Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor auto repair biz to become biggest private solar project in the county

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Economic Development
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March 7, 2012

In an ironic twist --a positive one, mind you-- a company that helps keep autos on the road is also making a big investment in alternative energy. Actually, they've put in the second biggest solar project in the county. Think they're trying to achieve karmic balance? Excerpt: "The 32-kilowatt rooftop solar panel system, which includes 124 U.S.-made panels, went live Wednesday and is expected to reduce ArborMotion’s energy costs at its 23,000-square-foot facility on State Circle by between 50 percent to 75 percent. Only DTE’s Energy’s solar panel installation on Scio Church and Wagner roads is larger. That is a 60 kilowatt system, but it is not privately owned. While investing in the $178,400 solar panel system seemed frightening at first, the risk diminished as he learned more, said James Snider, an owner and the general manager of ArborMotion." Read the rest here.

Start-up @FingerTips develops smartphone accessories for blind
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Economic Development
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March 7, 2012

If smart phones and tablet computers are the future, what does it mean for people who are struggling with blindness? A new start-up from the University of Michigan called @Fingertips thinks it has an answers. The Ann Arbor-based company is creating four accessories for mobile devices that enable blind people to use touch-screen and other visual-dominated technologies. Its products will include a slide-out keyboard that attaches to an iPhone and an iPhone remote control that can attach to a piece of clothing - so users can be active without having to manipulate their phone. "They will work with all the mainstream apps you and I use for Android and the iPhone," says PK Mishra, CEO & co-founder of @Fingertips. "We will manufacture and assemble our devices locally." The brand-new start-up is the brainchild of two University of Michigan students, an Ann Arbor District Library employee and a local tech freelancer. It was inspired when a couple of the co-founders were volunteering with blind children at a local school. "When these kids graduate they will be entering a world that is dominated by visual devices," Mishra says. "We thought there has to be a better solution to this." @Fingertips recently won $26,000 in prizes at the Michigan Business Challenge at U-M's Ross School of Business. The social entrepreneurs plan to continue developing their devices and business plan with an eye for launching the first of their products this fall. Source: PK Mishra, CEO & co-founder of @Fingertips Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

CareCheq plans to double staff as its online community grows
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Innovation News
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March 7, 2012

The co-founders of CareCheq know firsthand the challenges of taking care of elderly family members who are strong enough to still live at home but not healthy enough to live independently. Those experiences led them to create a start-up that provides an online portal for family members and caregivers to connect. "We ran into situations that could have made everyone's lives easier if we had a better community set up," says Dennis Stepaniak, CFO & co-founder of CareCheq. Finishing out its first year, the Ann Arbor-based start-up graduated from Ann Arbor SPARK's downtown incubator.  It has grown from the three co-founders to a team of nine people andt just launched the Beta version of its website. The company now plans to focus on getting traction for its product with the help of a loan from the Michigan Microloan Fund, which in turn is expected to prompt an expansion of its staff. "We would like to have twice the staff if not three times the staff a year from now," Stepaniak says. Stepaniak and his co-founders believe their product will stand out because the current options in the market don't offer clear and efficient channels of communication. CareCheq allows users to create profiles and groups that can be edited and made private. Stepaniak points out that things like Facebook aren't exactly complaint with health-care regulations. "CareCheq can save everyone time, money and effort," Stepaniak says. "It will also improve the quality of life for the patient." Source: Dennis Stepaniak, co-founder & CFO of CareCheq Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Therapy Charts adds 5 to its team as it matures business model
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Economic Development
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March 7, 2012

In an age when so many big companies work to be more like start-ups, Ann Arbor-based start-up Therapy Charts is striving to be more big biz. "We're starting to look more and more like we're from corporate America," says Lisa Farmer, CEO of Therapy Charts. "I feel like a traitor for saying it but we have grown from an informal group of employees that need that information." Therapy Charts is commercializing its patient information management platform for therapists who are independent practitioners, such as clinical psychologists, social workers, and mental health counselors. Lisa Farmer founded Therapy Charts four years ago after working in hospital mental health departments and observing that medical record technology was aimed at big institutions and not sole practitioners or small health-care co-operatives. Farmer and her team of 17 people are working to make Therapy Charts the leader of digitizing  records for the mental health industry. Farmer describes the competition as 13 other start-ups and she expects her company's continued growth will allow Therapy Charts to "remain ahead of the pack." Therapy Charts recently received a microloan from the Michigan Microloan Fund. That has allowed the start-up to put together a marketing plan and expand its sales cycle. That growth has allowed Farmer to add five people to her team, expanding it to 17 staffers and two interns. She expects to continue growing her company's bottom line and staff over the next year. Source: Lisa Farmer, CEO of Therapy Charts Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

BraveSoft hires 7 as it continue growth streak in downtown Ann Arbor
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Economic Development
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March 7, 2012

Ann Arbor-based BraveSoft has watched its revenue rise by double-digit percentages for the last four years running and expects its staff to grow by double-digits this year. The 9-year-old firm, which calls downtown Ann Arbor home, has grown its staff to 41 people. Of those 10 are in its Atlanta office, two are in Seattle and the rest (27) are local. BraveSoft has recorded an average of 31 percent revenue growth over each of the last four years thanks to an additional 8-10 new clients annually. Last year it signed 15 new clients. "Our forecast is ahead of schedule," says Tom Wood, president & co-founder of BraveSoft. "It's only February and we're already reaching 50 percent of our goals." That has prompted a good bit of growth in the start-up's ranks. BraveSoft has hired seven people over the last year and plans to bring on another 15 this year. Most of that growth will take place in Atlanta and Ann Arbor. "Both will grow but our biggest growth will be in Ann Arbor," Wood says.   BraveSoft database management and business intelligence technology, both of which allows its customers to better harness their data and makes their business more efficient. It has been able to help onshore some of their tech work. "Companies are more comfortable logging in," Wood says. "They're even more comfortable with a U.S. company." Source: Tom Wood, president & co-founder of BraveSoft Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

My Repair Facts expands staff to 7, launches auto info service
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Economic Development
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March 7, 2012

In a previous life, Andrew Ramirez was an auto mechanic ...one who saw an unmet need in the market. That led to the creation of Andrew Ramirez the entrepreneur and his start-up, My Repair Facts. The downtown Ann Arbor-based firm is developing a comprehensive report on a vehicle's repairs and maintenance. The difference between My Repair Facts and other more well-known companies like CARFAX is all in the details. "It doesn't have a consumer's touch to it," says Ramirez, CEO & founder of My Repair Facts. "If they went the extra mile to take care of their car, that data just isn't available." My Repair Facts will tell its customers not only what major work has been done and if the automobile was in an accident. It also includes whether the owner has been detailing the vehicle or using premium components for routine maintenance, like oil changes. "It lets you say your car is worth more than the Kelly Blue Book value because you put all the extra money into it," Ramirez says. The 1-year-old company has grown from just Ramirez to a team of six employees and an intern. Ramirez hopes to keep expanding his team as his business grows. My Repair Facts recently received a loan from the Michigan Microloan Fund, which Ramirez plans to leverage to expand his customer base. Within a year, he would like to be selling 1,500 reports a month to 10-15 car dealerships. He is also aiming to hit 150 new registered users per month. Source: Andrew Ramirez, CEO & founder of My Repair Facts Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Only In Ann Arbor: Ron’s Roadside BBQ (aka Romanoff’s Catering)
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General
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March 7, 2012

Good things can sometimes be hard to find. But that makes them all the sweeter, doesn't it?. Take Ron's Roadside BBQ. Fans complain about its obscure location, poor signage, and threadbare surroundings. But once they sink their teeth into the "low and slow," the criticisms melt away. Little do many know that Ron's (aka Romanoff's Catering) has 40 storied years of history. And nearly 200,000 toy soldiers!

Can Live Music Pay The Rent?
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General
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March 7, 2012

A staple of any culturally vibrant community is its live music scene. But how do the venues that provide that scene survive in high-priced downtowns and the growing digital economy? Concentrate's Richard Retyi does a deep dive into the business of booking bands for Ann Arbor's and Ypsilanti's stages.

Google Ventures signs on with Duo Security’s latest $5M VC round
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Economic Development
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February 29, 2012

Duo Security has wrapped up its latest round of fundraising and has signed on a big-name investor, Google Ventures. Google Ventures, the venture capital arm of Google, led the Series A round of venture capital worth $5 million. It was joined by True Ventures and downtown Ann Arbor-based VC, Resonant Venture Partners. These new funds will help Duo Security grow its team as it works to increase the breadth and reach of its software. "We're expanding the team to roles beyond engineering," says Brian Kelly, senior product marketing manager and one of Duo Security's recent hires. He adds that the new jobs created will include marketing and sales positions. Duo Security, which calls the Tech Brewery home, is developing an authentication platform for mobile devices that helps users prevent identity and data theft. This two-factor authentication service provides an interactive secondary login through an intuitive web interface. The two-year-old Ann Arbor-based start-up was originally launched as Scio Security. It was co-founded by Dug Song, one of Ann Arbor's up-and-coming tech entrepreneurs, and Jon Oberheide, who recently completed his PhD in computer science from the University of Michigan. The company raised an initial seed round worth $1 million a little more than a year ago from True Ventures and Resonant Venture Partners.   Source: Brian Kelly, senior product marketing manager for Duo Security Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Smart meters coming online for DTE customers in Washtenaw County
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Development News
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February 29, 2012

Bill-shocked electric and gas utility customers who are trying to cut their energy consumption 30 days after the fact will be a relic of the past. As part of its ongoing SmartCurrents program, DTE Energy will be installing another 450,000 advanced electric meters and gas modules (smart meters), with 120,000 of those destined for Washtenaw County. The cost of the installation is $66 million, according to Scott Simons, a DTE Energy spokesperson. The meters are being installed in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Ypsilanti Township this month. Dexter, Dexter Township, and Scio Township will see theirs starting in April, followed by Saline, Saline Township, Superior Township, and Whitmore Lake in May. Installations in Chelsea, Milan, Manchester, and York Township will begin in June. With the new technology, meters will be read remotely and power outages trackable down to the individual meter. It also allows for customers to track their daily energy consumption. "Customers will be able to see their individual energy usage online and make usage decisions with that information," Simons says in an email. "They can also choose to purchase in-home displays and programmable thermostats, and even appliances, that work with the meter." Source: Scott Simons, DTE Energy spokesperson Writer: Tanya Muzumdar

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