If slow and steady wins the race it also can build the business. That's what the team behind Message Blocks is learning. The Ann Arbor-based startup offers a comprehensive event-planning software platform that streamlines the event-planning process. The platform focuses on the event planner's experience, allowing users to share documents and presenters to use plug-in presentations. Message Blocks launched this platform in the fall of 2013 and has built it up ever since. "We have kept every customer," says Len Gauger, founder & CEO of Message Blocks. "Our retention rate is quite high." The 2-year-old startup has also attracted new clients. It landed the Michigan Realtors Association, which is using the platform for everything from events to media releases. Message Blocks also has pilot programs with new customers underway in Michigan, California, and Washington, D.C. This year the company is looking to take on bigger events, such as concerts. "We are looking at out-of-the-box verticals that deal with large amounts of people," Gauger says. "It's about helping their team organize better." Message Blocks currently employs a team of seven people and is looking for a few summer interns this year. It has hired three people over the last year and is looking to add another three right now. Source: Len Gauger, founder & CEO of Message Blocks Writer: Jon Zemke

Stratos is launching its all-in-one payment card this week, a product that aims to consolidate the contents of your wallet into one piece of durable, dynamic plastic. "It's a next generation card that can hold all of the cards in your wallet," says Thiago Olson, CEO of Stratos. The Stratos Bluetooth Connected Card consolidates an unlimited number of plastic cards into one and can work anywhere traditional credit cards are accepted. That means the Stratos Card can load credit, debit, loyalty, membership and gift cards into a familiar, universally accepted card that can instantly change into the card you need on demand. The Stratos Card comes equipped with Bluetooth technology that consolidates your cards helps make sure the right one is ready to go when the user is ready to check out. Check out a video describing it here. "If I simple double tap this card it will say, 'Based on your location you are near Macy's. Do you want to use your Macy’s card?'" Olson says. Users can access the Stratos card on a subscription basis for $95 per year or $145 for two years. Customers can sign up now and expect the cards to be shipped in April. The cards are made of a durable plastic that comes with a scratch-proof coating. "It's more resistant to wear and tear than an average credit card," Olson says. Stratos launched a little more than two years ago in downtown Ann Arbor. It has grown into a new office space in Kerrytown, taking over the former home of Duo Security. It currently employs a staff of 50, including 25 people and a few interns in Ann Arbor. It has hired about 15 people over the last year and it looking to hire another 14. You can check out the open positions here. Source: Thiago Olson, CEO of Stratos Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

As Ann Arbor lands in the top 10 for most economically segregated cities in the U.S., city officials say they are committed to changing that dynamic. Good to see that the conversation we started in earnest several months ago has snowballed into a serious exploration of what our community needs to accommodate residents of every stripe. Excerpt: City Council this week voted, 10-1, to adopt affordable housing goals, the Ann Arbor News reported. That's part of a larger goal of adding 3,137 affordable non-student rental units between Ann Arbor and Pittsfield Township over the next 20 years. Officials also hope to increase demand for market-rate housing in the Ypsilanti area by 4,187 units. Read the rest here.

Looks like news of Ann Arbor's tech scene is spreading. While we didn't break the top 10, NerdWallet lists us at a respectable 12th for innovation. Excerpt: Silicon Valley is by far the leader. With a high number of patents per capita and venture capital funding figures that no other place comes close to, the metro area that includes the cities of San Jose, Sunnyvale and Santa Clara leads all in tech innovation. The West dominates. Only two East Coast places made our top 10 list — Burlington, Vermont, and Boston, Massachusetts. Universities are key. Every area in our top 10 is located near a major university, suggesting that higher education and innovation are closely linked. Read the rest here.

When it comes to bikes, David Yapp wants to keep the wheels turning. Yapp recently founded Recycled Cycles Bike Shop, operating out of a storefront at 32 N. Huron St. in Ypsilanti, to buy, refurbish and sell gently used bikes back to the community. "There are so many bikes already out there, it just makes sense," Yapp says. "And maybe not everyone wants a brand new bike -- maybe it’s something classic they enjoy." Recycled Cycles also accepts donations of used parts to be refurbished or sold, and repairs bicycles. Not only is purchasing a used bicycle usually more economical, but it also holds the opportunity to make the bike unique to the rider, Yapp explains. "Anything that can be of value, we'll save," he says. "We'll use it for the next bike, or a project bike." Yapp draws from his 15+ year passion of "cycling and everything related," he says, including working in bike shops, racing, and riding all over the country. "This is what I know and this is what I love," he says. "It's really just a fun place to work for me." He's hoping to manage the workload with volunteers and friends to start, but as the weather warms up and more people dust off their own bicycles, adding a small staff may be necessary based on growth. He also hopes to offer bike maintenance classes. "There's nothing wrong with used bikes," Yapp says. "We're trying to reestablish a passion for refurbished bikes." Source: David Yapp, founder, Recycled Cycles Bike Shop Writer: Kristin Lukowski

Stout Systems has been riding a nice wave of success since the Great Recession hit, and it looks like the ride has yet to crest for the tech firm. "If it keeps going this way for us it will be a record year for us," says John W. Stout, founder & president of Stout Systems. "It was already a record January for us." The Ann Arbor-based company providing staffing and consulting services in the software and IT sectors. It's fourth quarter last year produced the best sales ever for the 22-year-old firm. That allowed it to add to its staff, including four hires in January and another one coming onboard this month. The firm currently employs 35 people, including a dozen that work at client sites. "The area we have grown the most is our consulting business," Stout says. "It has really taken off in the last few years." Stout Systems also recently won the Corp! Magazine's 2015 DiSciTech Award in the Science and Technology category for its innovative and cost effective project management system. The DiSciTech awards are presented to Michigan companies and educational organizations that are leading the way in science, technology and digital initiatives through innovation, research and applied science. Source: John W. Stout, founder & president of Stout Systems Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Draper Triangle Ventures opened its Michigan office in Ann Arbor a year ago, and the venture capital firm is off to a fast start. The Pittsburgh-based firm has made investments in two Ann Arbor-based startups over the last year. The first was in Amplifinity, which makes referral software, in early 2014. Draper Triangle Ventures also recently sunk money into Pixel Velocity, a image processing and data analytics startup. "A person can make and manage two investments per year," says Jonathan Murray, managing director of Draper Triangle Ventures’ Ann Arbor office. "I'll make two investments this year, and Pixel Velocity is one of them." Draper Triangle Ventures has more than $200 million under management across three funds. Its latest investment fund was set to raise more than $100 million. The venture capital firm invests in early stage tech ventures, such as software and IT startups. Murray is Draper Triangle Ventures’ lone representative in Michigan. The firm has its main office in Ann Arbor and another satellite location in downtown Detroit. Murray expects to make one more investment in a local startup this year but that number could grow. "I have a long list (of potential startups to invest in)," Murray says. "There are a lot of very good prospects on it. It could change from two investments to three investments if the right opportunity comes along." Source: Jonathan Murray, managing director of Draper Triangle Ventures’ Ann Arbor office Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

If you're one of those townies who grumbles every time they see a U-M student playing beer-pong on their front lawn or crossing against the light when you least expect it or, well, whatever townies grumble about (over crowded restaurants, clueless drivers, too loud music, etc), keep in mind that you might be cursing the next Peace Corp volunteer. Yep, U-M ranked 8th when it comes to producing international do-gooders (51 volunteers currently). The university also ranked No. 5 on the Peace Corps' list of the top-producing graduate schools Or so says the Peace Corp in this report.

Dexter's Jolly Pumpkin Brewery ranks six out of the twelve best beers in the Mitten. Or so says Thrillist online magazine. And, frankly, we take serious issue with that assessment. Don't get us wrong, there are many fine Michigan brews on their "scientific" list. But sixth? Puh-lease. Jolly Pumpkin easily ranks in the top three. So say we all! Excerpt: "Jolly Pumpkin is all about those rustic, country style, sour beers, and if the whole sour thing seems off-putting to you, don’t worry about it. Most folks who think they don’t like sour beer wind up liking Jolly Pumpkin’s sour beer, so much so that their facilities last year maxed out at around 4-5,000 barrels. And although this is a beer list, you should also eat their food. Trust us." Read the rest o' the list here.