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”
Tag: Detroit Venture Partners
Stik Secures $2,300,000 Series A Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=eda6eb43-d887-48b2-a42f-0149be5b0954&Preview=1 Date 3/5/2013 Company Name Stik Mailing Address 1555 Broadway Detroit, MI 48226 Company Description Stik is bringing authentic consumer reviews to the local professional services market. Stik helps local professionals build their business and reputation, and help consumers find trusted local professionals recommended by their friends. Website http://www.stik.com Transaction Type Venture … Continue reading “Stik Secures $2,300,000 Series A Financing”
Detroit Startups Stik.com and UpTo Raise Key Financing Rounds
Detroit’s nascent tech scene got another boost with the announcement today that Stik.com, an online business referral platform that relocated to the Motor City from San Francisco last year, has closed a fundraising round worth $2.3 million. Nathan Labenz, Stik’s co-founder, says that the round was led by Detroit Venture Partners (DVP) with a host of … Continue reading “Detroit Startups Stik.com and UpTo Raise Key Financing Rounds”
UpTo Secures $1,500,000 Series A Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=9b4394a4-20c8-4227-82aa-ed32c0e582f9&Preview=1 Date 3/1/2013 Company Name UpTo Mailing Address 1555 Broadway Detroit, MI 48226 Company Description UpTo Lets You Glance Into the Future. Share what you’re going to be up to, see what friends are up to and discover new events. UpTo integrates with your calendar to make sharing simple. Website http://www.upto.com Transaction … Continue reading “UpTo Secures $1,500,000 Series A Financing”
Talking Ag Tech, Bridging the Ann Arbor-Detroit Gap at U-M Unconference
The premise of the Entrepreneurs Engage unconference held at the University of Michigan yesterday may sound a little hokey to the uninitiated: The audience suggests breakout-group topics, and then folks spend about 45 minutes in each discussion—or they don’t. “You vote with your feet,” said emcee (and Xconomist) Rich Sheridan, CEO of Menlo Innovations. “Go … Continue reading “Talking Ag Tech, Bridging the Ann Arbor-Detroit Gap at U-M Unconference”
Gilbert’s Rockbridge Growth Equity Adds to Tech Portfolio
Dan Gilbert’s Rockbridge Growth Equity, a Detroit-based private equity firm founded in 2007, announced last month that it has acquired Tampa, FL-based Triad Retail Media, which helps companies like Walmart and eBay monetize websites through advertising. Boston-based Falcon Investment Advisors partnered with Rockbridge on the transaction, the value of which was undisclosed. Kevin Prokop, who co-founded Rockbridge with Gilbert … Continue reading “Gilbert’s Rockbridge Growth Equity Adds to Tech Portfolio”
Mobile Madness Motor City: Highlights and Takeaways
Startup founders, industry leaders, investors, and a high number of young, engaged Detroiters crowded into the auditorium at the Compuware Building downtown last Thursday for Mobile Madness Motor City, Xconomy’s first mobile technology event in Detroit. We’ve held Mobile Madness events to great success in other cities across the Xconomy network, and Detroit was no … Continue reading “Mobile Madness Motor City: Highlights and Takeaways”
See You Tomorrow at Mobile Madness Motor City
We’re gearing up for Mobile Madness Motor City, Xconomy’s first mobile event in Detroit. As the mobile tech sector continues to heat up, how will devices and applications be more seamlessly integrated into our cars, our jobs, and our lifestyles? What are Michigan’s unique opportunities to participate in and capitalize on this transformation? We’ll cover all … Continue reading “See You Tomorrow at Mobile Madness Motor City”
Mobile Madness Motor City: WiTricity to Demo a Future Without Wires
Mobile Madness Motor City, Xconomy’s first mobile event in Detroit, will be packed with innovators, business leaders, technologists, and app developers. It will also have something you don’t often see: A live demo of how our mobile devices, from cell phones to laptops to cars, might be powered in the future—without wires. Eric Giler, CEO of … Continue reading “Mobile Madness Motor City: WiTricity to Demo a Future Without Wires”
Mobile Madness Motor City: Ford’s Connelly Will Talk Trends
We’re less than a week away from Xconomy’s first major event in Detroit, Mobile Madness Motor City. The half-day forum is packed with some of southeast Michigan’s top technology innovators tackling Michigan’s growing mobile scene and the many ways mobile is revolutionizing the way we live, work, and play. You can still get tickets for this special … Continue reading “Mobile Madness Motor City: Ford’s Connelly Will Talk Trends”
Mobile Madness Motor City: Check Out the Agenda for our Jan. 17 Forum
Now that the hustle and bustle of the holidays is over, we’re getting pretty excited for Mobile Madness Motor City, Xconomy’s inaugural mobile event in Detroit. The half-day forum is packed with some of southeast Michigan’s top technology innovators tackling Michigan’s growing mobile scene and the many ways mobile is revolutionizing the way we live, … Continue reading “Mobile Madness Motor City: Check Out the Agenda for our Jan. 17 Forum”
Mobile Madness Motor City is Coming Soon—Join Us!
We are now less than a month away from the Mobile Madness Motor City forum, Xconomy’s first mobile event in Detroit. We hope to see you there, and are offering special rates to students and startups designed to fit a range of budgets. The event takes place on Jan. 17 from 2 p.m. to 5:30 … Continue reading “Mobile Madness Motor City is Coming Soon—Join Us!”
Detroit’s LevelEleven Launches LeaderTV
When LevelEleven launched in late October, CEO Bob Marsh said the company planned to incorporate client feedback and build on his company’s enterprise gamification software. The Detroit-based startup today announced it has done just that, creating something called LeaderTV. LevelEleven had been working on the idea for months based on feedback from clients and prospective customers, … Continue reading “Detroit’s LevelEleven Launches LeaderTV”
Mobile Madness Motor City: Linkner, Song, & More at Jan. 17 Forum
All of you smartphone-toting innovators know it’s true: Five short years since the first iPhones sparked lines around Apple stores, mobile computing has completely transformed our lives. Whether revolutionizing the way we communicate or how we run our companies, there’s hardly a business in operation that hasn’t been affected by the power of mobile. In … Continue reading “Mobile Madness Motor City: Linkner, Song, & More at Jan. 17 Forum”
Michigan Venture Fellows Program Makes Inaugural Placements
The Michigan Venture Capital Association has placed four fellows from the inaugural class of its Michigan Venture Fellows Program. Sam Hogg has joined the Kalamazoo office of Open Prairie Ventures; Jared Stasik has joined Detroit Venture Partners; William Blake has joined Farmington Hills-based Beringea; and Linda Chamberlain has joined the Grand Rapids-based Michigan Accelerator Fund. Funded last November … Continue reading “Michigan Venture Fellows Program Makes Inaugural Placements”
LevelEleven Secures $1,000,000 Seed Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=769f9f76-83f7-43c6-8755-f3a69df5bd5e&Preview=1 Date 10/31/2012 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 Secures $1,000,000 Seed Financing”
LevelEleven Spins Out of ePrize With $1 Million in Seed Funding
A new enterprise gamification company called LevelEleven officially launched in Detroit today, backed by $1 million in seed funding from investors like Detroit Venture Partners and ePrize, and fueled by the hope that the company’s software will transform the way managers keep salespeople motivated. The relationship between LevelEleven’s CEO Bob Marsh and DVP’s CEO Josh … Continue reading “LevelEleven Spins Out of ePrize With $1 Million in Seed Funding”
Social News Reader Flud Expands to Serve Businesses
Flud, creator of a social news reader that delivers visually appealing, shareable news streams to consumers’ mobile and tablet devices, has pivoted slightly to offer a version of its platform tailored to businesses. The San Diego and Detroit-based startup wants to disrupt the current intranet and inter-office email mode of conversation, with all those annoying … Continue reading “Social News Reader Flud Expands to Serve Businesses”
Stik.com Relocates From San Francisco to Downtown Detroit
Stik.com, a website that allows users to seek and provide business referrals via Facebook, announced today that it’s relocating operations from San Francisco to Detroit. It’s the first time we know of that a Bay Area startup has decided to pick up and move to join the Motor City’s burgeoning tech hub. Co-founders Nathan Labenz … Continue reading “Stik.com Relocates From San Francisco to Downtown Detroit”
Lessons from Techonomy Detroit: Thought Leaders Must Push City Hall
On Wednesday, Detroit served as the host city for Techonomy, the annual national confab billed by its organizers as “a one-day convergence of today’s brightest minds, gathered to reignite U.S. competitiveness, job creation, and urban revitalization in a technologized age.” Held at Wayne State University, Techonomy was crawling with “thought leaders,” including Jack Dorsey, creator … Continue reading “Lessons from Techonomy Detroit: Thought Leaders Must Push City Hall”
Detroit’s UpTo Talks Traction, New Expanded Features
Detroit-based mobile startup UpTo, which aims to fill the “future void” by taking the appointment calendar and making it social, announced this week that users can now share third-party event streams with their Twitter and Facebook networks. To showcase its new functionality, UpTo launched an events stream from British shopping center Westfield, which sits in the … Continue reading “Detroit’s UpTo Talks Traction, New Expanded Features”
Steve Blank on Detroit’s Renaissance and Why Startups Aren’t Cool
Xconomist and startup guru Steve Blank swept into Detroit last night for a sold-out, wide-ranging discussion at the Madison Building. (Kudos to Bizdom, Detroit Venture Partners, Startup Michigan, and Grow Detroit for packing the auditorium with over 100 people on less than 24 hours notice of Blank’s appearance.) Prone to tangents that are no less insightful … Continue reading “Steve Blank on Detroit’s Renaissance and Why Startups Aren’t Cool”
Venture for America Unveils First Fellows Bound for Detroit, Other Cities
Venture for America believes that attracting talented college graduates to cities grappling with unemployment may help jumpstart those local economies, and now it’s moving forward with its mission to do just that. Last night the New York-based nonprofit debuted its first class of 41 fellows and the companies they will work for across country. Ten … Continue reading “Venture for America Unveils First Fellows Bound for Detroit, Other Cities”
Roqbot Lands $1,200,000 Seed Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=1697d7e1-8011-4b64-ab1a-cf4915b58589&Preview=1 Date 6/13/2012 Company Name Roqbot Mailing Address Undisclosed Oakland, CA 94601 Company Description Be the DJ at your favorite bars, restaurants, gyms and more! Roqbot lets you decide what gets played, discover new music, and connect with other DJs right from your phone. Website http://www.roqbot.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount … Continue reading “Roqbot Lands $1,200,000 Seed Round”
Can Develop Detroit Make You a Talented Mobile Developer in 90 Days?
Starting June 11th, Develop Detroit kicks off its inaugural 12-week program that promises to take attendees from coding novices to capable mobile developers able to build an iPhone or iPad application at will. The course will take place two evenings a week with the hope to have a first-year class size of 20 to 30 students. … Continue reading “Can Develop Detroit Make You a Talented Mobile Developer in 90 Days?”
VC Guru Mendelson on MI’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem (And Why There’s Hope)
If the turnout at yesterday’s Michigan Growth Capital Symposium is any indication, our fair state is on the upswing. The conference, in its 31st year, had roughly 450 venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, academics, and government officials in attendance. Jason Mendelson, called “the Elvis of innovation” by this very publication, gave the keynote speech titled, “The Velocity … Continue reading “VC Guru Mendelson on MI’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem (And Why There’s Hope)”
JumpStart, NEI Plan New High Tech Accelerator in Detroit
JumpStart Inc., a Cleveland-based nonprofit focused on entrepreneurship and economic development, will team with the New Economy Initiative (NEI) to open a new high-tech accelerator in Detroit, says NEI executive director David Egner. Egner (an Xconomist) says a variety of state and regional investors will fund the accelerator and he expects it to have an … Continue reading “JumpStart, NEI Plan New High Tech Accelerator in Detroit”
Detroit Labs, Compuware & More on the Mobile Opportunity in Michigan
The scene at a recent happy hour hosted by Detroit Labs was bustling, especially considering that the only means of event promotion were flyers hastily taped to the doors in the Madison Building, where Detroit Labs is headquartered. About 50 people crowded into the upper bar—most of them young men—and discussed their latest projects and … Continue reading “Detroit Labs, Compuware & More on the Mobile Opportunity in Michigan”
Ludlow Ventures: A Family Venture “Without Ego”
Ludlow Ventures, the Detroit-based firm, has a motto: “VC without ego.” Managing partner Jonathon Triest certainly lives up to that ideal of selflessness when describing the influence his partners—his father, Brent Triest, and his great-uncle, Warren Coville—have had on his life. “They’re successful, humble, super smart, and philanthopic. They bring extraordinary talent to the table, … Continue reading “Ludlow Ventures: A Family Venture “Without Ego””
HiredMyWay Offers a New Approach to Online Jobseeking
HiredMyWay, the Detroit Venture Partners-backed startup with offices in Detroit and Chicago, saw an opportunity in the dismal job market after the U.S. economy tumbled. Matt Mosher, a twentysomething serial entrepreneur, and Erinn O’Conner, a job recruiter with 20 years of experience, teamed up to start a company with the goal of building a better … Continue reading “HiredMyWay Offers a New Approach to Online Jobseeking”
Flud (Quietly) Relaunches Its Android App
When we last checked in with Flud, the Web startup had just launched a new-and-improved version of its iPhone app, which allows users to aggregate, curate, and share news content. Bobby Ghoshal, Flud’s co-founder and CEO, says the company was riding high on widespread news coverage (Ghoshal says the accompanying spike in traffic briefly killed … Continue reading “Flud (Quietly) Relaunches Its Android App”
LiveSnip Nabs Startup Weekend Detroit Win Among A Talented Crowd
When I walked into the Madison Building Sunday night for the final round of Startup Weekend Detroit pitches, I worried for a moment that I might be the oldest person in the room. As MGMT and Deadmau5 throbbed from the auditorium’s speakers, groups of mostly male twentysomethings huddled in groups, intently pecking away on various … Continue reading “LiveSnip Nabs Startup Weekend Detroit Win Among A Talented Crowd”
Is DVP’s Quest to Get Startups to Detroit Working? Ask Shawn Geller
[Corrected 2/9/12, 9:05 a.m. See below.] A few weeks ago, Dan Gilbert and the Detroit Venture Partners (DVP) crew welcomed reporters for a tour of the newly renovated Madison Building in downtown Detroit. Gilbert had recently spent $12 million to turn the former theater into a sort of fantasy workspace for budding entrepreneurs, and the … Continue reading “Is DVP’s Quest to Get Startups to Detroit Working? Ask Shawn Geller”
Updated Flud Platform Combines News Aggregation and Social Networking
According to Bobby Ghoshal, the future of news consumption is in finding new ways for users to interact with content and influence other users’ reading habits, and the development of online “news personalities.” Ghoshal is the co-founder and CEO of Flud, a news aggregation app that unveiled its updated platform for the iPhone and iPad earlier … Continue reading “Updated Flud Platform Combines News Aggregation and Social Networking”
DVP-Backed Marxent Labs Wants to Augment Your Shopping Experience
Thanks to a $700,000 investment from Detroit Venture Partners, Detroit-based Marxent Labs launched its ShopWith.It app two weeks ago, right in time for the holidays. ShopWith.It allows consumers to scan product barcodes or take photos, then share and discuss those products with friends. “Most of us have a network of friends and family who are … Continue reading “DVP-Backed Marxent Labs Wants to Augment Your Shopping Experience”
U-M Competition Helps Earliest Stage Startups Refine Business Models
The Michigan Business Challenge, a four-month business plan competition sponsored by the University of Michigan’s Zell Lurie Institute, kicks off today in Ann Arbor. Student teams will compete for $60,000, gaining valuable feedback and broadening networks along the way. And the public is invited to watch at every step. Tim Faley, managing director of the institute … Continue reading “U-M Competition Helps Earliest Stage Startups Refine Business Models”
Sociocast Lands $1,500,000 New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=8da4d770-eae7-4fe0-82fe-d84bd92f16e2&Preview=1 Date 12/1/2011 Company Name Sociocast Mailing Address 49 West 27th St 6th Floor New York, NY 10001 Company Description Sociocast delivers the most predictive real-time audience data available on the market today. We help content companies better define and become more relevant to their audiences – and enable them to quickly … Continue reading “Sociocast Lands $1,500,000 New Round”
Own Lands $1,200,000 Seed Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=818e5268-bfa7-47fe-98cf-de645de0adab&Preview=1 Date 11/7/2011 Company Name Own Mailing Address 1 Market Street Steuart Tower San Francisco, CA 94105 Company Description We enable businesses to interact intimately with their most important assets — their people. That is why we make the world’s first social point of sale, Own. Website http://www.ownpointofsale.com Transaction Type Venture Equity … Continue reading “Own Lands $1,200,000 Seed Funding”
Miso Media Lands $2,400,000 New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=7f68db59-193b-42d2-a625-5ea45cf105e8&Preview=1 Date 9/14/2011 Company Name Miso Media Mailing Address Undisclosed Undisclosed, CA 94000 Company Description The company develops musical instruction applications. Website http://www.misomedia.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $2,400,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. M&A Terms Venture Investor Detroit Venture Partners Venture Investor Undisclosed
Detroit Deals Stay Sluggish in Q2, Ready for Some Magic
Detroit startups have less than sunny results to report for fundraising in second quarter of 2011. There were just two startups in the area that inked investments from April through June, and those deals added up to a meager $2.21 million, according to the MoneyTree Report, compiled by the National Venture Capital Association and PricewaterhouseCoopers, … Continue reading “Detroit Deals Stay Sluggish in Q2, Ready for Some Magic”
750k for Are You A Human?
Are You A Human?, the developer of an alternative to the ubiquitous CAPTCHA human-verification test that is designed to block spammers, has raised a $750,000 Series A financing round, according to a press release. Detroit Venture Partners, whose CEO Josh Linkner showcased Are You A Human? last week as one of the firms it had … Continue reading “750k for Are You A Human?”
Venture for America Recruiting College Grads for Startup Jobs in Detroit, Providence, and More, Says Founder
New companies struggling to hire fresh talent may find help in the form of a nonprofit organization that debuted last Wednesday in New York. Venture for America says it will match a select group of college grads with early-stage companies, particularly in cities that face employment challenges. “Our main goal is to create U.S. jobs,” … Continue reading “Venture for America Recruiting College Grads for Startup Jobs in Detroit, Providence, and More, Says Founder”
Are You a Human Secures $750,000 Series A Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=882182d6-0b09-424e-aba9-a84ec9b8a6dc&Preview=1 Date 7/26/2011 Company Name Are You a Human Mailing Address 1825 Woodbury Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Company Description Are You a Human, LLC develops human authentication applet for use on websites. The company was formerly known as AYaH, LLC. It was incorporated in 2011 and is based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. … Continue reading “Are You a Human Secures $750,000 Series A Funding Round”
Magic Johnson Joins and Funds Detroit Venture Partners
Detroit Venture Partners, less than a year old, is adding a big name (and investor) to its roster. It announced today that NBA hall of famer and Michigan native Earvin “Magic” Johnson has joined the Motown venture firm as a general partner and will be investing millions in the fund. “Earvin brings so much to the … Continue reading “Magic Johnson Joins and Funds Detroit Venture Partners”
Show Me The Money! Ex-Chrysler CEO Co-founds New $100 Million Fund For Growth/Expansion Startups
Wow. Now that’s what I’m talking about. Automation Alley, a business accelerator based in Troy, MI that helps nurture local startups, today announced the creation of a $100 million fund to back local companies looking to take their fledgling businesses to a higher level. Chrysler CEO Tom LaSorda co-founded the fund, called Stage 2 Innovations … Continue reading “Show Me The Money! Ex-Chrysler CEO Co-founds New $100 Million Fund For Growth/Expansion Startups”
FLUD Secures $1,000,000 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=98da5ed0-cc6a-473b-962f-3c118d181aeb&Preview=1 Date 4/14/2011 Company Name FLUD Mailing Address Undisclosed San Diego, CA 92121 Company Description FLUD is a modern, beautiful and personalized mobile news ecosystem with a vision to empower it’s users to interact with each other to access, engage and broadcast content that is relevant to them. You probably visit hundreds … Continue reading “FLUD Secures $1,000,000 New Financing”
Get Your Ticket Now for Michigan 2031 on April 14 and Get a Free Copy of Josh Linkner’s NYT Best Selling Book, Disciplined Dreaming
Here at Xconomy, we know something about the great investor-entrepreneur relationships that are often behind the best companies: not only are we a startup ourselves, we write about the venture capital and startup scene every day—often chronicling the efforts of investors and entrepreneurs needed to weather the storms a company faces before it can be … Continue reading “Get Your Ticket Now for Michigan 2031 on April 14 and Get a Free Copy of Josh Linkner’s NYT Best Selling Book, Disciplined Dreaming”
Countdown to Michigan 2031: Release The Hackers!
Something is brewing in Southeastern Michigan, and it smells more like innovation than beer. Inside a former brewery in Ann Arbor, MI just northeast of Kerrytown, a group of techies and recent college graduates stare at computer screens, sustained by a copious supply of Diet Coke and fruit juice boxes. There are no leases or … Continue reading “Countdown to Michigan 2031: Release The Hackers!”
DVP Ready To Rock N’ Roll. Will Others Follow?
Detroit Venture Partners (DVP), the much-hyped tech fund launched by Quicken Loans founder/Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, will soon debut its inaugural class of homegrown startups. DVP currently has six term sheets out and expects to make an announcement on its first investments in 30 days, says CEO and managing partner Josh Linkner. The fund … Continue reading “DVP Ready To Rock N’ Roll. Will Others Follow?”
Area Entrepreneurs Launch Detroit Venture Partners To Turn Motown Into A Tech and Innovation Hub
We’ve written about a number of investors and nonprofits looking to attract and keep companies in Michigan as a way to help the state’s economy kick back into gear. But Detroit Venture Partners is looking to go a bit further. The brand new venture firm wants its portfolio companies to move their operations right into … Continue reading “Area Entrepreneurs Launch Detroit Venture Partners To Turn Motown Into A Tech and Innovation Hub”