed … Continue reading “Thermalin Diabetes Secures $2,525,000 New Financing Round”

DonorPath Lands $150,000 New Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=640055b5-deb3-4c19-9882-6ee83cafd7bc Date 9/4/2013 Company Name DonorPath Mailing Address 2412 W. North Avenue Chicago, IL 60647 Company Description We value simplicity and results over complexity and ideas, and we’re building a movement starting with our company and its charitable arm, the DonorPath Foundation, for anyone who needs the same. Website http://www.donorpath.co Transaction Type … Continue reading “DonorPath Lands $150,000 New Round”

Delphinus Medical Technologies Garners $11,000,000 Series B Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=311f5cfc-2751-40e1-a407-f2de865ddd39 Date 9/4/2013 Company Name Delphinus Medical Technologies Mailing Address 46701 Commerce Center Drive Plymouth, MI 48170 Company Description Delphinus has succeeded in building a three-dimensional full-breast ultrasound imaging device that effectively differentiates benign from malignant masses in breast cancer cases using a safe (non-ionizing), comfortable (non-compressing), and reliable (operator independent) patented … Continue reading “Delphinus Medical Technologies Garners $11,000,000 Series B Round”

Delphinus Medical Technologies Secures $11,000,000 Series B Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=311f5cfc-2751-40e1-a407-f2de865ddd39 Date 9/4/2013 Company Name Delphinus Medical Technologies Mailing Address 46701 Commerce Center Drive Plymouth, MI 48170 Company Description Delphinus has succeeded in building a three-dimensional full-breast ultrasound imaging device that effectively differentiates benign from malignant masses in breast cancer cases using a safe (non-ionizing), comfortable (non-compressing), and reliable (operator independent) patented … Continue reading “Delphinus Medical Technologies Secures $11,000,000 Series B Financing”

Detroit-based Rapt.fm Opens 24-hour Access; Inks Deals with Rappers

Rapt.fm is a startup based in Detroit, and has created a split-screen Web platform that allows users to engage in freestyle rap battles as Internet audiences watch, chat, and vote for who they like best. Tomorrow, Rapt kicks off its beta launch, having addressed past technical glitches, says Rapt’s co-founder Erik Torenberg. During the site’s … Continue reading “Detroit-based Rapt.fm Opens 24-hour Access; Inks Deals with Rappers”

Fight Over Uber is Battle Over Innovation in Dallas

I’ve lived in Dallas almost my entire adult life, but until this week I had never attended a city council meeting. The meeting started off with a bang as a woman dressed in traditional African costume (along with an accompanist on drums,) who serenaded Mayor Mike Rawlings just before she accused the sergeant-at-arms of “wanting” … Continue reading “Fight Over Uber is Battle Over Innovation in Dallas”

Biotech and Fantasy Football Picks for Fall 2013

There’s an old saying about surgeons. They are “sometimes wrong; never in doubt.” If only the same could be said for biotech writers. I’ve been sometimes right, sometimes wrong, and sometimes embarrassingly wrong the past couple years I’ve made predictions about biotech and fantasy football. Last year, I doubted both Adrian Peterson, the Minnesota Vikings … Continue reading “Biotech and Fantasy Football Picks for Fall 2013”

Coskata Lands $447,561 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=b0a00b5d-d294-45ed-8d00-dfcd7dccec77 Date 9/3/2013 Company Name Coskata Mailing Address 4575 Weaver Parkway Warrenville, IL 60555 Company Description Coskata is a biology-based renewable energy company that is commercializing technology to produce biofuels from a wide variety of feedstocks. Using proprietary microorganisms and transformative bioreactor designs, the company projects that it will be able to … Continue reading “Coskata Lands $447,561 New Financing”

Help Save Our Innovation Economy from the SEC’s Rewrite of Reg D

Over the past 30 years, the United States has developed an infrastructure to nurture, grow, and fund early stage companies that is the envy of the world. There are more than 250,000 active angel investors in this country, and nearly one out of every five of the startup investments they make are in California. At … Continue reading “Help Save Our Innovation Economy from the SEC’s Rewrite of Reg D”

Sea Level Rise: Time for a Barrage of New Ideas

Everyone recognizes the Golden Gate Bridge. Even if you’ve never visited it in person, you’ve seen it in hundreds of movies and photographs. But I’ll bet you’ve never heard of the Golden Gate Barrage. That’s because it doesn’t exist yet. But as the atmosphere warms, ice sheets melt, and the unruly oceans slosh past their … Continue reading “Sea Level Rise: Time for a Barrage of New Ideas”

Small Company Innovation Program Announces Research Partnership Awards

The Michigan Corporate Relations Network (MCRN) has awarded five companies matching grants as part of its Small Company Innovation Program (SCIP). Under the SCIP, small- to medium-sized tech companies looking to speed up commercialization efforts can receive matching funds for research projects at one of the organization’s participating universities: Wayne State University; the University of  Michigan; Michigan State University; Michigan … Continue reading “Small Company Innovation Program Announces Research Partnership Awards”

Starting a Company Is Hard. Good Health Insurance Makes It Easier.

Usually late August is fairly laid-back, but this year the debate over how states are implementing the federal Affordable Care Act seems to get louder by the day. Except here in Massachusetts, where it’s pretty quiet. Why? Because it’s already been addressed here. I must admit, I don’t remember there being very much angst at the … Continue reading “Starting a Company Is Hard. Good Health Insurance Makes It Easier.”

Bamboo Offers “Family” Style Co-Working Space to Detroit Startups

Did you know MSNBC’s popular morning talk show, “Morning Joe,” was broadcasting from the Motor City today? I did, because my father, who lives upstate in Lansing, started sending a barrage of text messages urging me to tune in starting at 6 a.m. Much as I may have wanted to, I couldn’t sit in front … Continue reading “Bamboo Offers “Family” Style Co-Working Space to Detroit Startups”

Relume Technologies Acquired by Revolution Lighting for $15M

Connecticut-based Revolution Lighting Technologies (NASDAQ: RVLT) is paying $15 million in cash and stock to acquire Oxford, MI-based Relume Technologies, a manufacturer of outdoor LED lighting products and smart grid control systems. “Revolution is doing a roll-up in LED lighting, picking up the platforms it doesn’t have,” explains Michael Gross, managing director of Beringea‘s Michigan office … Continue reading “Relume Technologies Acquired by Revolution Lighting for $15M”

Announcing Oct. 15 Xconomy Healthcare Summit: Request An Invitation

There’s hardly an issue that is more of a hot button than healthcare—and there’s hardly an issue that is surrounded by as much poorly understood, misguided, or outright misleading information. Yet neither are there many sectors as fundamentally important to our economy and future growth. To get to some real answers (or at least valuable … Continue reading “Announcing Oct. 15 Xconomy Healthcare Summit: Request An Invitation”