Natalie Burg Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Ann Arbor's west side has become a destination for food shopping, and now GFS Marketplace is offering the community another option. The Gordon Food Service retailer opened earlier this month in a renovated retail space near the corner of Liberty and Stadium Blvd.

"We were just looking for a location that would make us convenient to additional customers and that happened to be a property that became available," says GFS Marketplace spokesperson Mark Dempsey. "It was an existing building that we could convert to our needs."

The 1,400 square foot building underwent a number of renovations, including opening the ceiling to expose wood dome trusses, facade improvements, new HVAC and lighting as well as a new receiving dock.

Though GFS Marketplace sells restaurant quality foodservice products, Dempsey says the retailer is open to the general public without a membership.

"Customers are enjoying the grand opening festivities," he says. "We've had some terrific events in the store since it’s opened. We’re having a lot of fun in Ann Arbor."

The Ann Arbor location is the second area GFS Marketplace store, joining a Carpenter Rd. outlet in Ypsilanti. About 35 employees work at the new store.

Source: Mark Dempsey, GFS Marketplace Writer: Natalie Burg

Technology and Innovation

Blaze Medical Devices raises $1.1M of $2M VC round

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Source: Concentrate

Blaze Medical Devices is more than halfway to its goal of raising $2 million worth of seed capital, raking in $1.1 million as of this fall. "My goal is to close on all of that before the end of the year," says David Weaver, CEO of Blaze Medical Devices, adding it might take until early 2014 to hit the target. The 7-year-old company originally had a goal of raising $1.5 million in seed capital but bumped that number up to $2 million after encountering higher demand from investors than expected. The Ann Arbor-based startup, which made the semi-finals of this year's Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition, is developing blood transfusion technology that will enable medical professionals to better control and optimize blood banking and transfusions. Its clinical tests help assess the quality of stored blood and its laboratory instruments help facilitate blood research. The company has finalized the design of its product this year and hopes to begin sales early next year. "We have a queue of people who are interested in the product for research," Weaver says. "We expect to roll it out next year." Blaze Medical Devices has hired three people over the last year, expanding its staff to six employees. Weaver expects to make a couple more hires in 2014. Source: David Weaver, CEO of Blaze Medical Devices Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Economic Development

Eco-Fueling makes first sales, plans to raise $1M

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Source: Concentrate

Eco-Fueling has made its first sales and its diesel fuel technology is on the road and helping make commercial trucks more efficient. The Saline-based startup has spent the last year field testing its technology and has finalized the specs on the software and hardware for its products. There is currently a pilot project of the prototype on recycling trucks in Australia, and Eco-Fueling is aiming to scale up its production and sales in 2014. "We'd like to have six fleets in production and $3 million to $4 million in sales," says Paul Chandler, CEO of Eco-Fueling. The 3-year-old company's technology optimizes combustion in diesel engines that improves fuel consumption and lowers emissions. The firm has hired two people over the last year, including positions in business development and strategic planning. It now employs four people. Eco-Fueling, a semifinalist at this year's Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition, is also looking to cap off fundraising for a seed capital round within the next few months. Chandler is aiming to close on $1 million by the first quarter of next year to help further development of the technology and scale its production. "I have resisted raising money until we have made a production-ready system, which we do now," Chandler says. Source: Paul Chandler, CEO of Eco-Fueling Writer: Jon Zemke

Economic Development

Inmatech aims to reinvent batteries with supercapicitor

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Source: Concentrate

If the conventional wisdom about technology is correct and future change is more likely to be found through incremental improvements instead of great leaps forward, then Inmatech might have the next step forward in battery technology. The Ann Arbor-based startup's technology takes advanced, customized supercapacitors and inserts them in batteries for electronics. The supercapacitors enable the batteries to improve the delivery of energy and up energy density. "That way the battery is just handling the energy storage," says Saemin Choi, CTO of Inmatech. The startup and its team of four people, which calls the University of Michigan's Venture Accelerator home, is currently in the prototype phase and looking to sell its first units in 2015 or 2016. Inmatech also won the DTE Energy Alternative Energy prize (worth $25,000 in seed capital cash) at this fall’s Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition. The money will go towards the startup’s efforts to close on a seven-figure seed capital round in the coming months. "We have raised close to $1 million," Choi says. "We need to raise $1.5 million in 2014." Source: Saemin Choi, CTO of Inmatech Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Technology and Innovation

PHASIQ works to commercialize lab tool tech

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Source: Concentrate

University of Michigan spin-out PHASIQ is looking to bring its new research instrument to a life sciences lab near you in the not-too-distant future. The Ann Arbor-based startup's technology genesis came from research developed by Shuichi Takayama and Arlyne Simon at U-M. The 1-year-old company instrument "provides an ultra-specific diagnostic platform for detecting protein biomarkers in biological samples," according to its company description at this fall's Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition, where the startup made the semifinals. It offers "the most stringent quality custom assays to pharmaceutical companies for drug and biomarker discovery, advancing personalized medicine." PHASIQ's instruments are currently being used by clinical researchers at the University of Michigan. The company is still tweaking the instrument’s design to streamline its operation. "We're trying to change it so anyone can use it," Takayama says. "We want to make it simple." A $150,000 Small Business Innovation Research grant is currently funding the development of PHASIQ's technology by the startup's core team of four people. The company is aiming to commercialize the instrument midway through next year and is currently working to raise a round of seed capital to make that happen. "We anticipate we will need at least $2 million by 2014," Simon says. Source: Arlyne Simon and Shuichi Takayama, co-founders of PHASIQ Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Technology and Innovation

SkySpecs creates buzz around drone inspection tech

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Source: Concentrate

SkySpecs is aiming to commercialize its drone inspection technology next year and has reached a number of milestones toward achieving that goal. The Ann Arbor-based startup is developing aerial drones that use artificial intelligence to inspect infrastructure in dangerous locations, such as the blade of wind turbines. They are not remote controlled so they wouldn’t require the user to be onsite to operate the vehicles. The 1-year-old company's team of nine people have an operational prototype and have applied for one provisional patent for their technology. They have raised $470,000 in seed capital amnd hope to hit their target of $700,000 by the end of this year or early next year. "The goal is to start a pilot project in quarter one of 2014," says Danny Ellis, co-founder of SkySpecs. "By quarter two, we hope to have it in our partners' hands without us being on site." SkySpecs made the semifinals of the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition last week. The startup, which was launched by University of Michigan students, took third place in last year's Accelerate Michigan student competition. You can check out a video of its elevator pitch, here. Source: Tom Brady and Danny Ellis, co-founders of SkySpecs Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Entrepreneurship

Ann Arbor startups set growth curve at Accelerate Michigan

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Source: Concentrate

If the student competition at this fall's Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition is supposed to be a stepping stone to bigger prizes in the main event of the business plan competition, then startups from Ann Arbor are proving the theory true. Accelerate Michigan got its start in 2010 as an event to provide access to seed capital, resources and investors to fledgling tech startups based in Michigan or those looking to move to the Great Lakes State. This year the organic growth of Michigan's startups started to show. Covaron Advanced Materials won the student portion of Accelerate Michigan last year under the name Kymeira Advanced Materials, taking home $25,000 in seed capital. Last week the Ann Arbor-based company took second place in the overall competition, which comes with a $100,000 check. It was the most prominent example of a young, up-and-coming startup setting the growth curve at Accelerate Michigan. Ann Arbor-based SkySpecs took third place (with a prize of $10,000) in last year's Accelerate Michigan student competition. The 1-year-old startup is developing aerial drones that use artificial intelligence to inspect infrastructure in dangerous locations, such as the blade of wind turbines. This year it made the semifinals of the overall competition, going against older, more developed startups. Tom Brady, one of the startup’s co-founders, says "the competition is stiff" when talking about the other startups pitching at Accelerate Michigan. He and his co-founders felt much more confident about their pitch because of their previous experience in the student competition. "If we had gone straight from an idea to the business plan competition we wouldn't have done well," says Danny Ellis, co-founder of SkySpecs. Source: Tom Brady and Danny Ellis, co-founders of SkySpecs Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Feature Story

Meredith Kahn and Eric Kampe with a few of their peppers

Healthy Communities

Guest Bloggers: Eric Kampe & Meredith Kahn

Eric Kampe & Meredith KahnWednesday, November 13, 2013

The local food economy, at its most granular level, starts with seeds. Eric Kampe and Meredith Kahn, co-founders of Ann Arbor Seed Company, discuss this new way to be local.

Partner Content

Community Development

50 years, 50 stories: Story #28 Food GatherersAnn Arbor Area Community Foundation

Ann Arbor Area Community FoundationWednesday, November 13, 2013

Michigan’s first food rescue program got its start on a fall day 25 years ago, when a group of volunteers borrowed a van and collected 50 pounds of food to distribute to hot meal programs in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. A lot has changed since then. Today, Food Gatherers - with the help of 5,500 community volunteers - now distributes more than 5.45 million pounds of food to a network of 150 local community programs and helps feed thousands in need.

Feature Story

Geoff Michael producing a Rollie Tussing recording session at Big Sky Recording

Technology and Innovation

Check 1-2, 1-2: Ann Arbor's Recording Studio Scene

Patrick DunnWednesday, November 13, 2013

With the rise of home recording technology and DIY musicians, are the days of the Hit Factory and Sun Studios over? Not if you know your niche, say local sound engineers. Concentrate's Patrick Dunn checks in with a trio of Ann Arbor's recording studios and gets the lay of the land.

Entrepreneurship

Local high school entrepreneurs peddle team 'Spirit Specs'

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Source: mlive.com

Speaking of innovation, a pair of Ann Arbor high school senoirs have been bitten by the entrepreneurial bug. They've launched Spirit Specs, sunglasses that are emblazoned and dyed with your favorite college team's colors and mottos.

Excerpt:

"Noah Hirschl and Josh Carn-Saferstein, seniors at Community High School and Skyline High School, are co-founders and co-owners of Spirit Specs — a custom sunglass startup.

The pair, who went to Hebrew school and middle school together, started brainstorming business ideas their sophomore year. They settled on making glasses to leverage their location in a college football hotbed."

Read the rest here.

Economic Development

Ann Arbor area has new technology job mojo

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Source: Progressive Policy Institute

Washtenaw County secures further evidence that we are a destination for technological innovation... at least when it comes to private-sector jobs that are in related to technology and information. Considering the cities on the Progressive Policy Institute's list, being ranked 18th in the nation is pretty darn good.

Excerpt:

"On average, the top 25 counties, as measured by the Index, showed an average private sector job gain of 2.4% between 2007 and 2012. That doesn’t seem like much, but the remaining counties had a decline of 3.5%. In other words, a vibrant tech/info sector tended to make the difference between a local economy that had recovered by 2012, and one that was still in decline.

The implication is that policies to encourage tech/info growth are more likely to boost the overall economy. Innovation creates well-paying jobs. What’s more, the diversity of places on our list suggests a high-growth economy is not just for traditional tech powerhouses such as Silicon Valley, but has broader applicability."

See the rankings here.

Technology and Innovation

Ann Arbor's HistoSonics named Innovator of the Year

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Source: Oakland County Government

HistoSonics has produced a device that uses sound waves to treat tissue in lieu of invasive surgery. Clinical trials have been set for patients with urinary problems due to an enlarged prostate. Pretty cool, huh?

Excerpt:

"Christine Gibbons, HistoSonics president and chief operating officer, said the Vortx Rx was approved for investigational use in clinical trials on humans in May by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Health Canada. Clinical trials began in July to treat patients with urinary problems due to an enlarged prostate. The trial phase is expected to last several years. The discovery and development work on the technology was performed at the University of Michigan.

Six units were made, three of which are being used for clinical trials at sites in Michigan, Ohio and Ontario. The hope is the device will be used for other clinical indications beyond urology."

Read the rest here.

Technology and Innovation

Ann Arbor's Barracuda Networks goes public, plans to double staff

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Source: USA Today

Ann Arbor has had its fair share of big company sales and public offerings but not all of them have stuck around. Barracuda Networks, whose public debut brought in an impressive $75 million at the close of the bell, has decided that A2 makes a very nice home, thank you very much. And they're planning to double down their staff.

Excerpt:

"Firewall and data storage company Barracuda Networks made its public debut this morning on the New York Stock Exchange, raising $74 million, at an opening price of $18 per share.

Investors immediately pushed the stock — trading under the ticker symbol CUDA — to more than $23 per share, though the price settled to $21.55 as the market closed.

The 10-year-old company's IPO follows network security company FireEye's sizzling IPO in late September. It's the latest affirmation of Wall Street's continuing love affair with technologies designed to help the good guys slow down data thieves, cyberspies and hacktivists."

Read the rest here.

To read about their hiring plans click here.

Economic Development

Local developer plans near-downtown condo project with Liberty Landings

Natalie Burg Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Source: Alex de Parry, Ann Arbor Builders

With so much momentum in downtown Ann Arbor toward increasing walkability, biking and public transit, a car wash seated on a valuable, near-downtown property makes a decreasing amount of sense. Local developer Alex de Parry has proposed an idea to replace the Liberty Car Wash that he says makes much better use of the land.

"The site was a bit underutilized," says de Parry of Ann Arbor Builders. "It looked like a good site for a condominium.

De Parry's proposal is to build a eight-condominium housing development on the Liberty St. property. Though the project is still in its earliest stages, he hopes to get started on by spring of 2014.

Thus far, de Parry has been holding neighborhood meetings to gather feedback from citizens about the project. The reception his project has received, he says, has been positive – not only from the neighbors, but also from prospective residents.

"There is definitely interest," de Parry says. "Everybody wants to live downtown."

Though everybody may want to live near downtown Ann Arbor, de Parry says his semi-customizable, market rate condos will attract permanent residents, as opposed to students. The three-story building will include three two-bedroom units on the first and second floors ranging between 1,100 and 1,300 square feet each. The top floor will include two larger units at 2,100 square feet each.

Source: Alex de Parry, Ann Arbor Builders Writer: Natalie Burg

Arts and Culture

Ophir Crafts brings the art of crafting to Westgate with kits and classes

Natalie Burg Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Source: Kate Ernsting, Ophir Crafts

Hosting international students and residents is often a learning experience, but something a Korean undergraduate student mentioned to Kate Ernsting was particularly enlightening. With all the time students spend in front of screens, they were getting together to do crafts on evenings and weeks. It was something they had experienced with their own daughter. Light bulb moment! Ernsting and her husband Gary saw a business opportunity they'd never considered before: crafting.

Ophir Crafts opened in Westgate Shopping Center in early Sept., offering fair trade crafts for sale, but focusing primarily on inspiring and teaching others to craft.

"We want to have people interact with culture and with other people through their craft creations," Ernsting says. "We sell products that are gifts, but we also sponsor local artists to come in and do trunk shows."

Ophir Crafts also sells crafting kits and offers classes on everything from knitting to greeting cards to candy making. The 1,350 square foot store is located between Nicola's Books and the Ann Arbor District Library in Westgate.

The family business employs Ernsting and her husband, as well as their daughter and three other part-time workers. Ernsting plans to expand Ophir Crafts' offerings to include more crafting demonstrations in the future.

Source: Kate Ernsting, Ophir Crafts Writer: Natalie Burg

Entrepreneurship

Chelsea dermatologist opens in Clocktower Commons

Natalie Burg Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Source: Anil Singal, Adult & Pediatric Dermatology

When Dr. Anil Singal wanted to open a dermatology practice of his own closer to his family in Southeast Michigan than the Chicago-area practice where he got his start, he started looking around at waiting lists. In Chelsea, he found, some patients wait three months to see a dermatologist, and that was a statistic he hoped to change.

"When I did my dermatology rotations, I just fell in love with the field," says the University of Michigan graduate. "If someone has a severe rash, it changes the way they feel about themselves. If you can change them for that, it can make such a profound difference for people."

Singal recently celebrated the grand opening of Adult and Pediatric Dermatology, which opened in the renovated Clocktower Commons in Chelsea. The location, within a short walk of downtown, was exactly what he was looking for.

The 2,000 square foot space was in white box condition when Singal arrived, allowing him to customize the office to his needs. The office includes four exam rooms and an esthetician room.

Adult and Pediatric Dermatology currently employs Singal, a medical assistant, esthetician and his wife as office manager. After working in a large practice, his aim is to keep the practice small and accessible.

"I'm aiming to keep it small to keep that close, personal touch," says Singal. "Access is a huge thing for me."

Singal says response to the new dermatology practice has been positive thus far, with appointments increasing weekly. He says patients have been particularly receptive of his online appointment system, as well as the quick availability of appointments.

Source: Anil Singal, Adult & Pediatric Dermatology Writer: Natalie Burg

Arts and Culture

Main Street Coins & Collectibles brings antiquities to Saline

Natalie Burg Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Source: Bill Ortell, Main Street Coins & Collectibles

It was never Bill Ortell's plan to own a rare coin and collectibles store, but after he met Ralph Leffler, the owner of D&R Coins in Milan, a plan was made for him.

"He was a wealth of knowledge," Ortell says of Leffler. " He and I hit it off real good. He didn't want everyone else to buy the business out. Some people don't know how to talk to people about coins."

It was a good instinct. After all Ortell has been collecting coins for more than four decades and loves to talk about the antiquities for hours. When he was offered a great deal on the business, he took it, and when Leffler recently passed away, he decided it was time to relocate and rebrand the business as his own, opening up Main Street Coins and Collectibles in downtown Saline.

"On Main St. [in Milan], I could count a hundred cars go by in a day," says Ortell. "In Saline, I have more on than that go by in one hour."

It's a good sign for downtown Saline that Ortell says his new 3,000 square foot storefront was chosen because it was the only available space he could find in the district to fit his needs.

Main Street Coins and Collectables employs Ortell and one employee. Ortell says his goal is to be as fair as possible to customers and offer in-depth knowledge. While Ortell specializes in American currency, his employee has experience with foreign coins, as well as extensive knowledge of antique jewelry.

Source: Bill Ortell, Main Street Coins & Collectibles Writer: Natalie Burg

Economic Development

ForeSee creates 60 new jobs, wants to hire 30 more

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Source: Concentrate

One of the constants of ForeSee, formerly ForeSee Results, has been its growth. The Ann Arbor-based firm has enjoyed double-digit gains in each of its 12 years and has been expanding its staff at a similar rate. "We are a company that has had really consistent growth every quarter of every year," says Larry Freed, CEO of ForeSee. The user-satisfaction business has been on a bit of a hiring binge over the last year. It has hired 80 people over the last year, including creating 60 new positions. It is also looking to fill 30 more positions across the board right now. The company now has a staff of 330 employees and six interns, including 250 people in Ann Arbor. "I think we have hired in just about every team this year," Freed says. ForeSee provides user-satisfaction surveys for business both online and in the real world. Its secret sauce utilized the University of Michigan's American Customer Satisfaction Index to measure results. The company got its starts offering these surveys online, which formed the foundation for the firm’s growth. ForeSee has expanded the reach of these surveys, offering them in social media, mobile, call centers, and in brick-and-mortar stores. "The web business is growing really, really nicely," Freed says. "The other areas are growing as well." Source: Larry Freed, CEO of ForeSee Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Economic Development

Leon Speakers hires 10 in Ann Arbor, acquires FL firm

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Source: Concentrate

Leon Speakers isn't only the little company that could. This year it became the little company that could acquire. The Ann Arbor-based firm that makes custom speaker systems acquired Media Decor. The Florida-based company makes custom frames for flatscreen TVs. Leon Speakers had been working with the company for years before executing the acquisition in September. "We wanted to expand into the genre," says Noah Kaplan, president & founder of Leon Speakers. Leon Speakers got its start in 1997, building custom speakers using silk screens and exotic hardwoods. Its calling card became building beautiful speakers that could be installed into odd places. It now has a staff of 45 employees and one intern. It has hired 10 people over the last year, including professionals in marketing, engineering, manufacturing and skilled labor. It it currently looking to hire five people who work in production and sales. Propelling that growth is Leon Speakers’ gains in the commercial and international markets. Overall the company’s revenue is up nearly 30 percent over the last year. "We have really expanded globally," Kaplan says. "We're making gains in Latin America, Asia and New Zealand." While the growth is welcome, Kaplan is looking to reign it in a bit. In 2014, the company is looking to consolidate its gains and bring even more focus on product quality. "I want to focus on our internal operations," Kaplan says. "I want to turn away from constant growth mode to focus on making great products and sell them to great customers." Source: Noah Kaplan, president & founder of Leon Speakers Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

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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.