GRAND RAPIDS — The West Michigan industrial economy continues to see marginal growth despite effects from the GM strike, a Grand Valley State University economist said. Brian G. Long, director of Supply Management Research in GVSU's Seidman College of Business, surveyed local business leaders and his findings below are based on data collected during the
HOLLAND—Seaport Capital, a New York City-based private equity firm, announced that it has made a strategic investment in Rutherford & Associates Inc.. Rutherford provides software for beverage distributors, including route accounting, warehouse management, forecasting, and mobile sales capabilities through its proprietary product, eoStar. Seaport funded the investment through Seaport Capital Partners V, a $230 million
GRAND RAPIDS — Grand Ventures led an investment round in CRE Simple Inc., an Oakland, Calif.-based fintech firm focused on commercial real estate. The Grand Rapids venture capital firm led the round with Fin Venture Capital in San Francisco. Two Chicago-based firms, Darkknight Ventures and Sandalphon Capital, along with Durham, N.C.-based Duke Angel Network and other private investors
ANN ARBOR—The night before Thanksgiving is Michigan’s biggest bar night, with college students and young adults returning home and celebrating with friends before spending Thanksgiving Day with family. So how about if they kick off that night with a job search? Ann Arbor Spark is doing just that, offering a free chance to connect job
DETROIT - Twenty-four semi-finalists were announced Monday for the 10th annual Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition where the top prize is $350,000. The semi-finalists were drawn from nearly 300 registered companies. These semi-finalists will have the opportunity to meet-on-one with investors to discuss their business proposals. Judges will then select six finalists to present live at
DETROIT—Huron Capital announced its IT products and services business unit, Santa Clara, Calif.-based InterVision, has acquired SeyVu, a Folsom, Calif.-based company that specializes in machine learning and artificial intelligence, and all of its related interests, assets and intellectual properties. SeyVu’s data analysis capabilities include fraud prevention, voice of customer, supply chain, market research, investment research, brand
DETROIT – Detroiters have made their decision – and 27th Letter Books, Brix Wine and Charcuterie, ILERA Apothecary, Street Beet and The French Cow have all advanced to the final round of the Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest. This is the first time in the contest’s nine year history that five businesses have been named as
DETROIT - TechTown Detroit will honor Suzanne Shank as the TechTown 2019 Entrepreneur of the Year at its fourth annual Salute Awards, to be presented as part of the Toast of the Town celebration of entrepreneurship Oct. 10. The event, celebrating TechTown’s 15 years, will take place at TechTown Detroit with the award ceremony starting at
DETROIT - TechTown Detroit has named six Detroit-based businesses as nominees to receive TechTown On Tap Salute Awards at the Toast of the Town celebration of entrepreneurship Oct. 10. TechTown On Tap Awards are given to two TechTown clients, one tech company and one small business, who have reached significant milestones. The year’s TechTown On
DETROIT – gBETA, a free pre-accelerator program offered in Detroit since 2017, will operate a cohort this fall focused on musictech and entertainment startups. Applications are currently being accepted from any startup building music- or entertainment-related products, services or content. But the deadline to apply is Sept. 8. Unlike the industry-agnostic program gBETA has previously
