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.

A wide variety of student-led startups scored thousands of dollars in seed capital at the most-recent Michigan Business Challenge. The annual business-plan competition at the University of Michigan awarded $113,000 from the Michigan Business Challenge and Dare to Dream grant program. The competition awarded money to 16 teams that ranged from $200 to teams that made it past round one to $20,000 for the top placer. Among the winners were clock generator technology for the microprocessor market and a workout water bottle that can be turned inside out so it can be washed. "When you have that kind of diversity of really smart people all in one place it is unusual if you don’t see that sort of breadth of diversity when these competitions come up," says Stewart Thornhill, executive director of the Zell-Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies, which organized the competition. Among the top winners are: Movellus Circuits won the Pryor-Hale Award for Best Business (worth $20,000) for its patent-pending clock generator technology for the microprocessor market. Flipsi won the Pryor-Hale runner-up award for best business ($10,000) and the marketing award ($2,500). Flipsi is creating a reusable drinking bottle that flips completely inside out to facilitate easier cleaning. A group of three U-M graduate students studying engineering ands business won the Erb Institute award for Sustainability ($7,500). The trio is developing an energy system that installs heavy-duty power electronics and battery storage units in commercial buildings for fast-charging services to electric vehicle drivers. MyDermPortal won the Outstanding Presentation award ($2,000) and the Marketing award ($2,500) for its web-based app for dermatologists to provide follow-up treatment via the Internet for the most common diagnoses in significantly less time than an in-person visit. Lab Compass won the Most Successful Undergraduate Team award ($2,500) for its cloud-based software enabling more efficient collection, storage and sharing of sensitive healthcare data used in medical research. Nodify won the Best Written Plan award ($2,000) for its mobile apps that automatically refine a user’s professional network into a manageable group of important contacts and suggests relevant reasons to stay in touch. "The ones that did emerge at the tip of the heap are the one that showed the most promise," Thornhill says. Source: Stewart Thornhill, executive director of the Zell-Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies Writer: Jon Zemke

Ypsilanti's Heritage Collision & Frame is expanding to a new location. The new Scio Township location will double the family business in both size and staff.  "We'll have more space to get cars done more effectively and more efficiently," says Mike Berczel, manager of Heritage Collision & Frame. "We've reached capacity here, and are basically at the breaking point." That capacity is set to double when the approximately 6,500 square foot Jackson Rd. shop opens in early summer. Renovations to the space are now underway, and will include the removal of walls, updates to the office area and state of the art equipment. According to Berczel, the key to the business' growth that has led to the need to expand has been a commitment to maintaining the atmosphere of a family company. "We have a family feel," he says. "You're going to get a good experience here. You're going to get honest, up front service." The current Heritage Collision & Frame shop, located on Carpenter Rd., employs a staff of about ten employees. Berczel says the new shop will begin with fewer workers, but will eventually employ the same number of employees, doubling the business' total staff.  Source: Mike Berczel, Heritage Collision and Frame Writer: Natalie Burg

When Xavi Vitta moved to Ann Arbor from Spain years ago, what he missed most was the style of restaurant he was used to at home.   "Something less ceremonial than a restaurant, with outstanding food," he says.  With Simply Spanish, a food cart coming to Mark's Carts this spring, he intents to bring exactly that to Ann Arbor. Simply Spanish will feature authentic Spanish foods that are simple, made with fresh ingredients.  "Eating well has also been a pillar in my upbringing," says Vitta. "I would like to share the joy of eating well with others." According to Vitta, the food cart format is a perfect fit for his concept, enabling a wide variety of customers to share a few tapas during their meal. The cart itself will reflect the Spanish culture as much as the food, decorated in graphics that celebrate the ceramic art of Gaudi.  Vitta plans to open Simply Spanish in April of this year with a staff of two, which he intends to grow to three based on demand. He is looking forward to sharing his culture with the Ann Arbor community through his tapas style cuisine.  Source: Xavi Vitta, Simply Spanish Writer: Natalie Burg

G2 Consulting Group is opening up a new office in Ann Arbor, which is bringing a handful of new hires to Tree Town. The Troy-based firm provides environmental and geotechnical engineering services in the construction industry. It has an office in Chicago and is opening up the new office in Ann Arbor to accommodate its double-digit revenue growth. The new office has a staff of six people and ambitions to grow further. "We are going to hire a couple more people for that office," says Noel Hargrave, co-founder & principal of G2 Consulting Group. He adds there are two engineering jobs currently open. The 20-year-old firm has experienced significant growth in the last two year, spiking its revenues by 20 percent in 2012 and 31 percent last year. Part of that expanded work comes from the University of Michigan and Washtenaw County. G2 Consulting Group is opening a lab for soils and materials work in its Ann Arbor office to accommodate that work. G2 Consulting Group does work across the U.S., operating in 29 states. Hargrave says the business has grown with the upswing in economy because it’s true to its word when it’s time to deliver. "We do what we say we're going to do and we do it on a timely basis," Hargrave says. "In construction you can't be the person holding up the project." Source: Noel Hargrave, co-founder & principal of G2 Consulting Group Writer: Jon Zemke