Ann Arbor

Michigan Universities boost commercialization, create entrepreneurs

By Newsroom

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July 1, 2009

Further proof that Michigan’s universities --especially, ahem, U-M-- will play a key role in reinventing the state’s economy.Excerpt:?A program to help Michigan’s public universities create new entrepreneurs and speed commercialization of research is finding success just one year after making its first grants to universities around the state, officials from the Michigan Initiative for Innovation and Entrepreneurship consortium, and researchers said Wednesday at a news conference at the State Capitol."MIIE is having a tremendous impact at universities who have research projects that require additional funding to move them toward commercialization,” said Marvin Parnes, Associate Vice President for Research and Executive Director of Research Administration, University of Michigan. “Our efforts have allowed important research projects continue that could one day create much-needed jobs and companies in Michigan.”Read the rest of the story here.

U-M students turn school into start-up – Troubadour Mobile

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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July 1, 2009

Everyone is creating application for iPhones and Blackberries these days, so a trio of University of Michigan students thought why not them, too?The School of Information students (who recently graduated) ended up creating Troubadour Mobile last year. Two of the team are now heading out west for jobs with the likes of Microsoft but one of them plans to stay in Ann Arbor and make a go with the start-up. Ghaurav Bhatnagar hopes to develop the technology into his full-time job this year.Troubadour Mobile's application allows iPhone users quickly connect with family and friends. It hopes to create three more applications by the end of the summer. A whole family of applications should be available by the end of the year. And that's not long after when the founders were trying to decided whether to focus on Blackberries or iPhones."We knew something big was going to happen, but we couldn’t nail it down," Bhatnagar says.Source: Ghaurav Bhatnagar, co-founder of Troubadour MobileWriter: Jon Zemke

U-M students invent innovative suicide bomber detector

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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July 1, 2009

Students from the University of Michigan could soon be coming to the rescue of American soldiers serving overseas. A group of students are developing a new system of metal detectors that could be used to detect IEDs and suicide bombers in war zones.The students decided to tackle the problem by seeing what combination of existing technologies worked best together. The trial-and-error process resulted in portable, palm-sized metal detectors that can be hidden in trash cans, under tables or in flower pots. These detectors report to a main database through a wireless sensor network, telling when the deadly weapons might be entering the zone. This new system uses sensors that are cheaper, lower-power and longer-range. The seven-member team plans to continue to develop the technology and even create a plug-in sensor. It hopes to commercialize the technology within the next couple of years.Source: Ashwin Lalendran, 2009 mechanical engineering graduate of the University of MichiganWriter: Jon Zemke

Early Stage Partners plans to open VC office in Ann Arbor

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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July 1, 2009

Michigan’s investment in a couple of mezzanine funds is resulting in a new venture capital office in Ann Arbor.The state’s 21st Century Investment Fund just invested $35.5 million into four funds. Among them is Cleveland-based Early Stage Partners ,which is getting a cool $10 million to invest venture capital into research companies in the Midwest. It plans to open an office in Ann Arbor soon as part of the deal.Early Stage Partners provides early stage venture capital to research-based start-ups. Those companies are usually in the educational, scientific and medical industries.The other three companies include Arsenal Venture Partners, which will receive $5 million and plans to open an office in Michigan soon, too. It also focuses on early stage venture capital but in the defense and commercial markets. Detroit-based Peninsula Capital Partners, the state’s largest mezzanine fund, got $14.5 million. Triathlon Medical Ventures also received $10 million and plans to hire a Michigan-based full-time partner.The 21st Century Investment Fund is part of Michigan’s 21st Century Jobs Fund. The $2-billion effort is focused on growing and diversifying the state’s economy over 10 years.Source: Michigan Economic Development CorpWriter: Jon Zemke

Ann Arbor Greenbelt brings Webster Township acreage into its fold

By Newsroom

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Development News

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July 1, 2009

Webster Township and Ann Arbor are working together to bring two large farms under the umbrella of Ann Arbor’s Greenbelt.The two municipalities are purchasing the development rights to the Smyth and Merkel farms in Webster Township. They are taking advantage of Webster Township millage funds, Ann Arbor Greenbelt monies and grants from the federal Natural Resources Conservation Service Farm and Ranchland Protection Program.When its all said and done another 247 acres adjacent to each other on Zeeb Road will be added to the Ann Arbor Greenbelt. The Smyth Farm accounts for 100 acres while the Merkel farm brings another 147 acres to the table. These farms join more than 1,000 acres protected by the Greenbelt and hundreds of acres of farmland protected in Webster Township thanks to land preservation millages. Source: City of Ann ArborWriter: Jon Zemke

Video A2 Mech Shop

By Keith Jefferies

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Economic Development

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July 1, 2009

It's all about playing nice together. Concentrate has reported on everything from food co-ops, to co-living communities to coworking facilities. It only seems fair to throw a little love to the A2Mech Shop, a shared technical space for entrepreneurial engineers and innovative mech heads.

LLamasoft opens German office as it grows in Ann Arbor

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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July 1, 2009

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes... LLamasoft just opened a new office in Germany and is getting ready to move into new digs in downtown Ann Arbor.The Ann Arbor-based supply-chain network designer opened an office in Munich to head up its European operations. One person will staff it for the time being."The mindset for logistics has been centered in Germany," says Gary Bobalik, director of marketing for LLamasoft.LLamasoft was recently named as one of the Edward Lowe Foundation's "Michigan 50 Companies to Watch" and is working on the USAID/DELIVER PROJECT to increase the availability of essential health supplies around the world. It employs about 20 people and and has an office in Asia. It’s looking at moving into new and bigger space in Ann Arbor to accommodate its growth.LLamasoft provides software to design and modify supply chain network designs, allowing companies to optimize their supply chain operations for profit and shrinking carbon footprints. The privately-held company was founded in 1998. Its clients include big name corporations, such as ConocoPhillips, Dell and J. C. Penney.Source: Gary Bobalik, director of marketing for LLamasoftWriter: Jon Zemke

Downtown Ann Arbor goes artistic with new bike racks

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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July 1, 2009

Scratching your head over the "Art" hoops appearing throughout downtown Ann Arbor. No idea what they are, where they’re coming from or who’s paying for them.Here's the short of it. They're bike racks coming from the Ann Arbor Art Center and paid for by the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority. They are commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Ann Arbor Art Center and the 50th birthday of the Ann Arbor Art Fair this year.The "Art" in the middle of them is taken from the Ann Arbor Art Center's logo. They are also sponsored by local businesses and people who have a plaque placed at the base of the art hoops. "One couple bought one to celebrate where they first met," says Marsha Chamberlin, president and CEO of the Ann Arbor Art CenterThe art hoops cost $350 a piece. Regular bike-rack hoops cost $300 a piece.Source: Marsha Chamberlin, president and CEO of the Ann Arbor Art CenterWriter: Jon Zemke

Video Vintage To Vogue

By Keith Jefferies

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Arts & Culture

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June 26, 2009

V2V's racks are filled with the kind of stuff you can buy 'off the rack' ... if you know what I mean. It's the kind of place that'll carry only five a particular outfit and then "pfft" it's gone. Located in Ann Arbor's Kerrytown, this urban-style boutique attract customers far and wide.

U-M’s VC Frankel Fund invests in Accio Energy

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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June 24, 2009

The venture capitalists at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business have struck again, investing $80,000 into an Ann Arbor-based company. Accio Energy will use the money to develop a wind energy system that generates electricity differently than your standard wind turbine. The "aerovoltaic technology" uses charged particles and wind to generate electricity in a machine that doesn’t have any moving parts.The money comes from the Frankel Commercialization Fund, a student-managed venture capital seed fund. It was formed to help speed up the technology commercialization and company formation at the university and surrounding area. It's the fund's fourth investment and its first in a alternative energy firm. Source:Writer: Jon Zemke