Media

The Upswing Report helps young guys climb the social ladder

By Newsroom

●

September 24, 2014

Ever look at a young man, notice what they're wearing and think, 'Ooohhhh... Not a good look'? A new startup founded by a University of Michigan graduate is looking to prevent that from ever happening. The Upswing Report is an online lifestyle publication that reps itself as "a young gentleman's guide to fashion, business, and lifestyle." It's a place where young men can go to figure out what works best for them when it comes to improving their game, whether it being climbing ladders socially or in the workplace. "It helps young guys go to the next level," says Austin Waldo, founder of The Upswing Report. Waldo graduated from the U-M in May with a dual bachelors degree in business administration and screen arts & cultures. He enjoyed sharing his thoughts on fashion and business and decided to turn it into The Upswing Report in February. The publication now has two editors and four writers. He has built his bi-weekly newsletter list to 2,000 people, but has bigger aspirations for it. "I want to use it as a platform to launch a clothing line," Waldo says. "It has taught me a lot about Internet marketing." Source: Austin Waldo, founder of The Upswing Report Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Latest in Media

Kathleen Hiraga at her Pop-Post Kickstarter video shoot

Creating Female Characters That Pop

By Patrick Dunn

●

Arts and Culture

●

June 11, 2014

Samurai bike messengers aren't just for the bros. Actually, as created by Pop Post, they're meant to show girls that they can be as heroic as any 'ol boy. This Ann Arbor-based entertainment company is dedicated to creating e-books and mobile games that disrupt the popular narrative that girls need to be saved.

Orange Egg Advertising works on PBS series, adds 4 new jobs

By Newsroom

●

Arts and Culture

●

March 12, 2014

Orange Egg Advertising has been adding more clients and members to its team over the last year. The Ann Arbor-based firm and its sister company, Hadrout in Ferndale, has grown by 25% and added four new positions, expanding its staff to half a dozen people. "We keep adding interesting projects," says Amy Grambeau, director of Orange Egg Advertising. Among those projects is the PBS station's series, Start Up. Orange Egg Advertising helped produce the first season that profiled entrepreneurs. It is now working on the second season for the show. "There are some cool things coming out of southeast Michigan," Grambeau says. Grambeau expects Orange Egg Advertising to expand in a similar fashion in 2014, powered by word-of-mouth referrals. "We just keep doing a good job for our clients," Grambeau says. "We keep on the cutting edge of technology for our clients." Source: Amy Grambeau, director of Orange Egg Advertising Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Media Academica establishes itself with local video work

By Newsroom

●

Arts and Culture

●

February 26, 2014

When Shannon Kohlitz launched Media Academica in Ann Arbor, she was looking to take advantage of the growing demand for video work. It is turning out about as well as she could have hoped for. "It did better than I had hoped," Kohlitz says. "We kept busy with mostly technology work." The downtown Ann Arbor-based firm specializes in web animation and other sorts of online video work. Kohlitz has watched her firm’s revenue jump 25 percent over the last year thanks to work from the likes of Rave Computer, Ingeniose and XanEdu. Media Academica also did the kickstarter video for TurtleCell. "I kept getting more, more clients," Kohlitz says. "I would love to be a vendor with advertising agencies." Media Academica is getting ready to release two online videos for Rave Computer later this winter. Kohlitz hopes to add her first employee later this year as the work for her firm continues to pile up. Source: Shannon Kohlitz, owner of Media Academica Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Ann Arbor invention one to watch at Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show

By Newsroom

●

Arts and Culture

●

January 8, 2014

Think Google Glass is tearing at the fabric of society wait til you get ahold of The Glyph, which is being developed by Michigan startup Avegant Corp. If they figure out a way to integrate it with XBox and Playstation all kids need is an IV drip and a chamber pot and they need never leave the couch again. Excerpt: "“It’s screen-less technology,” he told MarketWatch in a private demo. “The image is projected directly to your retina. We are able to mimic your natural vision.” The device is geared toward common everyday mobile uses, from watching videos, browsing the Web to holding videoconferences. It is meant to work with a range of devices from laptops to iPhones to tablets. Unlike Google Glass, which is based on glance-able technology aimed at providing information to the user quickly or for short-term viewing, the Glyph is for longer-term, more engaged media consumption." Read the rest here.

Shelley Salant hosting the local music show on WCBN

WCBN: Can’t Stop the Signal

By Patrick Dunn

●

General

●

October 9, 2013

As corporate media conglemerates swallow up the radio airwaves, WCBN has remained both a voice for independent expression and a training ground for next gen radio talent. Even with a recent cut in university funding, supporters predict that the campus radio station will continue "to infinity and beyond."

On the Bleeding Edge of 3D

By Patrick Dunn

●

General

●

April 10, 2013

If you're wondering when we'll finally get that holodeck Star Trek promised, the folks at University of Michigan's 3D Lab could probably give you a decent ETA. From 3D printers to digital models to immersive virtual environments, these tech wizards are pushing the 3D envelope. And their technology is accessible to students and members of the public alike.

Ghostly International expands staff as it enhances its technology

By Newsroom

●

Arts and Culture

●

March 6, 2013

Ghostly International is making to moves to utilize technology more effectively to grow the electronic and ambient music label's business. The Ann Arbor-based company, which calls the Tech Brewery home, has watched as subscription service Drip.fm take off in the last year, signing partners like Owsla (Skrillex's music label) and Stones Throw. Its publishing division just rebranded and relaunched its website, making its catalogue of music more easily searchable. "We want to use technology to make it easier for people to use our content," says Jeremy Peters, director of creative licensing & business affairs for Ghostly International. Those sorts of advances has allowed the 14-year-old business to continue its growth streak. It recently opened a new office in Los Angeles, giving it a presence now in LA, New York City and Ann Arbor. It has also hired two software developers over the last year, expanding its staff to 10 people and an intern. Ghostly International is also about to renew its contract to provide music for Adult Swim www.adultswim.com. Peters adds that some new deals are also on the precipice of being done in 2013. "There is some pretty cool stuff coming down the pipe," Peters says. Source: Jeremy Peters, director of creative licensing & business affairs for Ghostly International Writer: Jon Zemke

Meadow Fete Media hits stride in Ann Arbor, looks to hire

By Newsroom

●

Arts and Culture

●

January 9, 2013

Lyndsay Dusek was laid off in 2006. The Ann Arbor resident had a background in web development, graphic design, the fine arts and languages so she decided that adding all that up equaled the right mix for starting a business. Six years later, Meadow Fete Media is looking to hire its first employee. The downtown Ann Arbor-based Internet business specializes graphic design and web development. It has done a number of projects with local small businesses, including Vinology, The Produce Station and a community-garden initiative for Project Grow. "2012 was a huge growth year," Dusek says. "I am hoping to make this year an even bigger one." To help make that possible, Dusek is looking to hire a person who specializes in front-end web development and graphic design. "I am essentially looking for a second me," Dusek says. To make that happen, Dusek plans to increase work from a growing list of locally based clients headed by people she can relate to and identify with. "That's the major factor in the growth of the company," Dusek says. Source: Lyndsay Dusek, CEO of Meadow Fete Media Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Perich Advertising & Design adds 7 as it grows digital team

By Newsroom

●

Arts and Culture

●

October 17, 2012

Perich Advertising & Design is beefing up its digital presence now that is has been hiring more web programers, software developers and other similar professionals. The Ann Arbor-based advertising firm has hired seven people over the last year, expanding its staff to 31, along with a handful of interns at any given time. Those new hires will be handling both traditional and new media projects. "It's a little bit of everything," says Ernie Perich, president & creative director of Perich Advertising & Design. "Staying on top of everything digital is very important to us." He adds that his company's growth is coming evenly from both traditional and digital revenue sources. The 25-year-old company got its start handling more traditional work, such as TV and radio. It has moved more and more into the digital spectrum as the Internet has grown and taken a more prominent position in the advertising world. Making that transition to handling both ends of the advertising spectrum has allowed Perich Advertising & Design to continue to grow throughout the years. "We're going to project a steady growth," says Ernie Perich, president & creative director of Perich Advertising & Design. "We're going to keep doing it the same way we have done it all this year." Source: Ernie Perich, president & creative director of Perich Advertising & Design Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.