Technology and Innovation

Ypsilanti’s ISSYS set to begin clinical trials

By Newsroom

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January 9, 2013

Integrated Sensing Systems, AKA ISSYS, is looking tot expand its product portfolio from micro sensors in the life sciences industry to micro sensors that can be used in the industrial space. Since 1995, the Ypsilanti-based business has designed and developed microelectromechanical systems for medical and scientific sensing applications. Its latest piece of technology is an implant that allows medical professionals to wirelessly monitor the heart. "We hope to begin clinical studies early next year," says Nader Najafi, president & CEO of Integrated Sensing Systems. He adds he hopes to begin sales in Europe in 2014 and in the U.S. the next year. The company is also looking at selling fluid sensors in industrial manufacturing, however, the company is still in the early stages of exploring that new market. "We're trying to bring in strategic partners," Najafi says. Integrated Sensing Systems employs 25 people and has made a handful of hires in 2012. It expects to add a couple more jobs in 2013. Source: Nader Najafi, president & CEO of Integrated Sensing Systems Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Latest in Technology and Innovation

Blaze Medical Devices aims to commercialize, raise angel funds

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Innovation News

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January 9, 2013

Blaze Medical Devices is gearing up to begin selling the first units of its blood transfusion product this year, and full commercialization in 2014. The Ann Arbor-based startup's principal product specializes in quality control and optimization for the blood banking and transfusion industry. The technology analyzes stored blood to allow clinicians to predict the effectiveness of transfusions by assessing the levels and rates of quality loss during storage for individual units. The 6-year-old start-up expects to finish initial development of the product early this year and begin sales of it to researchers by this summer. It expects to receive FDA approval sometime next year and begin commercial sales soon after. "The product is in the final phases of its design," says David Weaver, CEO of Blaze Medical Devices. Blaze Medical Devices, which employs three people and the occasional intern, is also in the later stages of fundraising for its angel-seed round. The company landed a $250,000 investment from the Great Lakes Angels Group and expects to close on $1.5 million worth of seed capital by this summer. "We're about halfway (to our goal) now," Weaver says. Source: David Weaver, CEO of Blaze Medical Devices Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

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

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Arts and Culture

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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.

Dexter’s k-Space Assoc expands staff as it moves into new HQ

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Economic Development

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December 19, 2012

Dexter-based k-Space Associates is celebrating its 20th year of being in business and Darryl Barlett, the firm's general manager, attributes its success to two things: "It's making products people can actually use," Barlett says. "That's No. 1. The No. 2 is giving people good technical support. The manufacturer and tech firm develops and makes diagnostic tools for the semi-conductor industry. It recently doubled the size of its manufacturing and research-and-development facility, moving into the new space last summer. The company has hired four people over the last year, expanding its staff to 25 employees and the occasional intern. The new hires include engineers, assembly workers and technicians. Barlett expects to hire two more people in 2013 and has one open position for an internal technical sales person. "We need that person right now," Barlett says. Source: Darryl Barlett, general manager of k-Space Associates Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

3D Biomatrix adds to staff as it gains market traction

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Innovation News

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December 19, 2012

3D Biomatrix's business model started to gain traction in 2012, allowing the Ann Arbor-based start-up to expand its staff and its product line. The firm hired one person, a PhD stem cell biologist, expanding its staff to four employees and a couple of independent contractors. 3D Biomatrix also won an innovation award from The Wall Street Journal and closed on a Series A round of funding this year. "We had a really great year," says Laura Schrader, CEO of 3D Biomatrix. The University of Michigan spin-off develops and makes 3D cell matrices for cell growth in testing in the university's Venture Accelerator. These small scaffoldings provide small dips for the cells to develop. Most of the current products on the market offer flat surfaces, such as slide or Petri dishes. It's also developing a second product called a hanging drop plate, which allows cells to generate a matrices like they naturally do in the human body. 3D Biomatrix has watched the orders for this and its original product quintuple this year, selling them to the likes of research universities, life sciences firms and pharmaceutical companies. "We see that trend continuing to go forward," Schrader says. Source: Laura Schrader, CEO of 3D Biomatrix Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Cataphora lands $300K MEDC grant, plans new jobs, larger Ann Arbor office

By Tanya Muzumdar

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Development News

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December 19, 2012

California-based software firm Cataphora, Inc. will be putting the proceeds of a $300,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC) to work at expanding its Ann Arbor headcount and office space. The company provides tools for the analysis of digital communications and documents in large organizations to help employers understand characteristics and define trends. "We intend on spending approximately $200,000 and creating 30 new jobs over the next few years," says Chris Kurecka, manager of the Ann Arbor office. Cataphora has three employees in an office at 500 E. Washington St. in downtown Ann Arbor, but is looking to move to a larger space in or near downtown during the first half of 2013, according to Kurecka. He is searching for a new office within a several-block radius of State Street, near the University of Michigan campus. About 25% of Cataphora's employees are U-M grads, Kurecka says, and the company has an internship program. "Having that proximity to campus really helps us because we don't want students figuring out how to drive five miles or take a bus or whatever, necessarily, to get to work," Kurecka adds. Source: Chris Kurecka, Ann Arbor office manager, Cataphora, Inc. Writer: Tanya Muzumdar

New $9M U-M research center will help restore and protect Great Lakes

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In The News

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December 19, 2012

Fresh water may be our region's very greatest asset. But we haven't always treated it as such. U-M is out to change that. Excerpt: "With a $4.5 million, three-year grant from the Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation, and an additional $4.5 million from the University, the new University of Michigan Water Center, will provide solid scientific framework for more efficient and effective Great Lakes restoration.The Erb Family Foundation is a supporter of the University's sustainability initiative. Established in 2007, the Foundation aims to nurture environmentally healthy and culturally vibrant communities in metropolitan Detroit and to support initiatives to restore the Great Lakes basin." Read the rest here.

3.7 Designs turns long-term work into more revenue, staff

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Economic Development

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December 19, 2012

Last year, 3.7 Designs had a goal of migrating its workload from one-off projects to more steady customers and its own software. As the Ann Arbor-based firm enters 2013, it has found its execution on this plan has led to steadier work and a bigger bottom line. Its customer base has become steadier and it has allowed the company to raise its rates. It has also hired a project manager to its staff of four employees and two interns. "It has been a win-win for the company," says Ross Johnson, CEO of 3.7 Designs. "I see us continuing to grow revenuewise." 3.7 Designs specializes in building websites. The 6-year-old company started out doing basic website work but has grown to also offering marketing and upkeep services for the websites its builds. It also creates software for things like training modules. Johnson has also moved onto teaching classes about the Internet at Michigan State University and Washtenaw Community College. Source: Ross Johnson, CEO of 3.7 Designs Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Mobile, health care works drives Logic Solutions growth

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Economic Development

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December 19, 2012

Mobile and health-care work is driving some significant growth at Logic Solutions. The Ann Arbor-based business has hired 35 people in 2012 and is looking to add another five. The job openings include sales, project managers and technical leads. The company now employs 190 people with most of its growth coming through its mobile applications. "Our mobile practice is just booming right now," says Bruce Richardson, president of Logic Solutions. "We doubled in size in both revenue and people." Logic Solutions specializes in custom strategy and development of mobile and web applications. It acquired Quantum Compliance Systems, which develops software that embeds sustainable environmental, health and safety practices into a company's daily operations, earlier this year. Richardson expects the growth at his company to continue for the next year. That growth is expected to come from the rebounding economy, health-care expansion and the mobile sector's rapid rise. "I think we're going to experience some significant growth," Richardson says. Source: Bruce Richardson, president of Logic Solutions Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

U-M Researchers show that cell phone use is contagious

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In The News

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December 12, 2012

Much like the yawn, researchers have found that cell phone use begets more cell phone use. Excerpt: "In 2011, two researchers at the University of Michigan conducted a study in which they observed pairs of young people roughly between 16 and 25 sitting at tables in dining halls and restaurants in and around campus. They recorded cell phone use in 10-second intervals, noting if one or both people checked a mobile device within each 10-second span, according to the paper published in the Human Ethology Bulletin." Read the rest here.