Ann Arbor's WindSight wins ACE competition, aims to hire up to 60 people

Wednesday, January 28, 2009 | Source: Concentrate

Ann Arbor's WindSight is on a hot streak and expects that it expects to translate into upwards of 60 jobs within the next five years.

But the alternative-energy firm still has a long way to go to reach its goal. Right now it has two employees but expects that number to reach 10-20 by the end of next year.

"We're looking to ramp up hiring this year and next," Williams says.

Good thing one of the firm's two current employees is good at spreading the gospel of WindSight. Peter Tchoryk, the start-ups CEO, won the elevator pitch competition at last week's ninth Annual Collaboration for Entrepreneurship at Washtenaw Community College. He beat out six other competitors from the Great Lakes region.

WindSight is a spin-off of Michigan Aerospace Corporation, which is lending the start-up its initial manpower to get it going for the time being. It is commercializing its parent corporation's laser-based wind measurement products. It plans to operate a plant out of Battle Creek and is still determining where to locate its permanent headquarters.

WindSight's technology provides wind farms and turbine manufacturers with atmospheric information that helps them maximizing energy production while reducing maintenance costs.

Source: Cliff Williams, director of product development for WindSight
Writer: Jon Zemke