The robot invasion has begun! Well, sorta. If by "robot" you mean voice-based app and if by "invasion" you mean pizza delivery. Dominos = Skynet? Not quite. Excerpt: "The company, based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, says the updated app for iPhones and Android devices will deliver a "human-like, conversational" experience, but notes that it will take some time to work out the kinks in the technology." Read the rest here.
Tragedy inspired Kabir Maiga to launch MyoAlert, a startup that produces technology that helps people self-diagnose potential cardiac arrest. A close friend of Maiga's died of a heart attack last year while at work. The friend had felt symptoms but didn’t seek medical help for a few hours, missing a crucial window to help save his life. "He delayed three hours before calling for help," Maiga says. "That was the difference between life or death for him." This February, Maiga (a masters of entrepreneurship student at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business) formed a team of four people to create MyoAlert. The TechArb-based startup is creating an undershirt with built-in sensors that can help people at risk of cardiac problems determine whether they are experiencing symptoms of a heart attack or just everyday annoyances like heartburn. "It gives people at high risk of a heart attack a tool they can use for detection," Maiga says. MyoAlert has developed a pre-Alpha prototype of the technolog and is currently working on alpha prototypes. It has already raised a few thousand dollars from U-M's Center for Entrepreneurship and Ann Arbor SPARK to fund the initial development. "Our hope is this July we will begin a clinical study," Maiga says. Source: Kabir Maiga, founder of MyoAlert Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.
Arbor Teas is a family business, and it has many of the stereotypical traits of one. It started by a husband-and-wife teams, was built from scratch, and has grown to a staff of seven today. But it also has its distinctive features. First off, it got its initial start because said wife of the team, Aubrey Lopatin, realized she didn’t want to be an architect anymore. "One day she woke up and said, 'Why am I going to architecture school when this is not what I want to do?'" says Jeremy Lopatin, co-founder of Arbor Teas. He adds they got the first website for their business shortly after that through a trade. They agreed to paint the living room of a friend in exchange for him building that website. "While we were priming and painting he was working on his computer, building our website," Jeremy Lopatin says. That was 10 years ago. Today the Ann Arbor-based business specializes is selling a broad variety of organic-certified teas from around the world. It recently added teas from Kenya, Korea, and Hawaii. "We are responding to an incredibly growing demand for home-grown (made in the U.S.) tea," Jeremy Lopatin says. Arbor Teas has also made sure it limits it packaging and that its packaging is compostable. It went so far to create packaging for the tea that is backyard compostable so it minimizes its carbon footprint. Most other packaging for teas is only compostable in commercial operations. "You can dig a hole in your backyard, put our package in it, and a month or two later it will be gone," Jeremy Lopatin says. Source: Jeremy Lopatin, co-founder of Arbor Teas Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.
Think of it as our own version of Radiator Springs (that's a Cars reference btw), a place where driverless cars will navigate everyday environs. File under: "Kind cool and awesome." Excerpt: "Now, a purpose-built simulated town and suburb for that very same purpose--testing autonomous vehicles--is to open this fall on 32 acres at the University of Michigan's North Campus in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Mobility Transformation Facility will include straight and curving roads of asphalt and concrete, including traffic signs, stoplights, merge lanes, traffic circles, a railroad crossing, sidewalks, and streetlights." Read the rest here.
It's been a busy week for Ann Arbor's new economy. Here is a quick roundup of stories that appeared recently and a big event about to come back to Washtenaw County. The Michigan Growth Capital Symposium makes it return for its 32nd-annual conference. The event will be held at the Marriott Resort at Eaglecrest in Ypsilanti on June 17-18th. The Michigan Growth Capital Symposium is known as the best of the midwest conferences when it comes to showcasing startups with high-growth potential. The list of companies presenting this year was just released and can be found here. Duo Security plans to move to 123 N Ashley St. The tech startup that specializes in duel-factor authentication got its start in the Tech Brewery in 2009 before moving to its current office in Kerrytown. The company has been hiring at such a steady clip (it currently has nine openings that can be found here) that is needs to find a bigger home to accommodate the growth. It plans to take 14,000 square feet in downtown to make that happen. Seelio, a startup launched by University of Michigan students, has been acquired by PlattForm, which is based in Kansas City. Ann Arbor-based Seelio is a service-based student portfolio solution for higher education institutions while PlattForm specializes in marketing and enrollment management for institutions of higher learning. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Ann Arbor SPARK, Washtenaw County, A2Y Chamber of Commerce, and New Zealand-based QLBS are launching the Virtual Business Advisor. The self-assessment tool assists entrepreneurs and early stage businesses work toward their next stage of growth. Virtual Business Advisor identifies the strengths and weakness of personal and company while benchmarking them against other companies in the region. Writer: Jon Zemke
You know Millennials have become the prime traget demographic when real estate sites start ranking communities by their hip and exciting metrics. Excerpt: "The young population rank was third, because nearly half of the population here was between the ages of 18 and 35. The music venue rank was third as well, with highlights such as The Ark and The Blind Pig. The city also had the second best arts and active life on our list, including the very unique Fairy Doors you can walk to see, and a whole lot of non-fast food restaurants to choose from." Read the rest here.
When All Media Network moved its Ann Arbor office from near the city's airport to a space above Cafe Felix on Main Street last fall it served both aesthetic and utilitarian purposes. "We got a cool old space in an old building with high ceilings and big windows," says Zac Johnson, senior product manager of All Media Network. The new office also worked out as the best commuting option for the startup’s Ann Arbor contingent. Of those five people (including two new hires in January), three of them live within walking or busing distance of the new office. The other two are driving distance but were able to snag convenient parking spaces. Most of the office utilizes Go Passes. Cool factor, check. Utility factor, check. "This is the place that fit us the best," Johnson says. The Silicon Valley-based tech startup runs websites like AllMusic.com, which is a bit like the IMDB website for music. All Media Network’s Ann Arbor is currently working to launch an iOS mobile app for AllMusic.com. It is also working to help grow the company's website usership over the next year. Source: Zac Johnson, senior product manager of All Media Network Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.
What does a great brunch say about a city? Well, we're not sure but it's gotta be better than if we only had a Denny's. The Freep points to five bodacious brunches in our humble burg. Excerpt: "A friend from Ann Arbor recently described the home of the Wolverines as “brunch heaven” — a boast that almost begged to be tested. Detroit and its suburbs, after all, has more good brunch options than anyone could visit in a year, and the list keeps growing. But I adore Benedicts and waffles and all the rest — and occasionally, But I adore Benedicts and waffles and all the rest — and occasionally, I even have a Bloody Mary for research purposes — so I took the bait. I can’t say it’s better brunch territory than, say, Oakland County, but it certainly holds its own. If you want to taste for yourself, here’s a start: five great places for brunch in Ann Arbor. Read the rest here.
Revenue at Energy Alliance Group of Michigan made a big leap forward in its first year. The Ann Arbor-based sustainability company launched early last year with $50,000 in revenue booked. Today it clocks more than $1 million in sales. "It was a lot of work," says Scott Ringlein, founder & president of Energy Alliance Group of Michigan. "We went out there and publicize who we are and what we offer. I am also a huge networker." Energy Alliance Group of Michigan is a division of the Energy Alliance Group of North America. The Michigan-based firm, it also has an office in Grand Rapids, focuses on helping companies and organizations find energy-efficient solutions through new technologies and practices. For instance, Energy Alliance Group of Michigan has formed a partnership with Novi-based Srinergy to provide solar energy installations. Energy Alliance Group of Michigan currently has a staff of seven employees and eight independent contractors. It has hired four employees over the last year, including a director of corporate communications, a social media professional and two account managers. It is also looking to hire two more account managers. Energy Alliance Group of Michigan has also extensively leveraged entry-level talent through its internship program. The firm has facilitated 15 interns through the last year, including five in the last year. Its interns have come from places like the University of Michigan and the Michigan Shifting Gears program. Ringlein plans to continue cementing his company’s presence in Michigan over the next year. It has also started to take work outside of the Great Lakes State, which he hopes to do more of in the near future. "We want to continue publicizing who we are and what we do," Ringlein says. Source: Scott Ringlein, founder & president of Energy Alliance Group of Michigan Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.
From kitchen table to acquisition, a U-M social media startup see bright days ahead. Excerpt: "When Seelio launched, Lee envisioned it as an alternative to LinkedIn for the Millennial set—a place where students could showcase their talent, experience, and hobbies. For example, users could create a page that detailed a fictional company created for a business course complete with photos, videos, and information about the company’s business model." Read the rest here.
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