Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=e7d4e3dd-d376-4a8b-8a4f-b08ed3743e41&Preview=1 Date 3/28/2013 Company Name OrthoData Mailing Address 789 McKee Trail Hinckley, OH 40233 Company Description The company is developing a diagnostic system to allow orthopedic surgeons to monitor spinal fusion progress Website http://www.orthodatainc.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $250,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes OrthoData plans to use the investment … Continue reading “OrthoData Receives $250,000 New Round”
Category: Detroit
GreenLancer Obtains $275,000 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=a24593ff-b703-43e3-8a72-cf07d600e070&Preview=1 Date 3/28/2013 Company Name GreenLancer Mailing Address 2843 E. Grand Blvd Detroit, MI 48211 Company Description GreenLancer’s online platform is providing the next generation of alternative energy engineering services and significantly reducing the soft costs associated with developing alternative energy projects. Their standardized processes and systematic workflows have resulted in virtual … Continue reading “GreenLancer Obtains $275,000 New Financing Round”
Cymbet Secures $500,000 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=530242ce-02a9-4046-bba8-d5e73fed89a0&Preview=1 Date 3/28/2013 Company Name Cymbet Mailing Address 18326 Joplin Street NW Elk River, MN 55330 Company Description Cymbet Corporation is a privately held technology company that designs and manufactures thin film power backup devices such as rechargeable thin film batteries for semiconductor, sensor, medical and related electronic applications. The company has … Continue reading “Cymbet Secures $500,000 New Funding Round”
The Inevitability of Archiving Social Networking Data
Making A Case For Email Archiving In 1985 In 1985, I was part of a team at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) that was doing some very radical things, including deploying Internet e-mail to the entire campus. Some people were quite skeptical about the whole enterprise, fearing in particular that letting “the masses” loose on the … Continue reading “The Inevitability of Archiving Social Networking Data”
Kleiner & Sequoia’s Fund Returns Could be Exposed in CA Lawsuit
As venture capital firms feel the squeeze from new competitors, unsatisfied investors, and stagnant markets, two of the industry’s biggest names could finally have their performance data revealed to the public. A California lawsuit from the news organization Reuters is threatening to expose the performance records of Sequoia Capital and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers—Silicon … Continue reading “Kleiner & Sequoia’s Fund Returns Could be Exposed in CA Lawsuit”
ReconRobotics Obtains $252,500 New Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=322d58ae-b40a-4e29-b2a5-9934b317cc7d&Preview=1 Date 3/27/2013 Company Name ReconRobotics Mailing Address 7620 West 78th Street Edina, MN 55439 Company Description The company designs, manufactures, deploys and supports miniature robotic systems and distributed robotic teams. These robots are specifically designed to provide real time information in hazardous or restricted space areas, for military, police and commercial … Continue reading “ReconRobotics Obtains $252,500 New Funding Round”
Standing Up for ‘Lean In:’ What’s Wrong with Managing Your Career?
Sheryl Sandberg got it right. In Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead, Facebook’s COO offers a compelling view on how women managers can empower themselves in today’s workplace. Sandberg does not complain about the “glass ceiling” or “the old boys club.” Instead she gives straightforward advice on how to focus on things … Continue reading “Standing Up for ‘Lean In:’ What’s Wrong with Managing Your Career?”
Nextek Wants to Convert You to DC Power
[Corrected 3/27/13, 1:46 p.m. See below.] Nextek Power Systems is tucked away inside the NextEnergy building on Burroughs Street in Detroit, but don’t let its semi-hidden location fool you: Nextek is working on power supply issues with global implications, particularly to developing nations, and wants to educate the masses on the advantages of DC, or direct … Continue reading “Nextek Wants to Convert You to DC Power”
Build Credibility As You Build Your Business
Whether you are a first-time entrepreneur or a veteran company executive, the one aspect of growing a business and raising capital, or selling a product rarely discussed at seminars is the building of your organization’s credibility. It doesn’t get much attention when you issue your quarterly report because it is not always easy to measure … Continue reading “Build Credibility As You Build Your Business”
More Cash, Prizes Added to Pure MI Social Entrepreneurship Challenge
The Pure Michigan Social Entrepreneurship Challenge, a statewide competition to advance innovative solutions to social challenges, has added $40,000 in new prizes, for a competition total of $90,000. It has also extended its idea submission deadline to April 10. Billed as the nation’s first coordinated, public-private effort to advance social entrepreneurship, the Pure Michigan Social … Continue reading “More Cash, Prizes Added to Pure MI Social Entrepreneurship Challenge”
Complying with Regulations Doesn’t Have to Slow Down Your Startup
These are exciting times for innovators. Arguably never before have the right opportunities, circumstances, and technologies come together as they have today to create such a fertile ground for the creation of new products and services. Yet one of the biggest obstacles along the way is the increasing burden of regulations. And the ones who … Continue reading “Complying with Regulations Doesn’t Have to Slow Down Your Startup”
Biotech VCs Aren’t Lemmings Anymore. They’re Lone Rangers
A certain song has been running through my head the past few days. Lately, it strikes me as an anthem of sorts for biotech venture capital in 2013. It’s Fleetwood Mac’s classic break-up song, “Go Your Own Way.” Allow me to explain. Biotech venture capital has been going through a shakeout now for a couple … Continue reading “Biotech VCs Aren’t Lemmings Anymore. They’re Lone Rangers”
Minimally Invasive Devices Lands $9,000,000 Series B Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=71c95d24-dfb1-44c3-beff-9168e1455bd8&Preview=1 Date 3/25/2013 Company Name Minimally Invasive Devices Mailing Address 1275 Kinnear Road Columbus, OH 43212 Company Description Minimally Invasive Devices Inc. (MID) was founded by a laparoscopic surgeon to develop surgical tools that facilitate and enable the performance of Minimally Invasive Surgery. Website http://www.midsurgical.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $9,000,000 … Continue reading “Minimally Invasive Devices Lands $9,000,000 Series B Round”
Pingage Secures $850,000 Seed Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=8cb210d2-0ad7-41ce-8c15-6c996e12bc7d&Preview=1 Date 3/23/2013 Company Name Pingage Mailing Address 2645 Erie Avenue Cincinnati, OH 45208 Company Description Pingage is a new, fast-growing social media software and service company. Pingage helps businesses grow results on Pinterest while reducing brands’ effort and charging only for results. Our proprietary technology and continually improving algorithms maximize the … Continue reading “Pingage Secures $850,000 Seed Financing Round”
Saying Farewell to World Wide Wade
They say it’s better to quit while you’re ahead, and I believe them. It’s easy to see what happens when you don’t. Remember season 7 of The West Wing? The second term of Ulysses S. Grant’s presidency? All of the Star Wars prequels? With precedents like that in mind, I’m shutting down World Wide Wade. … Continue reading “Saying Farewell to World Wide Wade”
Atomic Object’s Watson on Its “No Brainer” Expansion to Detroit
[Corrected 3/22/13, 2:20 p.m. See below.] Bruce Watson spent 20 years working in IT for Nike in Beaverton, OR, and another six years doing consulting work. Finally, he was ready to settle into retirement in a big house on a boutique organic blueberry farm overlooking Mt. Hood, one of the most picturesque spots in the … Continue reading “Atomic Object’s Watson on Its “No Brainer” Expansion to Detroit”
DecisionDesk Receives $1,750,000 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=b41e7599-63b1-4e65-a3c4-031ff9e99917&Preview=1 Date 3/22/2013 Company Name DecisionDesk Mailing Address 14805 Detroit Ave Lakewood, OH 44107 Company Description DecisionDesk saves your team time and money by letting you quickly access, filter and review video auditions and other application materials from anywhere, anytime. Website http://www.decisiondesk.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $1,750,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed … Continue reading “DecisionDesk Receives $1,750,000 New Financing Round”
Bizdom Continues to Attract Out-of-State Talent
As Dan Gilbert, founder and chairman of Quicken Loans, continues snapping up downtown Detroit skyscrapers and adding to his dominion, the Bizdom tech startup accelerator that he established in the Motor City seems to be hitting its stride. The chic, geek-magnet (in a good way) Madison Building—which houses Bizdom and a number of the startups … Continue reading “Bizdom Continues to Attract Out-of-State Talent”
Drug Development: Let’s Play!
My 9-year-old son is addicted to “Let’s Play” videos on YouTube. You watch videos that take you through level after level of a video game, giving you a preview of what’s to come, or, in my case, a peek at a level I’ll never be skilled enough to reach. Stupid Bowser. But anyway. This is … Continue reading “Drug Development: Let’s Play!”
University of Michigan Startup Interactive
The University of Michigan is celebrating a great year for entrepreneurship with this event that is open to the public. Network, check out student-led tech startups, or grab the microphone and try your hand at “pitch karaoke” at this informal, interactive evening of fun. To RSVP, click here.
Fighting a Global War on Rare Diseases
Are we winning the war against rare, or “orphan,” diseases? A casual observer could be forgiven for thinking so, given the drumroll of news. The crescendo came in 2011, when the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved 26 drugs in this category, meaning for illnesses that afflict fewer than 200,000 people. It was the … Continue reading “Fighting a Global War on Rare Diseases”
A Call for the 113th Congress to Support an Innovation Agenda
While the 113th Congress addresses hot-button issues like gun control, comprehensive immigration reform, sequester spending cuts and the federal budget, a critical issue that greatly impacts our economy and global competitiveness is being overlooked—innovation. Washington’s approach to innovation policy has been fragmented and detached from other prevalent issues, which led CONNECT to develop an innovation … Continue reading “A Call for the 113th Congress to Support an Innovation Agenda”
Larky’s Online Perks Platform Helps Consumers Connect With Discounts
Andrew Bank and Gregg Hammerman are serial entrepreneurs who met at the University of Michigan and went on to found Techstreet, which was later bought by Thomson Reuters. Now, Bank says, they’ve “gotten the band back together” to launch Larky, a website and mobile app that aggregates various perks and discounts from membership organizations, such … Continue reading “Larky’s Online Perks Platform Helps Consumers Connect With Discounts”
Excess Healthcare Spending Is Undermining Innovation
I read Luke Timmerman’s article yesterday on ProCure with mixed emotions. My first emotion was that of deep gratitude for the men and women who commit their lives to the science of improving healthcare. I continue to be inspired by these professionals and their incredible contributions to a healthcare industry that is very slow to … Continue reading “Excess Healthcare Spending Is Undermining Innovation”
Should Big Data Businesses Be Forced to Prevent Hacking?
Earlier this year, Twitter admitted they lost personal information on 250,000 or so users to hackers. Other organizations, including the New York Times and the Federal Reserve, reported hackers had been inside their systems. The list of high profile hackings is so long that perhaps the day has come when companies should expect they will … Continue reading “Should Big Data Businesses Be Forced to Prevent Hacking?”
RecBob Secures $20,000 Seed Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=92b369e1-01d7-4d7f-90c2-9244251263ba&Preview=1 Date 3/19/2013 Company Name RecBob Mailing Address 222 3rd St SE Cedar Rapids, IA 52401 Company Description RecBob manages adult sports teams, making them easy and fun! RecBob sends game reminders, tracks who’s in and who’s out on game day and automatically finds subs as needed so rosters are always full! … Continue reading “RecBob Secures $20,000 Seed Financing”
Marketing Your Startup and Building Your Brand
Bizdom hosts this event for entrepreneurs who want to learn more about marketing and branding. Two national experts will be on hand to speak: Ken Barnett, founder and CEO of Mars Advertising, and Ethan Goodman, managing director of Griffon Ventures. To register for this free event, click here.
Free Lunch Friday
Hungry startups, investors, and entrepreneurs are invited to come and share experiences, network, or just enjoy some free food. This month’s speaker is Lara Galloway, co-founder of MomBiz.com. The event is limited to 100 people to register; click here for more.
Detroit Venture Partners Reportedly Invests $750K in Chalkfly
According to a report in Crain’s Detroit Business today, Detroit Venture Partners is poised to announce it has invested $750,000 in Chalkfly, a startup Xconomy profiled in September. Joining the round is Bizdom; Ludlow Ventures, which is also located with Chalkfly in downtown Detroit’s Madison Building; Rick DeVos’ Grand Rapids-based Start Garden; and the Chicago-based Griffon … Continue reading “Detroit Venture Partners Reportedly Invests $750K in Chalkfly”
Women, Success, and Corporate Culture: Are These the Values We Want?
Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg’s book, Lean In, is probably right. What it takes to be successful in a U.S. company and what we define as success in America requires the kind of singular focus on developing leadership skills and a strong power base that Sandberg discusses in her book. These are the hard facts of … Continue reading “Women, Success, and Corporate Culture: Are These the Values We Want?”
Smart Tech Spending for Startups
At a startup, all decisions about hiring, product development, or marketing campaigns have to align with cash flow. One area that can eat into funding is technology spending. How does a young startup know which technology to spend in, and which technology they need? Oftentimes, the trends of the season are obsolete by the end … Continue reading “Smart Tech Spending for Startups”
Why Are Healthcare Costs Exploding? See Proton Cancer Therapy
Whenever a new medical technology comes out in the U.S., a few things happen. Doctors, hospitals, the media, and, of course, the drug and device makers cheer. Newer technology must always be better, right? Never mind if it costs a little extra. We’re talking about a patient’s life and well-being, after all. But when we … Continue reading “Why Are Healthcare Costs Exploding? See Proton Cancer Therapy”
Mid-Michigan’s TechSmith, Growing Globally, Surpasses $50M in Revenue
Late last month, the Okemos, MI-based software company TechSmith announced it had surpassed $50 million in revenue in 2012. TechSmith’s top sellers are Camtasia, which enables even novice users to create interactive videos, and Snagit, screen-capture software that allows users to grab and enhance images. Both products earned awards from PCMag. “We provide great value … Continue reading “Mid-Michigan’s TechSmith, Growing Globally, Surpasses $50M in Revenue”
Where Have All the Gadgets Gone?
A remarkable shift is taking place right under our noses. The universe of electronic devices in our homes and offices has stopped expanding, and has in fact begun to shrink. At the same time, our productivity continues to rise and our information, entertainment, and learning options keep exploding. In other words, we’re getting more stuff … Continue reading “Where Have All the Gadgets Gone?”
How Google Glass, Indoor Location, & Mobile Shopping Can Save Retail
Retail is changing. Roughly $3.7 trillion in annual U.S. spending is up for grabs. That’s a lot of money. Some technology theorists, including Marc Andreessen, believe the change will be revolutionary in nature—predicting the outright death of brick-and-mortar retail. The theory is that soon enough, visiting a physical store will be as archaic as reading … Continue reading “How Google Glass, Indoor Location, & Mobile Shopping Can Save Retail”
Attention Startups: The Automotive Industry Isn’t a Rust Belt Monolith
What do you think about when you hear the phrase “online advertising” or “big data”? How about “social network”? Do visions of hoodie-wearing young entrepreneurs dance through your head? Each of these are massive parts of the startup tech sector. In 2012, online display advertising was $12 billion; big data has become the new hot … Continue reading “Attention Startups: The Automotive Industry Isn’t a Rust Belt Monolith”
Has The Pendulum Swung Too Far in Favor of Rare Diseases?
As a politician, one of the worst things you can be accused of is being a flip-flopper, a person who changes their mind on one or more issues. Another way of looking at this character trait is to say one has thoughtfully wrestled with an issue and changed one’s mind, as President Obama recently did … Continue reading “Has The Pendulum Swung Too Far in Favor of Rare Diseases?”
U-M Spinout Diapin Therapeutics Attracts Chinese Investment
When Bruce Markham worked as a research fellow for Pfizer, in the building that now houses the University of Michigan’s North Campus Research Complex, he spent his time developing clinical candidates for the treatment of metabolic diseases. Then, in 2007, came what AnnArbor.com characterized as “the gut punch”: Pfizer announced it was shuttering facilities in … Continue reading “U-M Spinout Diapin Therapeutics Attracts Chinese Investment”
Crowdsourced Workforces Rising
Crowdsourcing is a growing trend in the tech startup industry, and one that has the potential to address pressing needs in various markets. In particular, crowdsourcing of workforces is seeing tremendous uptick. At 1M/1M we’ve encountered several startups that are applying the model on different problem domains related to hiring and staffing. CrowdFlower founder Lukas … Continue reading “Crowdsourced Workforces Rising”
Two New State-Backed Capital Funds Launch
Last week, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) announced its new Michigan Venture Match Fund, a $5 million pot of money from the Michigan Strategic Fund for early-stage companies in the state that have already gotten funding commitments from at least one venture firm. The fund just invested $2.76 million in six companies across a variety … Continue reading “Two New State-Backed Capital Funds Launch”
Detroit Salesforce Developer User Group Kickoff
Developers interested in learning more about Salesforce are invited to this informal meeting. A representative from Salesforce will be on hand to answer questions. As part of the meeting, a tour of the Madison Building will be included. Click here to RSVP.
Four Things I Learned From Studying Innovation in 3 U.S. Cities
I’ve spent most of my career studying how key regions around the world have harnessed their indigenous research capabilities, entrepreneurial spirit, and industrial prowess to realize the economic and employment returns many innovative technologies promise. I’m particularly intrigued by the differences that make some places engines for innovation. If we are to be successful in … Continue reading “Four Things I Learned From Studying Innovation in 3 U.S. Cities”
Michigan Life Sciences Roundup: Swift Biosciences, Aastrom
A few Southeast Michigan biotech companies are in the news today: —Swift Biosciences, based in Ann Arbor, has just rolled out its Accel-NGS DNA Library kit, the first in a suite of new products for next-generation sequencing sample preparation that the company plans to release in 2013. “What we have is a kit that makes … Continue reading “Michigan Life Sciences Roundup: Swift Biosciences, Aastrom”
Some Bold Baseball and Biotech Picks for the 2013 Season
Spring training is here. That means I get to spend days thinking and writing about biotech and nights dreaming about hard-throwing setup men with decent walks-plus-hits-allowed per inning pitched (WHIP) ratios who have a shot at becoming a closer. I’ll leave it up to you to decide which obsession is the greater malady. Kidding aside, … Continue reading “Some Bold Baseball and Biotech Picks for the 2013 Season”
Wanted: Star Journalist to Help Launch Xconomy in the Lone Star State
It’s no secret that we’re on a little bit of an expansion bender these days (hey there, Boulder/Denver), and our next hit is going to be a big one: Xconomy Texas. With the combination of Houston’s first-class research hospitals and growing life sciences sector, Austin’s vibrant tech scene, and the state’s massive energy sector we … Continue reading “Wanted: Star Journalist to Help Launch Xconomy in the Lone Star State”
What Makes an App Awesome? A Case Study with Mokriya Craigslist
If you were starting a Mobile App Design Hall of Fame, how would you decide which apps to nominate? Personally, I think I’d vote for the apps that keep me engaged through creative, elegant use of touchscreen-specific design principles. I’d point to a handful of mobile apps that are so delightful to play with that … Continue reading “What Makes an App Awesome? A Case Study with Mokriya Craigslist”
IDInteract’s Vision to Reinvent Brand Interaction Starts in Detroit
After quietly filing patents and operating in “stealth mode” since 2009, IDInteract‘s founder and CEO, Matt Standish, formally launched his brand interaction software platform in December. Now, he’s in the process of opening what he calls a “center of excellence” in Detroit, which will eventually employ 100 software developers, to go with a three-person office … Continue reading “IDInteract’s Vision to Reinvent Brand Interaction Starts in Detroit”
Financial Literacy Program
The Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center will host a series of seminars called “Know Your Numbers,” which are designed to teach financial literacy and improve businesses’ access to capital. The seminars will be held throughout Southeast Michigan in March and April. For details and registration, click here.
TechTown Presents: Validating Your Idea
This workshop will help participants learn more about their business concept and market validation. David Tarver, an entrepreneur and author of the book “Proving Ground: A Memoir” will be leading the workshop. Click here to register.
Marketing Roundtable
Ann Arbor SPARK hosts this event discussing innovative marketing strategies. Click here to register.