Innovation News

Blue Newt Software clocks 30% revenue growth, hires 2

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August 14, 2013

Blue Newt Software has its roots in 3-D graphics and high-level visual graphic consulting. Last year the 10-year-old tech firm began producing its own products and is now reaping those benefits. The Ann Arbor-based company created simulation technology for training and engineering that gamifies the experience to enable more education retention. It has started with sales of its technology over the last year, helping it boost the company's revenue by 30 percent. The firm expects its technology to gain more traction in 2014. "Next year, I can see us doubling," says Bob Kuehne, CEO of Blue Newt Software. "We have another deal in the works that is helping us come out with new products." Blue Newt Software has hired two people over the last year and now has a staff of four full-time employees, six independent contractors and an intern. The two most recent hires have been software engineers. Source: Bob Kuehne, CEO of Blue Newt Software Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

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TorranceLearning grows business with more comprehensive services

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Innovation News

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August 14, 2013

Last year TorranceLearning began the process of transforming itself from an e-learning firm to a company that provides more comprehensive education services. Today the downtown Chelsea-based business is reaping the rewards of that switch. The 7-year-old company has hired two people, expanding its staff to seven employees. Those new hires include an instructor and a designer to help the firm fill out its expanded services. "We are offering a new and wider range of services to our clients," says Megan Torrance, president & CEO of TorranceLearning. She adds that her company's new host of services "is a much more wholistic look at our clients' needs." Those new services include providing mobile apps for clients or learning retreats. The company has also expanded its client list so it includes a broader ranger of customers, ranging from the automotive to healthcare to food industries. Source: Megan Torrance, president & CEO of TorranceLearning Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Arbor Networks hires 40-plus, looks to add 20 more

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Economic Development

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August 14, 2013

Arbor Networks began a hiring spree of dozens of new software engineers in the last couple of years, and those new workers are filling up a growing office space on the south side of Ann Arbor. The IT security software firm hired 45 software engineers in 2012 with 40 of those jobs ending up in Ann Arbor. It started this year with 22 jobs openings and has filled a majority of them. It recently opened up 20 more software engineer positions locally. "We are still experiencing high growth as a company, particularly at our R&D headquarters in Ann Arbor," says Kris Lamb, vice president of engineering for Arbor Networks. The University of Michigan spin-out specializes in providing network security solutions. It has recently expanded its sales for commercial security solutions, recording rampant growth in North America and a high-degree of interest internationally. Arbor Networks now employs close to 400 people, including 127 employees in Ann Arbor. To help accommodate this growth streak, the company added 10,000 square feet of office space and 1,200 square feet of lab space to its Ann Arbor facility. "We have filled it all," Lamb says. "We are about to assume the rest of the State Street office space. There was another 5,000 square feet occupied by our landlord. We will be building out that space this year." Source: Kris Lamb, vice president of engineering for Arbor Networks Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

300 Decisions finds footing in Detroit, Chicago in 1st year

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Economic Development

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August 14, 2013

Helen Davis launched 300 Decisions a year ago, her latest venture into starting a relocation-services business. Today, it has established itself in Metro Detroit and Chicago while it is entertaining prospects of expanding to the east coast. "We have clients. We're making money," says Helen Dennis, president of 300 Decisions. "We have been able to accomplish the completion of a lot of innovative services." The Ann Arbor-based company is named for Dennis' guesstimate of how many questions a company must ask itself when executing an office move. This is the second business relocation firm Dennis has built. The first was acquired in 2006. 300 Decisions' local clients include Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Rossetti, an architecture firm. It's Chicago clients include the city of Chicago, Chicago Public Schools and U.S. Cellular, among others Dennis's firm currently employs six people after launching with just Dennis and her son. It has its office in Chicago and is looking at opening offices in New York City and Washington, D.C., if its contract proposals are confirmed. "The first year is really about cultivating and laying the groundwork," Dennis says. "It sets the stage for the second year. That is exactly what is happening." Source: Helen Dennis, president of 300 Decisions Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Amplifinity grows staff by 8, preps to raise a Series B round

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Arts and Culture

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August 14, 2013

Amplifinity is starting to hit its growth streak stride this year as it preps to land more seed capital in 2014. The downtown Ann Arbor-based start-up specializes in generating Internet referrals through social media. Its Advocacy Management Platform software allows people to advocate for brands by referring new prospects, endorsing products, and amplifying marketing messages. The 5-year-old company currently has a staff of 25 employees and an intern. It has hired eight people over the last year and is looking to hire one more person now. The firm expects to continue adding new people at that rate well into 2014. The start-up expects to double in size this year and triple in size the next year. It has experience significant growth on both the business-to-business and business-to-customer markets. "We have grown quite a bit over the last year and we anticipate growing more this year," says Dick Beedon, CEO of Amplifinity. Amplifinity raised a $3.5 million Series A round of funding last year, which has allowed it to grow at this rate. Beedon says his firm is preparing to begin raising a Series B round of seed capital in 2014 worth somewhere between $4 million and $6 million. Source: Dick Beedon, CEO of Amplifinity Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Carlisle/Wortman’s biz rebounds with local planning scene

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Community Development

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August 14, 2013

As the economy rebounds so does the balance sheets of local governments, which means the business prospects for planning firms like Carlisle/Wortman Associates are looking up, too. "There is a lot of pent-up demand," says Dick Carlisle, president of Carlisle/Wortman Associates. "You can only keep the development community down for so long." The Ann Arbor-based company specializes in helping local municipalities overhaul zoning ordinances and complete planning projects. It is currently helping the city of Cheboygan update its master plan and the city of Howell develop plans for improving its South Michigan Avenue corridor. "Now they're on the upswing," Carlisle says. "We have 70 communities that are the core of our business and now they're doing more projects again." Carlisle/Wortman Associates currently employs 22 people and a handful of interns. It has hired two people over the last year to help it keep up with 5 percent revenue increase. Carlisle expects to hire another couple of planners within the next six months. Source: Dick Carlisle, president of Carlisle/Wortman Associates Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Silicon Valley’s NVIDIA opens tech center in Ann Arbor

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Economic Development

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August 7, 2013

NVIDIA, a Silicon Valley-based corporation, is opening a technology center in Ann Arbor so it can maximize its proximity to Michigan's automotive and technology centers. NVIDIA's Ann Arbor office will focus on software technology in the automotive industry, such as navigation and infotainment applications. The new space will provide the company access to the automotive hub in Metro Detroit while also putting it next door to the plethora of tech start-ups in Ann Arbor. "We're focused on bringing more innovation to the automotive industry," says Danny Shapiro, director of automotive for NVIDIA. He adds that his firm sees Ann Arbor as "a hub where a lot of technology innovation is taking place." The firm's Ann Arbor office currently has six people. Shapiro expects that number to climb as significantly within the next year. The staff will include both hardware and software engineers, business development professionals and marketeers. "We will be 20 strong (in the near future)," Shapiro says. Source: Danny Shapiro, director of automotive for NVIDIA Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Everist Genomics targets markets in Canada, Europe & India

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Innovation News

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August 7, 2013

Everist Genomics may be based in Ann Arbor but the medical device start-up sees a lot of its growth coming from overseas sales this year. The 2-year-old company's principal technology, AngioDefender, helps doctors measure risk of strike and cardiovascular disease. Everist Genomics hopes to begin sales in the U.S. next year after it gets FDA approval. In the meantime, it has gotten approval to begin sales in Europe, India and Canada this year. The firm expects its exports to these foreign markets will create exponential growth. "We believe the Canadian market will be really important to not only us but other medical device companies in Michigan because we're close to the border," says Randal Charlton, director of Everist Genomics. AngioDefender is a non-invasive diagnostic system that utilizes non-invasive sensor technology and a sophisticated software algorithm to help physicians diagnose ailments like cardiovascular disease in its early stages. The idea is that finding who is at greater risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke help medical professionals prevent heart attacks, strokes or high-blood pressure complications. "We believe that could be a blockbuster product because it's non-invasive," Charlton says. "It tells you whether you're at risk of cardio-vascular disease or stroke." Charlton, the former executive director of TechTown in Detroit, is using the technology himself and keeping a blog of it, which can be read here. Everist Genomics currently employs 30 people in Ann Arbor and another 10 overseas. It has hired three people over the last year, primarily in marketing, and is looking to hire another three. "The growth in employees is about to take off in the next 6-to-12 months," Charlton says. Source: Randal Charlton, director of Everist Genomics Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Valicor hires 37 in Dexter, looks to add 14 more

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Economic Development

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August 7, 2013

Valicor is on a hiring spree, adding 37 people to its staff over the last year. The Dexter-based company also has 14 openings and employs 254 full-time employees and six interns. "It (the company's growth) is a little bit faster than we expected," says Meredith Roe, director of human resources at Valicor. The 17-year-old company got its start recycling industrial fluids. Its services now include wastewater cleaning, ethanol work, extracting energy from algae and sustainability programs. Some of the primary drivers of its growth are its work in ethanol extraction in the Midwest and waster-water work in southern states. Valicor has also been growing geographically. It recently opened a facility in Alabama and is aiming to open another location in Missouri later this year. The company also expanded its headquarters in Dexter last year with a $5 million investment. Valicor's latest hires have been across a broad range of job descriptions, such as truck drivers or research scientists. Source: Meredith Roe, director of human resources at Valicor Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Park n Party revamps online parking reservation system

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Economic Development

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August 7, 2013

Park n Party is gearing up to accommodate out-of-town visitors for its third University of Michigan Football season. The Ann Arbor-based start-up has created software that allows people attending big events to reserve parking spots online. The idea is to save people the trouble of driving around searching for a place to park their car. The company started with University of Michigan Football games and has expanded to include the Ann Arbor Art Fair and Notre Dame's stadium. "We expect to have our biggest season to date," says Jason Kapica, partner with Park n Party. "We have done more pre-season sales this year than any other time on our short history. We expect to have a great season." He adds that Park n Party is finding new revenue streams by helping corporations find places to hold their events at U-M games. It is also helping food trucks find the best places to set up shop at game time. Park n Party currently has eight or nine parking lots with thousands of parking space. It has also revamped its online reservation system so patrons can reserve multiple spots next to each other. "Our new system is much more like a shopping cart where you can buy 10 spaces," Kapica says. "That has really allowed us to grow on the reservation side." Source: Jason Kapica, partner with Park n Party Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.