Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Edge Hill University in Lancashire, U.K. will be holding a special screening of selections from Ann Arbor's 50th Film Festival. It's part of the festival's world tour program.

Excerpt:

"America's longest-running independent film festival celebrated its milestone anniversary in March 2012, presenting 233 films, videos and live performances over six days, including more than 30 premieres of new work. It will arrive at the University’s Arts Centre on Wednesday 6th February for a one-off free viewing as part of the 50th birthday celebrations."

Read the rest here.

Transportation

Is car sharing the way of the future?

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Source: The Christian Science Monitor

Ann Arbor is just one of many cities embracing such car-sharing programs as Zipcar. With more than 750K members, car-sharing programs are becominga vianle alternative, particularly for a younger generation with different transportation priorities than their parents.

Excerpt:

"In the case of car sharing, a few factors have contributed to its rise. "Re-urbanization is a big trend," says Mark Norman, president and chief operating officer of Zipcar, based in Cambridge, Mass. "Lots of people are staying in cities, raising their kids there. Empty nesters are returning to walkable communities."

"We're dancing around the issue of young buyers," says Bruce Belzowski, an assistant research scientist at the University of Michigan's Transportation Research Institute in Ann Arbor. Young adults have "different priorities than having a new vehicle," he says.

Millennials aren't buying cars in the volumes their counterparts once did. Adults ages 24 to 31 bought just 27 percent of vehicles sold in the United States in 2010, down from a peak of 38 percent in 1985."

Read the rest here.

Economic Development

Startup Weekend boasts 55 pitches, 12 potential businesses

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Source: Michigan Daily

You've heard of the 48-hour movie competition? Similar idea, bigger impact. Over three days students pitch start-up ideas, winnow them down to the best dozen, put together teams, develop their plan then persent their ideas for a winning business. It's a 54 hours endure test for budding entrepreneurs.

Excerpt:

"On Friday evening, all Startup Weekend participants were given the opportunity to pitch business proposals for potential start-ups. By late evening, 55 pitches were brought forward and participants voted on their favorites. Then, teams were built around the 12 winning pitches. Though pitches this year tended to be mainly for technology products, other pitches included a non-profit venture to help feed impoverished children.

Business sophomore Lorenzo Salacata, an organizer of the competition, noted that though the majority of participants were students with non-engineering or computer science backgrounds, approximately 40 percent of Startup Weekend participants had coding experience."

Read the rest here.

Technology and Innovation

Ann Arbor is tops in churning out patents

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Source: The Brooking Institute

Okay, it's a per capita ranking (patents/thousand jobs) but still tenth in the nation is pretty impressive. For overall patent output over five year (590) we were 37th. That averages out to more than 2 per day. Detroit ranked tenth in overall patents with 2,720 but 35th per capita.

Check out the stats by metro area and company here.

Economic Development

PRIME Research to triple footprint in former Borders building downtown

Natalie Burg Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Source: Julie Myers-Beach, PRIME Research North America

Though many were sad to see Borders exit their State St. location, there's reason for cheer again as another high tech company has signed on to help refill the key downtown building. Germany-based PRIME Research plans to expand their North American headquarters into a 16,000 square foot, second-floor space this year.

"We have grown out of it," says PRIME Research North America's Julie Myers-Beach of the company's current, 5,000 square foot Ashley St. location. "We're about as close together as we can be."

Myers-Beach says the company is eager to get into the new space, which is now undergoing significant renovations, including a new elevator.

"They'll be putting in windows," says says. "Along the side of Maynard and Liberty, it will be almost all windows. They're also adding additional bathrooms and updating the stairway. They're doing a lot of infrastructure work to the building."

PRIME Research hopes to move into the new space in June, in advance of the Ann Arbor Art Fair According to Myers-Beach, the location was ideal for the company, which chose the State Street location for one of the same reasons it chose Ann Arbor as its headquarters in 2004.

"We really like being so close to the University of Michigan, because we do hire quite a few students here," says Myers-Beach. "We wanted to be close to the universities, and, at the beginning, we were almost predominantly auto clients, so we wanted to be close enough to Detroit."

The staff of PRIME Research's Ann Arbor location has grown from 42 employees to 80 over the past year. Myers-Beach says she expects that growth to continue in the new space as the company hopes to expand into new markets, such as the hospitality sector.

Source: Julie Myers-Beach, PRIME Research North America Writer: Natalie Burg, Development News Editor

Economic Development

what crepe? to bring French rustic, 50 jobs to downtown Ann Arbor

Natalie Burg Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Source: Dennis Williams, what crepe?

Downtown diners in search of something new certainly have options in the Liberty area with a rush of new restaurants opening over the past few months. According to what crepe? manager Dennis Williams, however, the forthcoming creperie will have no problem standing out from the pack.

"[What crepe?] fits here," he says. "The crepe itself is traditional, but what we're doing with it is kind of unique. That's what Ann Arbor is; it's traditional, but it's unique."

The former location of Squares Restaurant has been undergoing some serious renovations over the last four months, bringing what Williams calls a "Euro-sexy" feel to the third what crepe? that differentiates it from the first two restaurants.

"We've got the chandeliers and the warm colors here, and the wood makes it French-rustic," he says. "If you look at the Royal Oak location, it looks more like Parisian living room. In Birmingham it's like downtown Paris."

As for food, Williams says the classic French crepes will come with a variety unusual fillings, making the classy-meets-casual restaurant appropriate for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

"It's that classic crepe, but [owner Paul Jenkins] asked, 'Why can't you have chicken or steak or salmon inside a crepe? Why can't you think outside the crepe?'"

The new restaurant will open with 50 employees. While Williams says an opening date is uncertain at this time, he expects to start serving guests in mid-February.

"We don't have a date just yet," he says. "We'll shout it to the heavens when it's time." Source: Dennis Williams, what crepe?

Writer: Natalie Burg, Development News Editor

Arts and Culture

Fresh, affordable Mexican arrives on Washtenaw with Maiz

Natalie BurgWednesday, February 6, 2013

Source: Jason Branham, Maíz Mexican Cantina

Three months doesn't sound like very long to develop and open a new restaurant, but for Maíz Mexican Cantina General Manager Jason Branham, the time between sitting down with building owner Demos Panos in November and opening the Washtenaw Avenue location in January was intense.

"We put a lot of time and thought into it," says Branham. "It was difficult because a lot of people are saying that doesn't look Mexican. I want a place where people can bring their family to, but they can also have a nice date."

The classy-meets-affordable Mexican restaurant came about after Branham's market research told him it was exactly what the area needed.

"We looked at the demographics around here and found a large Hispanic community within a mile around us," he says. "Also, Don Carlos used to be located across the street, and it was recently mentioned as one of the most missed restaurants."

So far, that information seems to be proving to be true. Branham says the biggest problem the 220-seat restaurant has had since opening January 21 is being too busy. Maíz opened with 26 employees, and Branham is already making plans to hire more.

In addition to meeting demand, Branham says integral to the restaurant's business plan is providing fresh, local food at an affordable price.

"Mexican has a lower food cost compared to a lot of different cuisine," says Branham. "So, from a business standpoint, that was appealing, but that doesn't mean we can't put out great food. 'Fresh, from scratch food for under $10' is the mantra."

While Branham says they are currently not utilizing their freezer much at all, he's looking forward the spring and summer to have access to more local produce to serve, as well as freeze for use year round.

As the largest Washtenaw Avenue establishment with a full bar between US-23 and Eastern Michigan University, Branham also hopes to attract nightlife patrons to Maíz.

Source: Jason Branham, Maíz Mexican Cantina Writer: Natalie Burg, Development News Editor

Economic Development

$10M Kerrytown Place condos proposed for North Main St.

Natalie Burg Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Source: Tom Fitzsimmons, Huron Contracting

Tom Fitzsimmons knows a thing or two about residential developments in Kerrytown.

"We've built five new homes here over the last two years," says the Huron Contracting developer. "We have people wanting to live in Kerrytown. It seems like ground zero for housing in downtown."

That number could jump another 19 units in the next year if his $10 million Kerrytown Place condominium development comes to fruition on N. Main Street and Fourth Avenue. The three-building project is proposed at the site of the recently demolished Greek church, a location Fitzsimmons says makes for a great location for residents.

"It'll be a very exciting place to live," Fitzsimmons says. "You'll be able to walk out your back door, walk 100 feet and be in the middle of the Farmers Market."

The two- and three-bedroom condos would range from 1,300 to just over 2,000 square feet each. Fitzsimmons expects the units to be priced neither at the low or high end of the downtown housing market, estimating prices could be between $275 to $325 per square foot.

According to Fitzsimmons, the design of the project has been developed to fit into Kerrytown's historic aesthetic, as well as with parking for residents in mind.

"We're conscious of the need for parking," he says. "We were able to put them underneath the building, and achieve two parking spaces for every single condominium."

The proposed Kerrytown Place condos have been submitted to the city's Design Review Board, which will examine the project in February. From there, the proposal will move through a citizen participation meeting, the Planning Commission and City Council for approval.

"For us, the best possible outcome is to have a smooth process where people support the project," says Fitzsimmons. "We hope to be through the approval process by fall and be able to start construction right away, and to bring the condos for sale in early next spring."

Source: Tom Fitzsimmons, Huron Contracting Writer: Natalie Burg, Development News Editor

Healthy Communities

Local Orbit triples staff, preps for multi-state expansion

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Source: Concentrate

Local Orbit is ramping up its hiring in preparation for a significant growth spurt this summer. The downtown Ann Arbor-based local-food-ecosystem-software start-up has hired five people, expanding its staff to seven employees and two interns. "We have more than tripled out team, which is great," says Erika Block, founder & CEO of Local Orbit. Local Orbit's technology helps connect restaurants and institutions with local producers in their local food ecosystem. Think Eastern Market in Detroit and how it's center of a local food universe. The software platform provides a flexible, customizable suite of business tools that helps everything from farmer's markets to food co-ops streamline ordering, transaction processing, inventory management, logistics, integrated marketing and business analytics. It works for everything from fresh produce to craft food to local artwork. "It's anything that people are producing or selling locally," Block says. Local Orbit is currently being used in eight local food ecosystems in Michigan, Washington, New Mexico and Pennsylvania. It recently received an investment from the Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund and hopes to leverage that seed capital to grow into 20 new markets in the coming months and 80 within the next year. "We're ramping up for a big spoke in users in the next six months," Block says. Source: Erika Block, founder & CEO of Local Orbit Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Economic Development

Monarch Antenna wins top prize at ACE '13 competition

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Source: Concentrate

Monarch Antenna is off to a fast start in 2013, winning the top prize at the Great Lakes Entrepreneur's Quest's ACE business plan competition last week. The Ann Arbor-based start-up took home first place in the Emerging Company category and $5,000 in seed capital with it. The company is developing next-generation antenna technology and was able to translate the science behind the new technology into why its a promising investment. "We have been carving out mind space with the industry players," says Randy Dence, CEO of Monarch Antenna. "We need working capital and working engineers right now." The 5-year-old company was spun out of Michigan State University. The technology alters the electronic properties of an antenna so it can maximize signal quality. It started out in 2007 with grant money from NASA and the U.S. military to create its first applications for a space suit belt and a flak vest. Today it's working toward creating revenue through producing the antenna technology in medical devices, military applications and smart phones. It counts Automation Alley as one of its early investors. Monarch Antenna currently employs four people and the occasional intern. The company is working on building prototypes of the technology, raising seed capital and looking for strategic investors. Dence has been focusing on product development and clarifying the message about its potential. "My goal is to be mentioned in the top two or three companies in the tunable antenna space," Dence says. Source: Randy Dence, CEO of Monarch Antenna Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Economic Development

Pharma Form Solutions carves out niche with contract research

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Source: Concentrate

Pharma Form Solutions sees a need in the pharmaceutical industry (contract research) and is making headway to meet it in Ann Arbor. The less-than-1-year-old company was launched by a couple of locals who have more than 50 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. They saw that companies in that sector, both big and small, are looking to outsource some of their lab research work instead of shouldering the costs of maintaining their own research facilities. "There is a tremendous need for this sort of discovery work done in the pharma industry," Barry Paxton, CEO & co-founder Pharma Form Solutions. Pharma Form Solutions provides contract research services and offers high quality solid-state screening services, process development, and a generation of intellectual property associated with physical forms of research compounds. The company recently won the "Most Committed to the Business Model Canvas Process Award" award at Ann Arbor SPARK's most recent Entrepreneur Boot Camp. Paxton points out the boot camp experience help his three-person firm see that it has both opportunities to get work from both big pharmaceutical companies and smaller pharma start-ups. "The best way we found to penetrate the market is to do work with these small pharmaceutical companies," Paxton says. "It's a more direct path to get into a profitable business." Source: Barry Paxton, CEO & co-founder Pharma Form Solutions Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Economic Development

Spork's mobile app LeaseCrunch begins to gain traction

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Source: Concentrate

A couple of tech entrepreneurs in Ann Arbor have teamed up to create Spork, a mobile app start-up who's first offering is starting to gain traction. Spork release LeaseCrunch about a year ago with little fanfare and even less marketing. The mileage-monitoring app for leased cars has enjoyed a slowly growing following since. It has about 400 users and is still being actively bought in the iTunes store. Jordan Brown and Ross Johnson, Eastern Michigan University grads and Spork's co-founders, plan to ramp up the visibility through viral marketing this year. "It has done a lot better than I expected without advertising," Brown says. "People are just sort of stumbling upon it." LeaseCrunch helps drivers keep track of their leased vehicle's mileage to prevent overage charges. Through a few simple setup questions and periodic odometer mileage updates, the application calculates where the user stands in the life of their lease and projects where they will be when it's time to turn the vehicle in. "I wanted something with a graphical representation and projections instead of just a do-it-yourself spreadsheet thing," Brown says. Source: Jordan Brown, co-founder of Spork Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Economic Development

Trilogy Health Ventures begins investing, acquiring in Ann Arbor

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Source: Concentrate

Trilogy Health Ventures has only been doing business for the last 18 months but the company has bought two existing firms, started another one and is looking at spinning out technology from the University of Michigan. The Ann Arbor-based firm has launched Pharma Form Solutions (a contract pharmaceutical research firm) and bought two home health-care firms. It's also speaking with the University of Michigan's Office of Technology Transfer about spinning out promising technology from the university and turning it into a start-up. "It started as a boutique investment group," says Barry Paxton, managing partner of Trilogy Health Ventures. "We found there is a real need for professional management." The most pressing of these investments are the home-health-care companies. Paxton expects their growth will mean the creation of dozens of new jobs in the short-term. "We are looking at hiring about 100 new employees in the Ann Arbor and north Livingston County area within the next year," Paxton says. Trilogy Health Ventures currently employs a team of five people and it's not finished building businesses by a long shot. "I would imagine we would have a handful more companies in our portfolio soon," Paxton says. "This is a great time in Michigan. There are a lot of great companies out there." Source: Barry Paxton, managing partner of Trilogy Health Ventures Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Community Development

Pure Michigan Venture Dev Fund invests $4.5M in Ann Arbor VCs

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Source: Concentrate

The Pure Michigan Venture Development Fund has invested $4.5 million between two Ann Arbor-based venture capital firms. Michigan eLab and Resonant Venture Partners have each received $2.25 million from the Pure Michigan Venture Development Fund. The money originates from the Michigan Strategic Fund and is awarded by the Michigan Economic Development Corp. The money is targeting first- and second-generation venture capital funds based in Michigan. The capital is intended to help those funds raise additional funds, gain traction in the market and help grow the state's investment community. "It's validation because of the review process the MEDC puts you through," says Doug Neal, managing partner of Michigan eLab. "It's a nice step toward our fundraising goal. We're close to two thirds of the way to our first close of fundraising." Michigan eLab is a early stage technology venture fund focused primarily on IT and life science/health care companies that spin out from the University of Michigan. Neal is the executive director at the University of Michigan's Center for Entrepreneurship. His co-founders include Rick Bolander, Scott Chou (venture capital veterans since the 1990s) and Bob Stefanski (a Silicon Valley serial entrepreneur with a number of technology start-up exits under his belt). The venture capital firm is working to bring both more seed capital and expert business coaching into the local entrepreneurial ecosystem from places like California. "We're not just about venture capital," Neal says. "We are also about bringing talent back to Michigan." Two University of Michigan MBA graduates launched Resonant Venture Partners in 2010 after leading the Ross School of Business' Wolverine Venture Fund. The firm's focus is to fill the need for early stage investments in tech companies. Its investment portfolio includes some of the region's highest profile start-ups, such as Duo Security (an Internet security start-up that has attracted funding from Silicon Valley) and Accio Energy (an alternative energy start-up led by the CEO that built Accuri Cytometers into a acquisition worth hundreds of millions of dollars). The Pure Michigan Venture Development Fund plans to invest in as many as two more new Michigan-based venture funds. Winning venture funds must raise additional private-sector capital amounting to at least 4.5 times the state's investment. The Pure Michigan Venture Development Fund is currently accepting application until February 28. Applicants are required to raise at least $1 million in private capital, but not more than $25 million, from at least three unrelated investors at the time of application. Source: Doug Neal, managing partner of Michigan eLab Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Feature Story

Arts and Culture

Concentrate Speaker Event: Downtown Ann Arbor's New Entrepreneurs

Concentrate StaffWednesday, January 30, 2013

Change is inevitable. Slowly but surely Ann Arbor's downtown is reflecting that fact as old businesses fade away and new businesses move in. Concentrate's January speaker event looks at downtown's next generation of entrepreneur - who they are, the challenges they face, the experiences they've had, and the things they'd like to see in our community. Join us for a spirited conversation at The Bar At Braun Ct. TOMORROW for happy hour. Sign up now, space is limited!

Feature Story

Dana Nelson and Josh Williams at All Hands Active Makerspace, Ann Arbor

Arts and Culture

Hands on deck for All Hands Active

Tanya MuzumdarWednesday, January 30, 2013

Hackerspaces, makerspaces, whatever you call them, they're pretty dang cool. All Hands Active churns out high, low and in-between tech inventions in downtown Ann Arbor, accomodating everyone from kids to start-ups. Concentrate's Tanya Muzumdar descends into their subterranean lair to get the low down.

Feature Story

L to R Mike Klein and Yan Ness with the twin power generators at Online Tech in Ann Arbor

Economic Development

Online Tech's co-CEOs always have a backup

Patrick DunnWednesday, January 30, 2013

In the world of computer data hosting redundancy is a way of life. Ann Arbor's Online Tech has taken that philosophy to a new level, putting in place two CEOs. But far from duplicating each other's efforts, the dual company leaders have found that they complement and strengthen each other's talents.

Arts and Culture

App firm started by U-M students reinvents note-taking

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Source: BusinessInsider.com

The article claims that Fetchnotes is based in Cambridge but it was founded in Ann Arbor by U-M students. It went out to Boston to participate in a business accelerator program.

Excerpt:

"...what if there was a way to improve on this simple idea by integrating one of our favorite social media platforms, Twitter?

Meet Fetchnotes.

Fetchnotes is more than just a place to store ideas. Users generate their own organization method through hashtags and followers."

Read the rest here.

Arts and Culture

A2 directed, written and produced movie stars Hunger Games hunk

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Source: YouTube

Homegrown but Hollywood fueled, "Love and Honor" was co-written by U-M professor Jim Burnstein, directed by U-M grad Danny Mooney, produced U-M grad Eddie Rubin, and shot in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. But it stars The Hunger Games hunk Liam Hemsworth.

You can see the Vietnam era movie on VOD starting February 14 and in theaters on March 22.

Check out the trailer.

Sustainability

The Urbanwood Project turns wood waste into valuable resources

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Source: earth911.com

Between the emerald ash borer, landfill-bound wood waste, and mill rejects, a whole lot of timber egst overlooked or discarded. Enter Recycle Ann Arbor, which teamed with the nonprofit Southeast Michigan Resource Conservation and Development Council and the Genesee Conservation District to develop a one-of-kind organization to turn wood waste into a usable resource.

Excerpt:

"The project grew out of a happy accident in 2005 when Recycle Ann Arbor was looking to put some new flooring in one of their conference rooms and sought out a sustainable option. They had heard some local sawmills were creating products from ash trees, and the Southeast Michigan RC&D Council put them in touch with those producers, Simons explained. Eventually, people began asking about the new flooring, which led Recycle Ann Arbor to sell a small amount of the urban wood in their reuse center. Out of those small beginnings, Urbanwood has grown into a project that involves half a dozen sawmills and two retail outlets, one at Recycle Ann Arbor's ReUse Center and the other at a Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Flint, Mich."

Read the rest here.

Load More Stories

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.