Internet2 is expanding both its staff and its partnership base by more than 20 people, as well as striking a deal with tech-giant Microsoft. The Ann Arbor-based member-owned technology community provides a collaborative environment for U.S. research and education organizations to solve common technology challenges, and to develop innovative solutions. Last month it struck a deal with Microsoft to access the company's cloud services that should enable university researchers faster and more robust computing options for big-data projects. Students, staff and researchers at college campuses throughout the nation are expected to have faster and more secure connections from the partnership's new peering arrangement between Microsoft and Internet2. It will enable improved access to infrastructure and application services that support virtual learning environments and large-scale data intensive research projects. "As we start doing this on a broader basis, that opens the door to a lot of opportunities," says Khalil Yazdi, CIO in residence at Internet2. He adds, "It's more than just making effective and better connections. It's about the capacity to do more and how we expand that platform." Internet2 has also been expanding its staff. The organization now employs 90 people, including 43 in Ann Arbor. It has hired 22 people over the last year, with seven of those in Ann Arbor. It currently has 10 open positions, which can be found here. Source: Khalil Yazdi, CIO in residence at Internet2 Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Gary Guo thinks finding the best price for an item should be as easy as scanning a bar code. He is making that a reality with his new start-up, SmartBars. The Ann Arbor-based start-up has created a mobile app for Apple and Andriod devices. The technology allows users to scan barcodes of items while shopping. The app then tells the user what seller is offering the best deal for that item. "If you have a smart bar you can scan a barcode anywhere and find the best price," says Guo, the owner of SmartBars. The 1-year-old start-up released the free app earlier this year. The team of three people is working on offering more features to the app and increasing usage. The plan is to have it gain traction in time for this year's holiday shopping season. "We have a few thousand downloads now," Guo says. Source: Gary Guo, owner of SmartBars Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Talent retention is one of Michigan's traditional economic development goals. A new report from the University Research Corridor drives home the importance of that goal. The recently released report shows that 19 percent of graduates from Michigan's three research universities (University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Wayne State University) go onto start a business. "It was a larger number than we thought," says Jeff Mason, executive director of the University Research Corridor, a non-profit advocate for Michigan's three research universities. "We were hopeful it would be 10 percent. Nearly 20 percent is pretty significant." The rate of those graduates from the mid '90s to today that pursue entrepreneurship is about twice the national average of college graduates. More than half of those businesses are in fields different than the graduates' degree. The good news is that nearly half of those companies are based in Michigan. Also, the success rate of those business hovers around 70 percent, which is significantly higher than the national average of 45 percent. "It shows the education they are receiving at these institutions is broad," Mason says. "It helps them start companies and do amazing things." Source: Jeff Mason, executive director of the University Research Corridor Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Online banking security may be getting a little tighter with Ann Arbor-based Duo Security's product behind it. Excerpt: "Duo Security, a cloud-based two-factor authentication company, announced today that Computer Services, Inc. (CSI) (OTCQX: CSVI) has selected Duo two-factor authentication (2FA) for its online banking platform.   With Duo Security, CSI will deliver 2FA as an opt-in service to more than 140 financial institutions currently leveraging its Internet Banking platform." More here.

From June 6-9, Ann Arbor venues will be showing over 40 feature-length films culled from the world's major film festivals, many of which are making their North American or Michigan debut. Catch them at Michigan Theater, State Theater, University of Michigan's Angell Hall, and, for the first time, at the Detroit Film Theatre. Click here for more info.

Source: Hesh Breakstone, Ann Arbor Guitars Writer: Natalie Burg

Esperion Therapeutics is adding staff, closing on a round of seed capital and prepping for an initial public offering of stock later this year. The pharmaceutical firm's staff recently jumped to 13 people after making five hires over the last year. It also has a job opening for a senior director of clinical & PT staff. Helping make that expansion possible is the recent securing of $33 million in preferred stock financing. The seed capital round was led by Longitude Capital with Aisling Capital, Alta Partners, Domain Associates, Arboretum Ventures and Asset Management also participating. Tim Mayleben, Esperion Therapeutics' CEO, declined to comment on the company's growth because it recently filed for an IPO. IPOs come with quiet periods where company representatives are not allowed to promote the upcoming IPO, often leading them to decline speaking about the company altogether to be safe. Esperion Therapeutics has historically been an Ann Arbor-based company, scoring a $1.3 billion exit when Pfizer acquired it in 2004. Company founder Roger Newton reacquired the firm in 2008 and eventually moved to the Michigan Life Sciences Innovation Center in Plymouth, which is managed by Ann Arbor SPARK. Esperion Therapeutic's most advanced product candidate, ETC-1002, is being developed for patients with hypercholesterolemia and other cardiometabolic risk factors. ETC-1002 is a small-molecule metabolic regulator of imbalances in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism and inflammation. It is being developed to address the underlying causes of metabolic diseases and reduce multiple risk factors associated with them. Source: Tim Mayleben, CEO of Esperion Therapeutics Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.