Category: Detroit

Detroit-Born Serial Entrepreneur Quits Boston for Pro Hoops Contract

Yo, is there a ballplayer in the house? Well, there is a House playing ball—professional basketball, that is. At the age of 33, Adam House, a serial entrepreneur (and shooting guard) who has successfully built and sold three companies—his most recent startup, Velocitude, was acquired by Akamai in 2010—has at least temporarily put aside the … Continue reading “Detroit-Born Serial Entrepreneur Quits Boston for Pro Hoops Contract”

Dwolla Receives $5,000,000 Series B Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=96f5f824-00b4-4700-8a12-7c8d24ead074&Preview=1 Date 2/8/2012 Company Name Dwolla Mailing Address Undisclosed Des Moines, IA 50309 Company Description New technologies are putting our lives, our communities, and our world at the tips of our fingers. At Dwolla, we’re using those same ideas to build a new payment experience that’s powered by you. Website http://www.dwolla.com Transaction … Continue reading “Dwolla Receives $5,000,000 Series B Funding”

Life Sciences VC Investing Up in Dollar Value, Down in Deal Volume

At first glance, a report released last week by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the National Venture Capital Association seems to portend rich times for life sciences startups. Biotech companies raised $4.7 billion in 2011—more than any other sector except for software and enough to help make last year one of the top three years for venture fundraising … Continue reading “Life Sciences VC Investing Up in Dollar Value, Down in Deal Volume”

Detroit4Detroit: Citizen Philanthropy for a Digital World

Citizen Effect, the Washington, D.C.-based microphilanthropy organization that is perhaps best known for its work in India, has just launched a new initiative called Detroit4Detroit, which aims to fund 150 community-improvement projects using a strategy that’s heavy on social networking and other digital tools. “Detroit4Detroit is based around the idea that anyone can be a philanthropist,” … Continue reading “Detroit4Detroit: Citizen Philanthropy for a Digital World”

FDA vs. Drug Ads: Cut the Kids and Dogs, Spell Out Side Effects

If you’ve turned on your TV anytime in the last, oh, decade or so, you’ve no doubt been bombarded by ads imploring you to “ask your doctor” about Drug X. And you’re well familiar with the routine: You get treated to happy images of folks dancing, perhaps, or walking their dogs in pretty green meadows, … Continue reading “FDA vs. Drug Ads: Cut the Kids and Dogs, Spell Out Side Effects”

10 Apps & Sites That Bring Back the Joy of Reading

You wouldn’t throw a fancy dinner party in a 7-Eleven. You wouldn’t hold a symphony concert in a subway station, or teach a meditation class on a tilt-a-whirl ride. So why does anyone expect readers to read long articles on the Web? Call me a traitor to my kind, but I think the World Wide … Continue reading “10 Apps & Sites That Bring Back the Joy of Reading”

7 Lessons from TechStars’ David Cohen on Building a Startup Culture

When it comes to tech startups—especially in Internet software and app development—San Diego has been adrift in the horse latitudes. That’s the term Spanish mariners had for the waters where the trade winds died out for days and even weeks at a time. Becalmed sailors desperate to gain some headway would heave their horses overboard … Continue reading “7 Lessons from TechStars’ David Cohen on Building a Startup Culture”

Wayne State Hires Former Pharma Exec to Lead Tech Commercialization Efforts

In Michigan, technology spun out of the University of Michigan is firmly entrenched in the startup success stories that get the most press: HandyLab, Accuri Cytometers, and the like. What’s less publicized is the key role Wayne State University’s technology has played in major companies like Asterand and the California-based SciClone Pharmaceuticals. Wayne State is particularly … Continue reading “Wayne State Hires Former Pharma Exec to Lead Tech Commercialization Efforts”

Xconomist of the Week: Gilt Founders Say Friends Can Work Together

At Xconomy’s event yesterday, New York’s Venture Emergence, members of Gilt Groupe’s founding team fascinated a standing-room-only audience with the tale of how, in just four years, they grew from a scrappy startup to one of the most successful e-commerce sites on the Web. Co-founders Alexandra Wilkis Wilson, who is one of our Xconomists, and … Continue reading “Xconomist of the Week: Gilt Founders Say Friends Can Work Together”

Flagship Ventures Plans to Open Michigan Office

Cambridge, MA-based Flagship Ventures, a $900 million fund known for its successes with companies such as Accuri Cytometers and Acceleron Pharma, is planning to open an office in Michigan in the next six months, says Sean O’Donnell, VP at Credit Suisse’s Michigan office. The move comes after Venture Michigan Fund II (VMF II), a fund-of-fund which is … Continue reading “Flagship Ventures Plans to Open Michigan Office”

Alice.com Secures $3,600,000 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=b43f1d42-f4dd-460e-94cc-138a05eeb373&Preview=1 Date 1/31/2012 Company Name Alice.com Mailing Address 8215 Greenway Blvd Middleton, WI 53562 Company Description Alice.com is developing a new online retail platform that better connects manufacturers and consumers in the giant consumer packaged goods market. Website http://www.alice.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $3,600,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Alice.com … Continue reading “Alice.com Secures $3,600,000 New Financing”

OnShift Receives $4,483,008 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=66199030-6af4-4962-8fcc-220d44dd60b7&Preview=1 Date 1/31/2012 Company Name OnShift Mailing Address 1621 Euclid Avenue Cleveland, OH 44115 Company Description Cleveland, Ohio based OnShift brings you the first staff response management system (SRM) that combines existing communication technologies, a scheduling application and staff directory to automate the resolution of staffing emergencies and control overtime. Website http://www.onshift.com … Continue reading “OnShift Receives $4,483,008 New Funding”

AssureRx Health Receives $8,000,000 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=55794656-46da-48b6-a00f-5adf8f81254a&Preview=1 Date 1/31/2012 Company Name AssureRx Health Mailing Address 7264 Columbia Road Mason, OH 45039 Company Description Cincinnati-based AssureRx Health, Inc. is a personalized medicine company which specializes in pharmacogenetics and is dedicated to helping physicians determine the right drug at the right dose for individual patients suffering from medical conditions. Website … Continue reading “AssureRx Health Receives $8,000,000 New Funding”

Choremonster Receives $350,000 Seed Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=99de24ea-a341-4b7d-8c8f-b8cf3f031aee&Preview=1 Date 1/31/2012 Company Name Choremonster Mailing Address 1411 Vine St Cincinnati, OH 45202 Company Description Choremonster combines digital gaming with a Web-services facet through a suite of mobile and Web applications that allows parents and children ages 6-12 to collaborate interactively to complete household tasks. Parents assign real-life rewards for completing … Continue reading “Choremonster Receives $350,000 Seed Financing Round”

Four Themes to Watch in Personalized Medicine

Good morning from Mountain View, CA, and from the close of the 2012 Personalized Medicine World Conference, which brought together thought leaders of business, government, healthcare-delivery, research and technology. Four themes that emerged from this year’s program: • Greater optimism, triggered by the 2011 approvals of two major oncologic agents paired with companion diagnostics: vemurafenib … Continue reading “Four Themes to Watch in Personalized Medicine”

Angel Gambino: The Ultimate Early Adopter Sets Her Sights on Detroit

Serial entrepreneur Angel Gambino has every right to be arrogant—as people with resumes like hers often are—but she’s as down-to-earth and polite as they come. Sure, a casual question about which local gym she prefers reveals that she’s currently training to be an Olympic soccer-team liaison, the Olympics’ most senior volunteer role and one which … Continue reading “Angel Gambino: The Ultimate Early Adopter Sets Her Sights on Detroit”

Never Back Smug: A Lesson for Life Sciences From Newt Gingrich

Newt Gingrich comes across on TV as someone who radiates smugness. It’s that sense that he’s not just confident in his own abilities, but extremely satisfied with his talents and his utter superiority over mere mortals like you and me. I’m no political pundit, nor a psychologist, so I’ll let others analyze whether Newt is … Continue reading “Never Back Smug: A Lesson for Life Sciences From Newt Gingrich”

Clean Emission Fluids Receives New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=b388e34f-a8bf-4ca5-a6fe-22acb3e80e62&Preview=1 Date 1/30/2012 Company Name Clean Emission Fluids Mailing Address 440 Burroughs Street Detroit, MI 48202 Company Description Clean Emission Fluids, Inc. (CEF) manufactures fueling and fluid dispensing solutions for the transportation industry, termed FAST™ for Fluids Affordably Stored. Website http://www.cleanemissionfluids.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount Undisclosed Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds … Continue reading “Clean Emission Fluids Receives New Financing Round”

Estrakon Lands New Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=882024e1-0d0d-41e8-b9cd-bd80e3fb217b&Preview=1 Date 1/30/2012 Company Name Estrakon Mailing Address 3924 Varsity Dr Ann Arbor, MI 48108 Company Description Estrakon is a technology company that designs, develops and manufactures custom innovative, patented edge-lit display technologies that provide a new medium for many broad applications such as premium brand advertising and attractive consumer displays that … Continue reading “Estrakon Lands New Round”

Ix Innovations Garners New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=24ab475f-ba92-430a-8429-d0814805fa24&Preview=1 Date 1/30/2012 Company Name Ix Innovations Mailing Address 1327 Jones Drive Ann Arbor, MI 48105 Company Description Ix Innovations is dedicated to enhancing the usability of electrical test and measurement instrumentation through continual product innovation. Our goal is to empower our users to experiment and invent ever more advanced and useful … Continue reading “Ix Innovations Garners New Financing”

Relume Technologies Obtains $7,000,000 Series D Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=ccbfdfc3-8748-411b-923b-99f46485e3c0&Preview=1 Date 1/30/2012 Company Name Relume Technologies Mailing Address 925 N Lapeer Rd Oxford, MI 48371 Company Description Relume manufactures highly efficient, cost-effective LED lighting products based on its patented Silver Circuitry thermal management technology. Incorporated in 1994 as an LED research and development company, Relume quickly became a leading innovator by … Continue reading “Relume Technologies Obtains $7,000,000 Series D Financing”

Apple Textbook Controversy Isn’t About Books-It’s About Teaching

I don’t think there’s ever been a textbook that made it this easy to be a good student. —Roger Rosner, vice president of productivity applications, Apple Whenever a company as powerful as Apple, Facebook, or Google announces a big new product push, it evokes wonder and acclaim from some observers, head-scratching and horror from others, … Continue reading “Apple Textbook Controversy Isn’t About Books-It’s About Teaching”

TechTown Open House

Aspiring entrepreneurs are welcome to take a tour and learn more about the various programs TechTown offers to help people get their startups off the ground. For details and registration, click here.

The Other 99 Percent: Entrepreneurs

In my recent piece Reengineering Capitalism I highlighted a phenomenon that the global entrepreneurship ecosystem is paying very little attention to: Over 99 percent of entrepreneurs who seek funding get rejected. Yet, the entire world is focused on the 1 percent that is “fundable.” The media, when pitched a startup story, is interested in who … Continue reading “The Other 99 Percent: Entrepreneurs”

2012 Venture Outlook: Some Bright Spots and Some Gloom

It’s that outlook time of year, and Mark Heesen, president of the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), was in San Diego earlier this week, talking about the 2012 outlook for venture capital. Today he’ll make a similar presentation to the New Jersey Technology Council. Next week,  John Taylor, the NVCA’s director of research is set … Continue reading “2012 Venture Outlook: Some Bright Spots and Some Gloom”

Assholicism: Do CEOs Need to Be Jerks to Be Successful?

It’s a question as old as human nature. You’ve heard the stories, you know all the famous examples. Steve Jobs, Larry Ellison, Michael Eisner, the list goes on. All difficult characters with strong personalities—and hugely successful companies. So, in today’s ultra-competitive tech and business world, does a CEO have to be an asshole to be … Continue reading “Assholicism: Do CEOs Need to Be Jerks to Be Successful?”

Murfie Lands $1,400,000 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=d484da0d-b18e-4b70-9083-c7a071220aa9&Preview=1 Date 1/27/2012 Company Name Murfie Mailing Address 1 S. Pinckney St Madison, WI 53703 Company Description Murfie is part marketplace, part community; a throwback to your neighborhood record store with a digital update. Website http://www.murfie.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $1,400,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not … Continue reading “Murfie Lands $1,400,000 New Funding”

Detroit Harmonie: An International Experience

This second annual event will have live music, food, and the announcement of $50,000 in funding for startups led by social entrepreneurs. Detroit Harmonie is a nonprofit organization founded to break down racial barriers and foster a dynamic community that attracts the next generation of business leaders. Tickets for the event are $20 in advance … Continue reading “Detroit Harmonie: An International Experience”

Detroit Startup Weekend

This 54-hour event invites participants to brainstorm, develop a business plan, and create a prototype of a working startup as teams compete to come up with the winning idea. Participants will also hear presentations from industry leaders and receive feedback from local entrepreneurs. For info and registration, click here.

Xconomist of the Week: Mark Lowenstein on Mobile’s Next Waves

Mark Lowenstein has made some pretty bold statements about what’s going to happen in the wireless industry this year. More mergers and acquisitions among mobile operators. Same goes for the handset makers. Mobile payments won’t take off just yet. And enterprises may have jumped the gun on tablets. Lowenstein, a Verizon Wireless veteran and now … Continue reading “Xconomist of the Week: Mark Lowenstein on Mobile’s Next Waves”

Not Your Grandfather’s War

War really is going out of style. At least that’s what Joshua Goldstein, professor emeritus of international relations at American University, and Steven Pinker, a psychology professor at Harvard wrote in a New York Times op-ed piece last month. Throughout the editorial, Goldstein and Pinker dissect the meaning of “war” today, its various categorizations, and … Continue reading “Not Your Grandfather’s War”

Something New for Shoppers in Downtown Detroit: Virtual Retail

Detroiters often grumble about the relative lack of shopping options downtown compared to other cities of similar size. Sure, there are boutiques here and there, as well as a handful of stores in the Renaissance Center and the Millender Center, but there is no Urban Outfitters; no American Apparel; no Macy’s. Somerset CityLoft, a pop-up … Continue reading “Something New for Shoppers in Downtown Detroit: Virtual Retail”

Healthx Obtains $6,000,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=e59628e9-2807-465e-afdd-536f0b025652&Preview=1 Date 1/25/2012 Company Name Healthx Mailing Address 9339 Priority Way West Drive Indianapolis, IN 46240 Company Description Healthx is the healthcare industry’s leading developer of self-service communication and data integration portals serving more than 130 payers and 39,000 groups, representing over 12 million individual lives. Website http://www.healthx.com Transaction Type Debt Transaction … Continue reading “Healthx Obtains $6,000,000 New Funding Round”

LanzaTech Garners $55,800,000 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=9d7fb05b-0732-4d03-a261-97e994e0192c&Preview=1 Date 1/25/2012 Company Name LanzaTech Mailing Address 725-C E. Irving Park Road Roselle, IL 60172 Company Description The Illinois-based company exploits a species of bacteria–discovered in the intestinal tract of rabbits–that breaks down carbon monoxide and reassembles the atoms into ethanol. Website http://www.lanzatech.co.nz Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $55,800,000 Transaction … Continue reading “LanzaTech Garners $55,800,000 New Financing Round”

LaunchPoint Garners $3,500,000 Series B Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=7ebbf2f8-649e-4b7e-b314-b9a64e26fb75&Preview=1 Date 1/25/2012 Company Name LaunchPoint Mailing Address 1701 Golf Road Tower One Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 Company Description LaunchPoint is a provider of information-centric enterprise services and solutions for healthcare organizations. Website http://www.launchpointcorporation.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $3,500,000 Transaction Round Series B Proceeds Purposes This latest financial raise will … Continue reading “LaunchPoint Garners $3,500,000 Series B Financing Round”

Detroit Startup Takes a 2.0 Approach to Capturing, Sharing Wedding Memories

Brett deMarrais had only been to one wedding in his life—his cousin’s—before he launched his company in 2010. “I saw that they didn’t have a videographer, and I found out the reason why was because of the price,” deMarrais says. “My cousin always regretted that decision.” Like so many entrepreneurs before him, deMarrais had a “there must be … Continue reading “Detroit Startup Takes a 2.0 Approach to Capturing, Sharing Wedding Memories”

“Vulture” Capital? Far From It

They say the first casualty of war is the truth. Based upon recent events in the U.S. presidential elections, it looks like the truth is a casualty in politics as well. Whether out of desperation, ignorance, or political convenience, current and former contenders for the Republican presidential nomination have been questioning the long-term economic value … Continue reading ““Vulture” Capital? Far From It”

SPR Therapeutics Receives $2,200,000 Series A Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=0c35b419-2f92-48c7-9c35-b3ac04086c69&Preview=1 Date 1/24/2012 Company Name SPR Therapeutics Mailing Address 22901 Millcreek Blvd Cleveland, OH 44122 Company Description SPR Therapeutics is a medical device company that is commercializing pain treatments utilizing its proprietary peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) products. We are developing a pipeline of neurostimulation pain therapies that will exploit the same physiologic … Continue reading “SPR Therapeutics Receives $2,200,000 Series A Round”

Biotech Is Raising More Cash, But Don’t Be Fooled: Startups are Hurting

Mark Twain used to toss around a saying about three kinds of lies. There are lies, damned lies, and statistics. This week in biotech, we saw some statistics that could lead some people to get a false impression that everything is just peachy in biotechland. If you measure the state of life science innovation by … Continue reading “Biotech Is Raising More Cash, But Don’t Be Fooled: Startups are Hurting”

Tweet Chat Today with John Seely Brown on Education and the Future

There is hardly a more important topic to society than the future education. So I’m really looking forward to hosting a Tweetchat later today on education and the future. My guest will be John Seely Brown (@jseelybrown), the technology visionary who previously served as chief scientist of Xerox and also director of Xerox PARC, the … Continue reading “Tweet Chat Today with John Seely Brown on Education and the Future”

The 10 Social News Apps You Need to Try

Once upon a time, there was a magical innovation called RSS, for Rich Site Summary or Really Simple Syndication. It freed news articles, podcasts, and other content from their original homes on the Web and allowed news junkies to follow their favorite publications and blogs through story streams called news feeds, which could be bundled … Continue reading “The 10 Social News Apps You Need to Try”

Xconomist of the Week Chris Rizik: Who Says A VC Has No Soul?

Chris Rizik is one of Michigan’s most important and successful venture capitalists. He’s the CEO and fund manager of Renaissance Venture Capital, a fund of funds that is perhaps best known for its early backing of the medical device company HandyLab, a University of Michigan spinout that was later purchased by New Jersey’s Becton Dickinson … Continue reading “Xconomist of the Week Chris Rizik: Who Says A VC Has No Soul?”

Channel IQ Garners New Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=a1ad20ea-2c7a-45d4-9be5-efbe99f4d87c&Preview=1 Date 1/19/2012 Company Name Channel IQ Mailing Address 350 W Ontario Chicago, IL 60654 Company Description Channel IQ is the leading provider of online retail intelligence solutions to manufacturers, distributors and retailers. Channel IQ provides real-time, online promotion and pricing information, empowering customers to profitably handle channel issues and competitive situations. … Continue reading “Channel IQ Garners New Round”

SOPA-PIPA Protests Blossom Across the Country

It’s not just Wikipedia that’s throwing its weight today behind the movement to stop the controversial anti-piracy bills moving through the U.S. Congress. While the English version of the world’s most-visited encyclopedia site has gone dark for the day to call attention to the perceived dangers of the Stop Online Piracy Act and the Protect … Continue reading “SOPA-PIPA Protests Blossom Across the Country”

What Should Students Study? Read the Xconomist Report on Education

Yesterday Bob told you about a special report we put together by canvassing the Xconomists—some of the world’s leading innovators, entrepreneurs, and investors—for their thoughts on what students should study to be prepared for the future. Well, the report is now live, here, with 22 thought-provoking responses. Computing, the scientific method, culture, Chinese, and how to start … Continue reading “What Should Students Study? Read the Xconomist Report on Education”

The World is Your Campus: Study with Rigor, Be Entrepreneurial

Two trends are driving the current job market: globalization, where everybody is becoming part of the economy, and innovation, which increases productivity and allows fewer people to do the same jobs. These two trends will not slow down during the next few decades. How should students train in college to build careers under these conditions? … Continue reading “The World is Your Campus: Study with Rigor, Be Entrepreneurial”