Economic Development

MyFab5 pivots to combine online rankings with Instagram

By Newsroom

●

March 5, 2014

MyFab5 got its start as a new way for people to review eateries and stores online. Now it’s pivoting to become an additional feature on Instagram. "We're not trying to be Instagram," says Omeid Seirafi-Pour, co-founder & CEO of MyFab5. "We’re trying to be an added layer on Instagram." MyFab5 allows its users to take pictures of their meals at restaurants and then rank their experience. The Ann Arbor-based startup has developed technology that allows users to rank their top five businesses in certain genres in local areas, their top five picks for Chinese restaurants in Ann Arbor, or five favorite places to grab a burrito. "We have found that foodies love the pictures on Instagram and love our ranking system," Seirafi-Pour says. The startup launched its ranking system last August and is currently being employed in major cities across the U.S. The startup has facilitated 18,000 rankings across the country so far. "We're seeing the most activity in Detroit, Ann Arbor, Chicago, Portland, New York and Austin," Seirafi-Pour says. MyFab5 is currently made up of a team of four full-time employees and two part-timers. It also has a small group of marketing interns helping grow its Instagram following to 30,000 members. Source: Omeid Seirafi-Pour, co-founder & CEO of MyFab5 Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Latest in Economic Development

With increased urbanization are we entering the age of “Peak Car”?

By Newsroom

●

Economic Development

●

March 5, 2014

Are we approaching the ago of 'Peak Autos'? With the rise of urbanization and an increased demand for mass transit, some are seeing the future of the car as a neceessity in decline. Take note mass transit opponents. Excerpt: "More young people also are passing on pursuing drivers’ licenses, once a rite of passage. In 2010, 69.5 percent of 19-year-olds in the U.S. had a driver’s license, down from 87.3 percent in 1983, said Michael Sivak, director of sustainable worldwide transportation at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute in Ann Arbor. Better-built cars are damping demand for new ones: The average age of autos on the road today has reached a record 11.4 years, according to researcher R.L. Polk & Co." Read the rest here.

CoFoundersLab, U-M partner to create Michigan Founder Finder

By Newsroom

●

Economic Development

●

March 5, 2014

A new way to connect entrepreneurs and technical experts to help create more startups has arrived at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. The Zell-Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies partnered with CoFoundersLab to build a co-founder matching portal called Michigan Founder Finder. The online matching platform helps the entrepreneurial communities of the University of Michigan, great Ann Arbor area and beyond with the right people to push their new business venture forward. "They don't need to reinvent the wheel," says Michael Hughes, vice president of community development of CoFoundersLab. "They can connect entrepreneurs across schools on their own campus. It can also help students and alumni connect with another person who might not have anything to do with the university." CoFoundersLab, which is based in Maryland, specializes in making online portals that help entrepreneurs make connections with a variety of people they need to get their startup off the ground. Each portal specializes in a specific metropolitan area or, in U-M's case, a university community. Think of it as a dating site for entrepreneurs looking for co-founders. The Michigan Founder Finder is open to current students, alumni, faculty and staff at U-M. "We want thousands of people," Hughes says. "It's for University of Michigan students and alumni, the greater U-M community." CoFoundersLab will be also host a matchup event in downtown Detroit at 6:30 p.m. on Mar 19 in the Grand Circus space in the Broderick Tower. For information, click here. Source: Michael Hughes, vice president of community development of CoFoundersLab Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Buzzfeed gives 23 reasons to eat in Ann Arbor

By Newsroom

●

Arts & Culture

●

March 5, 2014

There are the usual suspects in BuzzFeed's list of Ann Arbor's delectables (Zingerman's, The Fleetwood Diner, the now honeless Blimpy Burger, etc)... and a few surprises. Excerpt: "NOTHING, NOTHING is more comforting than a hot stone bowl BiBimBop at Kang’s, topped with a perfect runny egg, and doused in gochujang, glorious Korean hot sauce." Read the rest of the list here.

$12M Kingsley Lane Condos could add up to 21 units to downtown

By Natalie Burg

●

Development News

●

March 5, 2014

The demand to live near downtown Ann Arbor could be fed a bit more with the proposed Kingsley Lane Condos. The long-delayed project has been been submitted to the Ann Arbor Design Review Board. Currently, the development plans include 21 units, but that could change based on the demands of prospective tenants. "We started out with an average unit size of 1,000 to 1,100 square feet, but we've already started talking to people about combining units," says Tom Fitzsimmons of Huron Contracting, who is working with developers Peter Allen, Mark Berg. "We've been contacted by about ten people so far. People are interested in larger units." Regardless of how many units it will ultimately contain, the approximately $12 million project will be about 40,000 square feet and include two new buildings and an existing structure on Kingsley Lane. The goal of the project, says Fitzsimmons, is to build the kind of space people are looking for. "We're trying to make nice spaces people are comfortable in, so that includes large decks, balconies, lots of indoor and outdoor space and nice master suites," he says. If the plan moves forward as planned, Fitzsimmons hopes the Ann Arbor City Council will approve that project in August, and construction would begin immediately. He expects the Kingsley Lane Condo project would then be completed by late 2015. Source: Tom Fitzsimmons, Huron Contracting Writer: Natalie Burg

Ypsi’s Harvest Moon Cafe builds new bar, adds staff

By Natalie Burg

●

Arts & Culture

●

March 5, 2014

After 28 years in business, the Harvest Moon Cafe in Ypsilanti was in need of some renovations. While the family owned restaurant was at it, they decided to add a full bar and expand their hours. "It came about from customers asking for cocktails," says owner Pauline Tzavaras. "We've always had beer and wine, but we didn't have the space to do any cocktails." After four weeks of renovation, that is no longer the case. Harvest Moon Cafe now includes a full, eight-stool bar. In addition to adding the bar and the complete kitchen renovation, the restaurant, which re-opened about a month ago, now has expanded hours and a menu featuring the return of some customer favorites from the past. "We want to be known as a neighborhood bar, but still concentrating on our homestyle food," Tzavaras says. "We've had a great response. We're getting busier and busier." To accommodate the bar and expanded hours, three new employees have been hired, bringing the Harvest Moon Cafe staff up to 24 workers. Source: Pauline Tzavaras, Harvest Moon Cafe Writer: Natalie Burg

Diva Nails to open on Maple, two more locations planned

By Natalie Burg

●

Development News

●

March 5, 2014

Business is booming for Diva Nails. The Arborland nail spa is preparing to open its second location next to Plum Market on Maple Rd. next week, and is already planning a third in Northville while scoping out Troy for a fourth Diva Nails. "The one in Arborland is very successful now," says Diva Nails owner Frank Dinh. "I have a different way to run the nail business. We do very very high quality work, and we'll do even more high quality at the new spa." After about eight months of renovations, the Maple Rd. location looks set to meet those expectations for quality. The lavish decor includes chandeliers and upscale tile. In addition to manicure and pedicure areas, the 5,000 square foot spa will also include a bar area. "We are waiting for the beer and wine license," says Dinh. "But we would like to serve beer and wine for the pedicure clients." Final work on the new Diva Nails will complete in the next week. Dinh will employ a staff of 10 initially, and expects to grow that number as the spa's clientele increases. His Northville location does not have a open date yet, but Dinh says he expects it to be ready for business soon. Source: Frank Dinh, Diva Nails Writer: Natalie Burg

Sakti3 expands staff in Ann Arbor with new hires

By Newsroom

●

Economic Development

●

March 5, 2014

Clean-tech startup Sakti3 is starting to see some promising results for its solid-state battery technology. The Ann Arbor-based startup Sakti3 spun out of the University of Michigan six years ago. It is developing new lithium ion battery technology that it claims offers double the energy density of today’s commercial cells at half the price "We have demonstrated some impressive numbers when it comes to energy density in battery cells," says Ann Marie Sastry, president & CEO of Sakti3. She adds, "our results so far are very promising." Sakti3's technology is manufactured using existing, scaled platforms that offer an easy path to large-scale production, in a single, integrated, manufacturing line. "We use only scalable processes on cheap equipment," Sastry says. "It won't break the bank." Sastry says her firm has "hired a few people" for “high-end tech positions” in the last year. Sakti3 now employs "less than 24 people," Sastry says. She declined to provide specifics. Sakti3 has raked in millions of venture capital, including a $4.2 million investment from GM Ventures, the VC arm of General Motors, and Japan-based Itochu Technology Ventures in 2010. Sakti3 has raised $30 million in venture capital in total. Source: Ann Marie Sastry, president & CEO of Sakti3 Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Media Academica establishes itself with local video work

By Newsroom

●

Arts & Culture

●

February 26, 2014

When Shannon Kohlitz launched Media Academica in Ann Arbor, she was looking to take advantage of the growing demand for video work. It is turning out about as well as she could have hoped for. "It did better than I had hoped," Kohlitz says. "We kept busy with mostly technology work." The downtown Ann Arbor-based firm specializes in web animation and other sorts of online video work. Kohlitz has watched her firm’s revenue jump 25 percent over the last year thanks to work from the likes of Rave Computer, Ingeniose and XanEdu. Media Academica also did the kickstarter video for TurtleCell. "I kept getting more, more clients," Kohlitz says. "I would love to be a vendor with advertising agencies." Media Academica is getting ready to release two online videos for Rave Computer later this winter. Kohlitz hopes to add her first employee later this year as the work for her firm continues to pile up. Source: Shannon Kohlitz, owner of Media Academica Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Two Ann Arbor firms in the running to pitch to Google

By Newsroom

●

Economic Development

●

February 26, 2014

Seven metro Detroit businesses enter, one business... pitches its plan to Google. MyFab5 LLC and Wisely Inc hope to emerge as finalists in Google's national Entrepreneurs Program. Excerpt: "Google Demo Day is part of the Google for Entrepreneurs Program, with competitions being held across the U.S. One winner from each city will advance to the finals." From 5:30-7:30 p.m. TONIGHT, the seven finalists will make pitches to become the local winner at Grand Circus, at 1570 Woodward Ave. Detroit. The event is open to the public. Read more here.