Study after study shows that Millennials have different ideas than their parents about where and how they want to live. Greater access to downtowns and more walkable environments are high on the list. So how is our community preparing for the next generation of Ann Arborite today? Concentrate's Natalie Burg looks at the issue in her two-part story.
TurtleCell is quickly becoming a popular startup in Michigan and the proof is in the pudding at business plan competitions. The iPhone accessory startup made the semifinals of this year's Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition and then scored the People's Choice award and $10,000 in seed capital at the competition in Detroit last month. The Ann Arbor-based firm is using that cash along with some other seed capital it has raised to make a few hundred prototypes of its iPhone cases this winter. TurtleCell has created an iPhone case that comes with retractable earbuds. The case would allow full access to the smartphone’s buttons and have a four-foot-long headphone that easily retracts back into the case when not being used. The earbuds will be higher-quality, comparable to Beats by Dre. "We have pretty much completed the prototype stage," says Paul Schrems, CTO of TurtleCell. "We’re getting ready to start our Beta testing with 500 users." TurleCell's team of five people will put out those first prototypes will go out in early 2014. It will then take that experience to help spearhead a crowdfunding campaign next spring. The company tried to crowdfund $50,000 earlier this year. It only hit $20,000 but the startup’s team took a lot away from the experience. "That was the best thing for us," says Nick Turnbull, CEO of TurtleCell. "We used that time we would have used to ship orders to finalize the product’s design and do some fundraising." Source: Paul Schrems, CTO of TurtleCell and Nick Turnbull, CEO of TurtleCell Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.
Southeast Michigan's city rivers are no longer urban backwaters. Tom Woiwode, director of the GreenWays Initative at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, frames the 100-mile Huron River as a destination and valuable economic resource.
Oxford Companies made a big acquisition over the last year, buying Arch Realty. The two Ann Arbor-based companies were well-known quantities in local real-estate circles. Oxford for commercial realty and Arch Realty for off-campus student housing in Ann Arbor. Oxford rebranded Arch Realty to Oxford Property Management with the acquisition. "We essentially doubled in size when we acquired Arch Realty," says Deborah Pearson, director of marketing for Oxford Companies. The 15-year-old firm now employs 50 people, adding up to 10 people over the last year for administrative and property management work. The company is also looking to hire a COO within the next few weeks. Oxford Companies has also raised a $4 million investment fund over the last year. The company expects to use it as an "opportunity fund" to acquire local properties or businesses in the Ann Arbor area in 2014. "The money we have available right now is available for residential or commercial properties," says Andrew Selinger, investment analyst for Oxford Companies. Selinger and Pearson says Oxford Companies admired the Zingerman's philosophy of doing business, i.e. staying locally focused by creating side businesses under one large brand. They would like to do the same thing with real-estate in the Washtenaw County area, focusing on quality work instead of growth for growth’s sake. That point of view allowed Oxford Companies to be named as one of Ann Arbor SPARK's Fast Track award winners this year. Winning companies receive the awards for its consistent growth. FastTrack companies need to have revenue of at least $100,000 in 2009, with a verified annual growth of 20 percent for the following three years. Source: Deborah Pearson, director of marketing for Oxford Companies and Andrew Selinger, investment analyst for Oxford Companies Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.
There is not much Juicy Kitchen Cafe doesn't do in the food business these days. "We still do catering," says Susan Todoroff, owner of Juicy Kitchen Cafe. "We still do home-prepared meals except we don’t deliver them anymore. Our customers come and pick them up." From Juicy Kitchen Cafe's new retail location on 1506 N. Maple Road that it has spent 2013 establishing. The Ann Arbor-based company went from no one knowing there any businesses in the forlorn strip mall to a vibrant business with a core group of regulars that eat there multiple times week. "(Opening the cafe) was really more of a lifestyle choice than a business decision for me," Todoroff says. "I want to wait on the people I am cooking for." That has allowed Juicy Kitchen Cafe to grow to a core team of four full-timers and a few part-time employees. The retail operation now makes up about two thirds of the company's revenue. Prepared meals make up another 20-some percent with catering taking up the rest. "I want to grow the catering side of the business," Todoroff says. Source: Susan Todoroff, owner of Juicy Kitchen Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.
When BD acquired HandyLab in 2009, Michael Kaye was in the thick of it, serving as the Ann Arbor-based startup’s chief engineer. So much so that a number of HandyLab executives advised him to start his own firm. The Ann Arbor resident liked the idea but was much more familiar with engineering that running a business. So Kaye bumped around Ann Arbor SPARK's Central Incubator in downtown Ann Arbor for a few years after the HandyLab acquisition figuring out what the best startup would be for him. The result is PlanReaction, a software platform that automatically generates building floor plans and furniture layouts. "I used to say I have no business being in a business because I have no business background," Kaye says. "I jokingly refer to my business as a multi-hundred-dollar company." Those characterization no longer apply. PlanReaction made the semifinals of this year's Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition and then won the business-plan competition's IT award and the $25,000 in seed capital that came with it. Kaye credits the competition with giving him the basic tools to pitch his startup, such as a pitch deck and a tighter business plan. PlanReaction is developing software that help completes the initial design phase of building out commercial real estate spaces. Think generating floor plans and designs for office spaces. PlanReaction streamlines the process of bringing those plans to reality. Kaye has finished the initial development of the software and is looking for a software developer to put the finishing touches on the program. "I am looking to expand right away," Kaye says. "I am looking to bring on a developer so we can produce a minimum-viable product so we can get to the pilot stage." Source: Michael Kaye, founder & CEO of PlanReaction Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.
Anyone used to eating Vietnamese food in a hole-in-the-wall type environment will soon get to experience the cuisine in a whole new light. The Ginger Deli plans to open on E. Liberty in the first or second week of January with a focus on chic design and fresh ingredients that aims to change perceptions and delight Ann Arbor eaters. "The Ginger Deli is an idea I have wanted to do for maybe five years," says owner Te Phan, who also owns Ann Arbor's Chair Cover Express. "The food will be more toward Vietnamese cooking because Vietnamese food is influenced by the French. If you're going to be influenced by any kind of food, French is a good place to start." Fresh herbs will be a primary feature of the Ginger Deli cuisine, including basil, mint, cilantro and bean sprouts, which Phan says not only adds great flavor to the food, but balances out the dishes with health benefits. Phan's career began in industrial design, creating concept cars for Ford. He's now applying his design principles to make attractive, functional street food in downtown Ann Arbor. His designs will allow passersby to enjoy some hot soup on the go in convenient, disposable packaging. "I want to put the value and money first in food and second into the packaging, where it will be marketing vehicle for the food," says Phan. "Instead of putting a lot of money in creating a environments an ambiance and tables, I want to be able to keep the price affordable for students and young professionals." The approximately 200-foot Ginger Deli storefront will be take-out only, but will provide heated outdoor counter space under a canopy for diners on the go. Phan hopes to build on the concept of new neighbor Le Dog to create a hub for street food on Liberty. Ginger Deli will actually be a two-part operation, with about two kitchen staffers managing a kitchen two blocks away and two employees serving customers from the storefront. Phan hopes to see the concept grow into multiple locations in Ann Arbor, and plans to keep the community he loves involved and benefitting from his business as it grows. Sourc: Te Phan, Ginger Deli Writer: Natalie Burg
A perennial winner of Taste of Ann Arbor awards including "Best Entrée" and "Best of Show," it's no stretch to say Ann Arbor loves The Black Pearl. Beginning in early 2014, more diners will be able to get more of the food they crave as The Black Pearl expands by 50 percent, adding room for 40 to 50 new seats. "We do get a lot of calls for parties, and we're a little too small to accommodate more than 50 people without closing for the event," says The Black Pearl Bar Manager Matthew Pietryga. "It's not just going to be set up for private functions though, but also for busy nights, especially in the summer." The expansion will be into half of the former Seyfried Jewelers location. According to Pietryga, the bar considered expanding into the entire space, but was hesitant to over-expand. When the option became available to grow into half of the space, it became the perfect opportunity. "Otherwise we may have been a little oversized. The bigger you are doesn't mean the more people will come," says Pietryga. "Right now, everything is good; business is up from last year, which is good. But every few months or so there is more competition." The new space in The Black Pearl will be used both for overflow and for private parties, and while it will have a similar feel to the main restaurant, it will have slightly different decor and amenities, including carpeting, different tables and a multi-media center for presentations and events. Pietryga says work on the space will begin in January. They hope to have work completed within a couple of months, but have an April goal set to be ready in preparation for graduation season. With the extra diners Pietryga estimates three to four additional servers will be added to the staff. Source: Matthew Pietryga, The Black Pearl Writer: Natalie Burg
Studies indicating positive outcomes be damned, there is a constant drive to eliminate art, music and other 'non-essentials' from public education. This has forced some cash-strapped schools to look poorer nations for low-cost ideas about how to include them in their curriculum. Mitchell Elementary in Ann Arbor has looked to Venezuela. Excerpt: "One Ann Arbor Elementary School is teaming up with the University of Michigan School of Music for a unique approach to teaching music...and they are turning to Venezuela for inspiration. It's called El Sistema." Read and listen to the rest here.
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