DETROIT - Registration for the Michigan Council of Women In Technology Foundation’s 12th annual website design competition - now open to middle as well as high school girls - is open until Oct. 31. Last year, 144 competitors from 30 schools vied for cash prizes. More students can participate since the competition is now available to middle-school girls. “We proudly host the longest-running
ANN ARBOR - It's a question every startup struggles with—how to divide the equity before a product, an app or service is developed? Startup founders are often compensated initially with equity shares until the business starts making money, and equally splitting shares seems like the default. Equally splitting these shares can create problems such as
ANN ARBOR - University of Michigan researchers reported 444 new inventions, up from last year's 428, and the fifth straight year of more than 400 inventions from U-M faculty. U-M Tech Transfer also had a record 172 U.S. patents issued in fiscal year 2017, up from 135 in fiscal year 2016. It also signed 173
ROYAL OAK - There’s a new co-working space in downtown Detroit and this one is focused on connecting mobility- and auto-focused startups. PlanetM Landing Zone officially opened October 5. And we’ve got all the details on this M2 TechCast podcast. PlanetM is backed by the Detroit Regional Chamber, Michigan Economic Development Corp. and WeWork, a
ROYAL OAK - Tember Shea, Director of Inforum’s InGAGE program, interviews Katie Bigelow, Founder, MettleOps, which recently secured a $9.1 Million contract with TARDEC to increase soldier survivability. Mettle Ops is a state and federal contracting entity of the larger Bigelow Family Holdings LLC. It is located in Sterling Heights where its team converges from
ANN ARBOR - SAHI Cosmetics LLC is the winner of the Rise of the Rest Road Tour pitch competition and received a check from AOL co-Founder Steve Case. Sahi Cosmetics provides custom makeup for women of ethnic skin tones, specifically medium skin tones. The startups that competed were hand selected from hundreds of entries to compete in the
ROYAL OAK - Inforum InGAGE Director Tember Shea interviews Sassa Akervall, CEO of Akervall Technologies, the manufacturer of SISU Sport Mouth Guards. Akervall ha become so successful, Sassa will be in California in November for the Ernst & Young Strategic Growth Forum and National awards gala. ATI has been named to Inc. 5000’s fastest growing
DETROIT - Detroit has been chosen as one of a handful of cities to host the global pre-accelerator Startup Boost. The free six-week mentorship program is open for applications now through September 26. Each week startups will participate in pitch practices and meet with mentors and investors in order to prepare for funding. “The program
KALAMAZOO - Grand Rapids-based Grand Angels, one of the state's most active angel investor groups, has launched an affiliate group in Kalamazoo known as the Ka-zoo Angels. Tim Parker, Grand Angels president, said the Kalamazoo affiliate will increase deal flow and strengthen ties to Western Michigan University. "To date, we have 10 members, and membership
GRAND RAPIDS - Private equity investors have more capital to deploy today than they have in years. Statistics from Seattle, Wash.-based Pitchbook show fundraising activity for private equity funds in North America and Europe reached its highest level in a decade, at $212.6 billion through Aug. 1. Meanwhile, a report from the American Investment Council,
