GRAND RAPIDS - By making a significant investment in cybersecurity, West Michigan manufacturers can avoid having their sensitive information getting into the wrong hands. Just ask Jessica Dore, a principal in technology risk management in Grand Rapids at accounting and consulting firm Rehmann LLC. Dore works on the firm’s Corporate Investigative Services unit that performs cybersecurity
KALAMAZOO - Vestaron Corp. seeks to raise $12 million in investments to enable the company to bring to market its environmentally friendly pesticide based on spider venom. Vestaron closed in late June on the first round of the capital raise, netting more than $4.2 million from five existing investors. The capital will go toward producing
GRAND RAPIDS - Grand Rapids is one of three cities nationally to be selected for a pilot program from Ford Motor Co. aimed at addressing the transportation needs of today and in the future. In selecting Grand Rapids along with Miami and Pittsburgh, the Dearborn-based automotive company hopes to engage residents and the business community in determining
GRAND HAVEN — JSJ Corp. has invested $3 million in a startup company that wants to commercialize a device designed to reduce infections acquired in hospitals and other settings. UV Partners Inc.’s UVAngel disinfects surfaces using safe, low doses of ultraviolet light. The device mounts atop surfaces such as computer keyboards, touchscreens and equipment. The system’s sensors
GRAND RAPIDS - As Michigan begins to license medical marijuana businesses, a new association seeks to offer an array of financial services to the industry. The Grand Rapids-based Michigan Cannabis Risk and Financial Association LLC wants to connect medical marijuana growers, processors, testing facilities, distributors and sellers with insurance and other professional services they need for their
GRAND RAPIDS — Spectrum Health has committed $7.5 million to a new Chicago-based venture capital fund that backs emerging heath care technologies. The commitment to invest $2.5 million annually over three years into 7wire Ventures’ Connected Consumer Health Fund comes from Spectrum Health Ventures LLC, the $100 million venture capital fund the health system formed in early 2017. By investing
GRAND RAPIDS - Despite steel and aluminum tariffs, West Michigan’s economy continues to grow a new report from Grand Valley State University contends. Brian Long, director of supply chain management research at GVSU’s Seidman College of Business, said his survey of purchasing managers index tick up by two points over the previous month to 34,
HOLLAND - A West Michigan venture capital firm closed last week on $7.2 million of the $10 million it seeks to raise to invest in health care startups. Formed last fall by Genesis Innovation Group LLC, a developer of emerging medical device technologies, cultivate(MD) Capital Fund GP LLC netted investments from about 50 individual investors. Many investors are
GRAND RAPIDS - North American light vehicle sales should dip this year to around 17.1 million units, breaking a streak of seven consecutive year-over-year gains, according to Mike Wall of IHS Markit. But while he expects the market to contract further to around 16.9 million units next year, Wall believes the automotive supply chain is positioned
ANN ARBOR - A software company that wants to use artificial intelligence to take workplace wellness has closed on a $4.5 million capital round that the company said will accelerate product upgrades and support sales and marketing. The capital round for Jool Health Inc. was led by CVC Jool Investors LLC, a corporate entity based in
