Features

Innovation News Image Data Conversion

Digitization drives Image Data Conversion growth in Saline

The world is full of more paperwork than anyone could, or want to, read in a lifetime. Image Data Conversion is building a business by digitizing those documents for the 21st Century.

Feature Story Pretzel Bell 1957

The Backstory: The return of the Pretzel Bell

It's a story to bring a salty tear to one's eye. With the announcement that Ann Arbor's Pretzel Bell will soon be reincarnated on Main Street, Concentrate's Patti Smith decided to dig into the restaurant's storied past.

Feature Story Jon Oberheide and Dug Song of Duo Security

Bigger partners, bigger risks: The cyber security challenges of scaling a startup

Expanding to work with larger partners or clients is exciting for any small business. But it also brings with it some significant new risks in terms of cyber security.

In The News solar ypsi

What about donating solar power to Michigan non-profits?

Dave Strenski of Ypsi Solar has come up with a great idea - donating solar power to your favorite nonprofit! Not only are you investing in that organization's future, you are promoting sustainability and helping to bring down installation costs by engaging with the green economy.

Development News Kingsley West exterior

Mild winter speeds Kingsley West construction in downtown Ann Arbor

Warmer-than-usual temps are making life easier for construction projects this winter, including the folks behind one of downtown Ann Arbor's newest condo developments: 121 Kingsley West.

Development News LLamasoft

LLamasoft moves into Google space shows best value comes from local firms

LLamasoft, an Ann Arbor-based supply chain software firm, is taking up the lions share of prime downtown office space Google is leaving behind, as the tech giant builds its own campus on the city's outskirts.

Innovation News RightBrain Networks

RightBrain Networks continues rapid growth in cloud IT work

Ann Arbor-based RightBrain Networks has been on a rapid growth streak. Two years ago it tripled in size. This last year its growth is nearly the same... and not showing any signs of slowing down.

Innovation News Doug Neal of Michigan eLab

Michigan eLab bridges the gap between Silicon Valley and Ann Arbor startups

Michigan eLab opened with an idea for bridging the startup economies of Silicon Valley and Ann Arbor. Most people would assume that means focusing on California first, then Michigan. The team at the Ann Arbor-based venture capital firm has found the opposite to be true.

Feature Story Sara Cusack making a pour over at Lab Cafe

The best cafes in downtown Ann Arbor to get work done

Let's face it, sometimes working from home can be a drag. Which is why coffee shops have become the go-to alternative for telecommuters. Concentrate gives you the run-down on downtown Ann Arbor's most work-friendly java joints.

In The News Coherix

Ann Arbor Coherix teams with Chinese firm, lands $12M in investment

The world just gets smaller and smaller and smaller. Ann Arbor's Coherix has taken on a Chinese investor to the une of $12M to help market their current technology and develop more products for their target industries.

Development News My Urban Hen

My Urban Hen brings hobby farming to Ann Arbor area locals

Ever want to own a chicken but don't know where to start? Or don't have the time to build a coop? Perhaps you live in a city and don't know whether owning a hen to lay fresh eggs every day is allowed? A new Chelsea-based company believes it can provide the answers to these chicken questions and more

Development News Goodwill

Goodwill Industries opens new store, donation center in Ypsilanti

Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit is opening its sixth store in Metro Detroit on Ypsilanti's Carpenter Road near Ellis Road. The new facility will offer options for both donations and retail with the idea of serving Washtenaw County residents.

Innovation News Dug Song at Duo Security in Kerrytown

Millendo Therapeutics scores big VC round, Duo Security clocks record growth

A couple of tech startups in Ann Arbor are making a splash with some big headlines. Millendo Therapeutics reports that it has raised $62 million in investment and Duo Security is reporting 200 percent revenue growth for 2015.

Innovation News Oxford Companies mural

Oxford Companies plan more murals as part of growth plan

Art is an afterthought for most real-estate companies. For Oxford Companies, it's a critical part of its business plan. The Ann Arbor-based company made a splash last year with the creation of one of the largest murals in downtown Ann Arbor. This year it's making plans to add two more significant pieces of public art in downtown.

Feature Story John Birko supervises a student in the AAPS Homebuilding Class

Washtenaw County's 5 most innovative high school classes

The modern high school curriculum doesn't look quite like it did a decade ago. While the core subjects remain, new ideas about how to teach to the next generation are finding their way into the classroom. Concentrate highlights five of the most innovative high school classes in the county.

In The News PlymouthRd

Siemens chooses Ann Arbor as "Center for Intelligent Traffic Technology"

Siemens has been using Ann Arbor as a guinea pig for traffic flow management research, and now intends to expand its program to include more than 50 local intersections.

In The News A2 Votes

U-M classes inspire local government careers

Students at the University of Michigan are taking classes that foster both inspiration and insight into the practical application of public service. The result for some has been a new career in local politics. 

Development News UMCU branch entrance

University of Michigan Credit Union opens new branch in Ann Arbor

The University of Michigan Credit Union has opened a new, stand-alone branch on the south side of Ann Arbor. Maybe you've seen it? It's near Briarwood Mall and has a big, blue roof and large windows.

Development News Pretzel Bell logo

U-M alumni put mustard on nostalgia with new Pretzel Bell restaurant

Three University of Michigan alumni are resurrecting the storied Pretzel Bell in the soon-to-be old Lena space at the corner of Main and Liberty streets. The trio want to bring back their memories of what the restaurant was like when they graduated from U-M in the 1950s-60s-70s.

Innovation News Humantech logo

Humantech expands workplace ergonomics through software

For more than 20 years Humantech was known as a go-to consulting firm when it came to workplace ergonomics. The Ann Arbor-based company has become one of the largest consulting ergonomics firm in the U.S. since its founding in 1987. But it needed more to maintain its upward trajectory.

Hasini and Harshini Anand are members of Corner Health Center's Youth Leadership Council and mental health advocates.

 


   Voices of Youth
Concentrate's Voices of Youth series features content created by Washtenaw County youth in partnership with Concentrate mentors, as well as feature stories by adult writers that examine issues of importance to local youth. Click here for a full list of the latest content from this series.