BINGHAM FARMS ? Benzinga, a media Web site that generates trading ideas, has received a $1.5 million investment from Lightbank, started by the cofounders of Chicago-based Groupon. Benzinga is a fast-growing media source that delivers streaming news, trading ideas, original commentary and analyst ratings. It will use its new resources to add personnel and fund
ANN ARBOR - Ann Arbor SPARK recently added five to its team and also promoted two of its staff. The new hires are: Britany Affolter-Caine, Ph.D., director, talent; Lukas Bonner, vice president, business development; Donna Doleman, vice president, marketing, communications and talent; Maricatharine Eggenberger, events manager; and Erin Wiley, executive assistant. Skip Simms was promoted
DETROIT - Wayne State University is helping TechTown startup companies secure college talent with a new incentive program that rewards entrepreneurs for hiring work-study students. Companies in the TechTown community will now be eligible to receive a 50 to 100 percent reimbursement from Wayne State of the students' work-study salaries. "The goals of the program
DETROIT - Michael Wright will add the responsibilities of chief of staff to his role as Wayne State University's vice president for Marketing and Communications. He will report directly to WSU President Allan Gilmour. Wright has managed marketing, public relations, media relations, advertising, publications production and Web activities since he joined Wayne State in July
LANSING - The Michigan Saves Home Energy Loan Program will be able to offer loans up to $20,000 beginning June 1 under an order approved by the Public Service Commission on Thursday. The program, currently limited to loans between $1,000 and $12,500, provides low-interest notes through participating lenders to assist homeowners with energy efficiency upgrades.
NEW YORK ? Barnes & Noble's latest e-reader has a black-and-white touch screen and aims squarely at the grandma demographic - or at least customers craving a simpler e-book reader. The slimmer, smaller, cheaper Nook's price tag - $139 - is a sign that the book seller seeks to compete with Amazon and Borders Group
OAK PARK - Azure Dynamics Corp., a developer of hybrid and electric truck powertrains, said it sold 27 Ford Transit Connect Electric vans. Included were a five unit sale to returning customer FedEx Express, a four unit sale to the City of Toronto, a three unit sale to DTE Energy, and 15 unit sales to
LANSING - Gov. Rick Snyder Thursday called the approval of Michigan's $46 billion budget in advance of his May 31 target date "an achievement that underscores the power of Michigan." Earlier in the day, the Michigan Senate passed the omnibus budget bills for the 2011-12 fiscal year, sending them to Governor Rick Snyder for his
AUBURN HILLS - An initial public offering on Wall Street sometime next year could be in the cards for Plex Systems, which provides Plex Online, a cloud-based Enterprise Resource Planning software for manufacturers. Plex CEO Mark Symonds, during an interview earlier this month at PowerPlex 2011 Conference in Dearborn, said Plex is looking to ?go
GRANDVILLE ? Cloud computing solutions that allow access to data anytime, anywhere, from any device will be the focus of Trivalent Group's Seventh Annual Solutions Expo June 16 at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Cloud computing is just the latest technology offered by the privately held IT services provider that has posted 72 consecutive