Pinoccio is looking to raise some seed capital in a new way, crowd funding. The Ann Arbor-based start-up has launched an Indiegogo campaign to raise $60,000 to produce its new microcontroller technology and the company is nearly halfway there. "We're in a state now where we feel good about reproducing them," says Sally Carson, co-founder of Pinoccio. "We just need the funding to do that." Pinoccio is developing a wireless, web-ready microcontroller with WiFi, LiPo battery and built-in radio. This technology allows users to send commands to the microcontroller, about the size of your thumb, from their laptop using the Internet. Carson and Eric Jennings began developing this technology about six months ago. They choose to base the company in Ann Arbor because Carson's husband is pursuing a PhD in biology at the University of Michigan. They hope to raise the $60,000 from the Indiegogo campaign by Valentines Day and have raised $25,000 as of Tuesday. "I'd like to see this become a sustainable business," Carson says. "I am excited to see what people build with Pinoccio. It's exciting to build a tool and see what clever and smart people build with it." Source: Sally Carson, co-founder of Pinoccio Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Downtown Dexter is less than 10 miles west of Ann Arbor, but it's looking more like Montana if Hotel Hickman's Chuck Wagon BBQ has anything to say about it. You might recognize the catering and take-out joint, which opened in the former sheriff substation at 8050 Main St. in late November, by the chuck wagon parked out front from time to time. Owner Scott Thomas does a brisk business cooking up Texas beef brisket and ribs on his 1889 chuck wagon, which also often sits outside the Dexter Feed Mill. He smokes all of his meats and makes everything from scratch – dishes like buttermilk biscuits and gravy, and mac and cheese. Four people staff Hotel Hickman's Chuck Wagon BBQ, open Friday through Sunday all winter long. The foursome also does Wild West reenactments and cooking for private parties. Thomas plans to hire more staff and add outdoor picnic tables during the busier summer season. "It's kind of a hobby, a little passion doing a little barbecuing," Scott says. Source: Scott Thomas, owner, Hotel Hickman's Chuck Wagon BBQ Writer: Tanya Muzumdar

The newly opened R.U.B. BBQ Pub is filling one of the last few slots in Ann Arbor's culinary palette. The eatery, located at 640 Packard St., began serving barbecue and hundreds of different beers during the last weekend of 2012. A student grand opening will be held from Thurs., Jan. 10 - Sat., Jan. 12. "I like to call [Ann Arbor] the restaurant capital of Michigan because there's so many different palates of cuisine to choose from. The one particular taste of food that's missing is great authentic from-scratch barbecue," says Omar Mitchell, regional manager of R.U.B. BBQ Pub, which also has locations in Detroit and Warren, Mich. The restaurant group is owned by the Yono family. The eatery, formerly home to the Packard Pub, has been newly painted and has over two dozen TV screens, more tables and chairs, LED lighting, and energy-efficient coolers.  "We're doing little things like that to give back and go green, you know?" Mitchell says. About three dozen new hires staff the pub, which still has several job openings. Ultimately, the pub will have over 50 employees, according to Mitchell. It is open seven days a week and also offers curbside pickup, delivery, and catering. Source: Omar Mitchell, regional manager of R.U.B. BBQ Pub Writer: Tanya Muzumdar

Esperion Therapeutics is bringing on some familiar faces to its staff, including a new CEO that has an extensive history with the pharmaceutical firm. Tim Mayleben replaces Esperion Therapeutics' founder, Roger Newton, as president and CEO while Newton becomes the firm's executive chairman and chief scientific officer. Mayleben previously served as president and CEO of Ann Arbor-based Aastrom Biosciences before stepping down last summer. Mayleben also once served as Esperion Therapeutics' COO and CFO a decade ago, helping it raise more than $200 million in seed capital and negotiating its sale to Pfizer in 2004 for $1.3 billion. Newton bought back the company four years ago and relaunched it. "I am a business person by training. Roger is a scientist and a company builder," Mayleben says. "We complement each other really well." Esperion Therapeutic's most advanced product candidate, ETC-1002, is in Phase 2 clinical trials 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. In preclinical and clinical studies to date, treatment with ETC-1002 has been shown to be safe and well-tolerated while producing statin-like reductions in LDL-C and inflammatory markers. Esperion Therapeutics plans to wrap up it's Phase 2 clinical trials later this year and begin Phase 2 D clinical trials in 2014. Phase 2 D clinical trials are one of the final steps before FDA approval and often take two years or more to complete. The company has historically called Ann Arbor home before moving to the Michigal Life Sciences Innovation Center, managed by Ann Arbor SPARK, in Plymouth. The company now employs 11 people after hiring three recently. Source: Tim Mayleben, president & CEO of Esperion Therapeutics and Roger Newton, founder of Esperion Therapeutics Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Integrated Sensing Systems, AKA ISSYS, is looking tot expand its product portfolio from micro sensors in the life sciences industry to micro sensors that can be used in the industrial space. Since 1995, the Ypsilanti-based business has designed and developed microelectromechanical systems for medical and scientific sensing applications. Its latest piece of technology is an implant that allows medical professionals to wirelessly monitor the heart. "We hope to begin clinical studies early next year," says Nader Najafi, president & CEO of Integrated Sensing Systems. He adds he hopes to begin sales in Europe in 2014 and in the U.S. the next year. The company is also looking at selling fluid sensors in industrial manufacturing, however, the company is still in the early stages of exploring that new market. "We're trying to bring in strategic partners," Najafi says. Integrated Sensing Systems employs 25 people and has made a handful of hires in 2012. It expects to add a couple more jobs in 2013. Source: Nader Najafi, president & CEO of Integrated Sensing Systems Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Lyndsay Dusek was laid off in 2006. The Ann Arbor resident had a background in web development, graphic design, the fine arts and languages so she decided that adding all that up equaled the right mix for starting a business. Six years later, Meadow Fete Media is looking to hire its first employee. The downtown Ann Arbor-based Internet business specializes graphic design and web development. It has done a number of projects with local small businesses, including Vinology, The Produce Station and a community-garden initiative for Project Grow. "2012 was a huge growth year," Dusek says. "I am hoping to make this year an even bigger one." To help make that possible, Dusek is looking to hire a person who specializes in front-end web development and graphic design. "I am essentially looking for a second me," Dusek says. To make that happen, Dusek plans to increase work from a growing list of locally based clients headed by people she can relate to and identify with. "That's the major factor in the growth of the company," Dusek says. Source: Lyndsay Dusek, CEO of Meadow Fete Media Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.