Source: Joe Sefcovic, Holiday Inn Writer: Natalie Burg

Source: Leah Kasle, Shakti Yoga and Massage  Writer: Natalie Burg

The co-founders of the Creators Co-op know there are a number of small business incubators and co-working spaces dedicated toward the tech industry in Ann Arbor. But they didn't see anything that really fits the needs of student entrepreneurs with an independent streak. That's why they are launching their venture just off the University of Michigan's campus this fall. "We want to create a safe space for students, by students," says Nancy Xiao, general manager & co-founder of Creators Co-op. "It's a mixture of co-working space and a professional-style fraternity." Xiao is a senior at the University of Michigan and a member of the university's MPowered student entrepreneurship program. She met former U-M football player Dhani Jones at a university event in Cincinnati a few years ago after speaking about the need for more entrepreneurial space for studentpreneurs. The pair hit it off and have since formed a core team of eight people to launch the Creators Co-op. They have secured a brick, tudor-style house at 631 Oxford, which is right next to a bus stop for the university bus line that connects Central and North campuses. The space will be open to university students who want to launch any sort of business. It will differentiate itself from the like of Ann Arbor SPARK, Tech Brewery and Workantile because it will be student-oriented. It is different than TechArb, U-M tech incubator for students, because it is independent from the university and will help students build any sort of business that interests them. Creators Co-op is sorting through applications for student entrepreneurs this fall and hopes to welcome its first class of about 30 people during the winter semester. The co-op will offer business-building and entrepreneurial mentoring services. It also hopes to work with a number of successful local business people to help the students matriculate into parts of the region's entrepreneurial ecosystem. "A lot of it is geared toward building great people," Xiao says. Source: Nancy Xiao, general manager & co-founder of Creators Co-op Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Ypsilanti-based SchoolPictures.com has traditionally grown across its home region but now it’s making a push to grow across the entire Great Lakes State. "We're interested in spreading our mission across the state, not just southeast Michigan," says Skip Cerier, president of SchoolPictures.com. The business provides portraits of students, using a formula that allows the school to create new revenue from annual student photo programs. Cerier claims his company has helped schools raise $5 million over its eight years and save another $3.5 million by out-competing other vendors. "We did a study over what was saved from the prices of other vendors at each school," Cerier says. "I was able to quantify how much each school was saving." SchoolPictures.com currently employs 41 people full-time and another 35 part-timers. It has hired four people over the last year, including sales, support and production professionals. Source: Skip Cerier, president of SchoolPictures.com Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Warmilu got its start by creating a warming blanket for infants but now the Ann Arbor-based startup is registering its first sales by broadening its customer base. Warmilu has started selling some of its heating blankets to elderly people who use it for things like helping alleviate pain caused by arthritis, diabetes and to help with improve the overall comfort level while aging. The company is also looking to open up its customer base to people who want to use the blankets for kittens and puppies. The start-up is aiming to put its price at $29.99. "We're looking to get 1,000 units sold by the end of the year," says Grace Hsia, co-founder of Warmilu. The three co-founders are University of Michigan students. Hsia recently graduated from the University of Michigan with a Masters in Entrepreneurship. Warmilu has also landed a $10,000 grant from the University's Center for Entrepreneurship. So far the start-up has raised $45,000 in seed capital to fund its commercialization efforts. Hsia says it's still going to FDA approval of its blankets so it can sell them for their original purpose, warming infants. "It's going to take us another year to get FDA approval," Hsia says. Source: Grace Hsia, co-founder of Warmilu Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.