Coverage of those starting up businesses and community resources to help them thrive.
Holy Guacamole! Could Ann Arbor become a small town Metropolis for comic book artists and writers? Jerzy Drozd and Mark Rudolph think so. With three publishing imprints between them, this dynamic duo is carving out their own universe of characters and adventures while educating the next generation of local Stan Lee's.
Michigan not only needs more high-tech buisinesses but the people that create them. The University of Michigan is trying to create the type of environment that fosters both.
Tomorrow, September 18, at 5:00 p.m., Ann Arbor's New Enterprise Forum will hold its monthly meeting. At this month's event, "Who Needs a @#! Venture Capitalist?," their panelists will discuss how VCs operate as one part of an interconnected economic ecosystem that includes participation between the state, companies, pension funds, and more.Panelists will include:Cindy Douglas - Director, Program Administration, MEDCFrancis Glorie - Former CFO, Irwin Magnetics & Independent Finance/Marketing ConsultantTony Grover - Managing Director, RPM VenturesPeter Woodford - Administrator, Alternative Investments, Michigan Dept. of TreasuryIn addition, the Forum's Showcase Presenter will be Ake Elhammer of AureoGen Biosciences, which is using genetic engineering to develop a novel antifungal drug.To learn more about this event, click here.
Ann Arborites are proud of their against-the-grain reputation, not the least of which is an ability to embrace eco-friendly trends long before they're fashionable. One local business plans to make a mint combining those two instincts – Ride Boutique. The custom-bicycle builder is teaming up with two major bicycle manufacturers to design a pair of Ann Arbor-centric bicycles that will be sold exclusively in Tree Town."We're trying to brand a bike with a community that really embraces the fact that it loves bicycling," says Chad Johnston, owner of Ride Boutique.Ann Arbor has long been known as one of those places. The city is a leader in creating bike lanes and trails (it has built 43 miles so far) along with installing dozens of bike racks and lockers downtown. It even has its own plan for non-motorized transportation.It's why Johnston set up shop just north of downtown two years ago. Ann Arbor just seemed like a great place for bike nerds like him. Yeah he lives in Fenton, but Johnston parks his car 10 miles outside of Tree Town and bikes in the rest of the way to work... year round. To him The Deuce is ripe to sell bikes at a few thousand dollars a pop.Today the store has four people and 20 bikes on the floor. The Ann Arbor-brand bikes will take center stage within the next few weeks.Ride Boutique's cycles will be custom designed by Massachusetts-based Seven Cycles, whose popular Axiom bike --called Axiom Ann Arbor-- will sell for $6,000. The second will be from Wisconsin-based Waterford, selling at the more price conscious $1,500. Both bikes will have a graphic montage of trees and water around the word "Ann Arbor," along with a number of racks and lights Johnston and his staff have noticed that Ann Arborites prefer."Just looking at the bike you know where it's from," Johnston says. "It's a bike you see people riding in Ann Arbor all of the time."Source: Chad Johnston, owner of Ride BoutiqueWriter: Jon Zemke
So, you wanna be a start-up star. Well, U-M's Ross School of Business is holding Entrepalooza, a full day of mindblowing entrepreneurial insight. No word yet as to whether Buffet will make an appearance. That's Warren, not Jimmy.
Menlo Innovations is using the "Do What You Love" method as a key part of its business plan, and it's working for the Ann Arbor-based start-up.
Entrepreneurs usually can't wait to meet an angel investor, and they'll get a chance to meet three on Sept. 10 when Ann Arbor SPARK and BioArbor host a forum on angel investors in downtown Ann Arbor.
More businesses are making their home in Ypsilanti's Depot Town as a photography and painting studio open up in the historic business district.
Not long after Concentrate wrote about Ann Arbor-based Switchback's rapid growth and search for new employees, we find out why. The firm just signed MichBio and Learning Care as clients.
The SensiGen start-up is making moves in Ann Arbor, hiring two ex-Pfizer employees with its sights on hiring more.
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