Ann Arbor

CIMple gets in on smart grid tech through the back way

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Economic Development
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August 12, 2009

Smart grid is one of those buzz phrases that has become closely tied to sustainability. So much so that companies are tripping over each other to help tackle the energy saving technology head on. CIMple is trying to do the same but do so by sneaking in the back way. The Ann Arbor-based start-up, founded just this summer, is working on IT systems that will help manage the backend of smart grid technology. That means while big utilities are making headlines by implementing it, CIMple plans to be creating the magic behind the curtain that makes the system work."A lot of large utilities are doing pilot programs with smart grid technology," says Marty Byle, business development manager for CIMple. "But what they haven’t done is invest in the back-end system."He adds that the $787 billion federal stimulus package is poised to start "shoveling money" toward the smart grid cause. That means there is a lot of room to grow for a small three-person firm like CIMple."We're looking at a huge market over the next decade," Byle says.The plan is to start as a consulting company for this process. Long-range plans include creating a software product to help manage the back end of the smart grid. Right now CIMple, which is working out of Ann Arbor’s Tech Brewery, is looking to form partnerships with large utilities and utility co-operativess.Source: Marty Byle, business development manager for CIMpleWriter: Jon Zemke

Metrix Information Systems develops innovative software for software
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Economic Development
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August 12, 2009

Most companies see software as a place where there is lots of money to be made. Metrix Information Systems see it as a place where lots of money can be saved.The 2-year-old start-up has created software that statistically analyzes how often a company uses each piece of its software. That way the customer can make an informed decision on which programs it is best utilizing and use funds more judiciously. That's big bucks to Fortune 500 firms, which normally spend hundreds of millions of dollars on the software that drives their companies. Metrix Information System's software boasts that it can save its customers 20-30 percent on its software expenses."All we have to do is find a way to market it," says Dutt Bulisi, president and CEO Metrix Information Systems.Right now the two-person firm based out of Ann Arbor is working to raise capital to do just that. Source: Dutt Bulisi, Metrix Information SystemsWriter: Jon Zemke

RPM Ventures receives $4M from Renaissance VC Fund
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Economic Development
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August 12, 2009

The Renaissance Venture Capital Fund has struck again, investing $4 million into RPM Ventures.Renaissance is a venture capital fund that invests in VC funds. It was formed last year and has offices in the downtowns of Ann Arbor and Detroit. RPM Ventures is also based in Ann Arbor and focuses on investing in start-ups working on innovative technologies in manufacturing."They have a really good strategy and national reputation," says Chris Rizik, CEO of Renaissance Venture Capital Fund. This is the third investment Renaissance Venture Capital Fund has made since it was founded late last year. Two of the three investments have been in Ann Arbor-based VC firms and all three firms have been in Michigan-based firms. "We only invest in funds that are active in Michigan," Rizik says. "They have to have a strategy on how they’re going to invest in Michigan."RPM Ventures was founded in 2000 by partners Marc Weiser and Tony Grover. It focuses much of its work in Michigan and in neighboring Midwestern states.Source: Chris Rizik, CEO of Renaissance Venture Capital FundWriter: Jon Zemke

U-M receives $2.5 million of Biden’s $2 billion battery promise
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Education
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August 12, 2009

When Vice President Joe Biden announced $2.4 billion in federal stimulus grants at Detroit's TechTown business incubator last week, it meant about $1.2 billion in cash for Michigan. It also means about $2.5 million for the University of Michigan.That's the slice of the battery pie U-M will receive to develop curriculum for the training of the next generation of automotive engineers. It’s part of $10 million that U-M, Wayne State University and Michigan Technological University will split to train these new engineers. These engineers will research and develop the advanced batteries and hybrid/electric car technology of the future, meaning thousands of jobs for Michigan.U-M will create classes, degrees, programs and certificates for everything from graduate to elementary school students. It has already started doing this sort of curriculum development by partnering with the like of General Motors.This grant will create 10 courses, ranging on electrification of the automobile issues such as hybrid electronics and lithium ion batteries. The classes will be for both undergraduate and graduate students. The first classes are set to begin in time for the winter semester. The are also plans to create a energy summer camp for K-12 students.Source: University of MichiganWriter: Jon Zemke

Federal stimulus worth $61.1M so far for U-M researchers
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Education
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August 12, 2009

The federal stimulus package is turning out to be a good thing for the University of Michigan. The university has nailed down 159 research grants from the stimulus fund, totaling $61.1 million.Most of those grants (113) are focused on healthcare in one way or another. That means they are supporting efforts like cancer research and vaccine studies. It also means even more cash for the University Medical School to train new researchers."It allows us to add more hands in the laboraory," says Steve Kunkel, senior associate dean for research at the University of Michigan Medical School.Other projects the grants are funding include ultra-energy-efficient computers and the next generation of rechargeable batteries. One of the biggest is $19.5 million for research and development of solar cells. The federal stimulus package, worth $787 billion, still has some dry powder (funding) left. More research grants are expected to be announced later this year. Source: Steve Kunkel, senior associate dean for research at the University of Michigan Medical SchoolWriter: Jon Zemke

Art Conservation Laboratory focuses on Ann Arbor’s art collections
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Arts & Culture
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August 12, 2009

Celina Berenfeld has worked with fine art for years and years. Now she is trying to turn it into her own start-up.She started the Art Conservation Laboratory earlier this summer. She has worked in art preservation for years. Her Ann Arbor-based start-up will provide museum quality conservation assessments, treatments and care plans for art collections. That means if you have painting on the wall that has faded from the sun or with age, Berenfeld can tell you how best to preserve it. Or if yo want to know how to best care for a piece of new art, Berenfeld knows how to do that, too."People who buy artwork are very interested in preservation," Berenfeld says. She sees a sizable market for this sort of thing in the Ann Arbor area because of its reputation as an artistic center in not only Michigan but the Midwest. She hopes to drum up business with local art collectors and dealers first."The people here are very cultured and interested in collecting works," Berenfeld says.Source: Celina Berenfeld, conservator of the Art Conservation LaboratoryWriter: Jon Zemke

Cheap Ways To Revitalize Our Downtowns
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Arts & Culture
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August 12, 2009

From households to businesses to city government, everyone is in belt-tightening mode. But if there's one thing Concentrate believes, it's that necessity is the mother of invention. A few local communities have come up with innovative and inexpensive ways to revitalize their downtowns. Time to take notes!

Video Ann Arbor’s Robot Repair Superstore (And Really Cool Non-profit)
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Community Development
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August 12, 2009

Robots. Creative writing. Dave Eggers. After school tutoring. 826Michigan is the hippest non-profit organization in Ann Arbor. Offering writing workshops and tutoring to kids for free, and channeling the energy and enthusiasm of nearly 200 voluteers, author Dave Egger's brainchild has resulted in the kind of experience that changes both lives and minds.

Michigan Peaceworks to create mural for downtown Ann Arbor
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Arts & Culture
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August 12, 2009

More art is on its way to downtown Ann Arbor, and it’s only going to reinforce the stereotype that Ann Arbor is made up of a bunch of art-loving peaceniks. Michigan Peaceworks, which is headquartered downtown, plans to begin work on a mural this fall. The mural will be centered on, you guessed it, peace in Ann Arbor and go up on the side of the Alley Bar. It should be finished by next spring. "It's going to be a pretty large mural," says Laura Russello, executive director of Michigan Peaceworks.The Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority and Main Street Association are chipping in $2,000 to pay for the project. The rest of the cost is coming from fundraising and private donations. Weekly updates will be posted on the DDA’s website once work begins. The project still have to be approved by the city before it can go forward.Source: Laura Russello, executive director of Michigan PeaceworksWriter: Jon Zemke

Bluestone, Oxford move into new space in downtown Ann Arbor
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Development News
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August 12, 2009

Not every business moving into downtown Ann Arbor these days is a high-tech start-up. Bluestone Realty Advisors and Oxford Property Management are also staking their claim in the city's center.The two companies will share what used to be the space occupied by ICON Creative Services at 312 S. State St. The nearly 20 workers are leaving their space near Briarwood Mall for new downtown digs on Aug. 20."The general consensus is we all wanted to be there," says Neal Warling, president and CEO of Bluestone Realty Advisors. The second-floor space in the turn-of-the-century building already has a loft-like appeal with its exposed brick, beams and skylights. Warling plans to turn it into more of a nouveau industrial-type atmosphere with more metallic and streamlined details."It's going to be very cutting edge," Warling says.Source: Neal Warling, president and CEO of Bluestone Realty AdvisorsWriter: Jon Zemke

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