DETROIT—The Detroit startup “stock market of things” StockX announced the largest venture capital raise in Michigan history, a $110 million Series C financing round that values the company at more than $1 billion. Participating in the investing round were Hong Kong-based DST Global, New York City-based General Atlantic, and Menlo Park, Calif.-based GGV Capital. The company also
ROYAL OAK - ToDoolie, a marketplace to hire local students to help with simple and outdoor tasks, has become a portfolio company for Invest Detroit Ventures. IDV Manager Tember Shea interviews Sergio Rodriguez, Co-Founder & CEO, to dig into the business plan. https://soundcloud.com/mike-brennan-841872555/e175-tember-shea-invest-detroit-ventures
DIMONDALE - The San Diego real estate firm Innovative Industrial Properties Inc, which focuses on the regulated cannabis industry, announced that it entered into an amendment of the lease with Green Peak Industries LLC in Dimondale, making available an additional $18 million in funding for expansion of its cannabis cultivation and processing at the property.
ROYAL OAK -Kathleen Norton-Schock updates the recent podcasts she has done on her own show, Diva Tech Talk, as well as the upcoming events for the Michigan Council of Women In Technology - including its big Golf Outing. https://soundcloud.com/mike-brennan-841872555/e174-kathleen-norton-schock
EAST LANSING - Five startup teams from Michigan State University have been selected to participate in the Conquer Accelerator, a 10-week program that pays each team $20,000 in seed funding. Each startup gets tailored mentorship from leaders within their respective industries, a creative co-working space at the MSU Hatch, as well as access to a
ROYAL OAK - KLA Ann Arbor Lead John McLaughlin talks about the hundreds of job openings created by the $70 million semiconductor equipment maker that is opening a research and development facility in Ann Arbor. Upwards of 500 opening will be created in the years ahead with some 100 jobs in 2019 alone. https://soundcloud.com/mike-brennan-841872555/e173-klas-john-mclaughlin-talks-ann-arbor-rd-lab
ROYAL OAK - The 2019 $100,000 Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest is officially underway, and submissions are being accepted through July 31st. Hatch Detroit's Vittoria Katanski joins Matt and Mike to provide all the details. https://soundcloud.com/mike-brennan-841872555/e173-hatch-detroit-opens-100000-business-idea-competition
GRAND RAPIDS - A majority of retailers across Michigan report higher sales this spring and expect to sustain growth well into the summer. In a monthly survey released in late May by the Michigan Retailers Association, 56 percent of respondents reported a month-to-month increase in sales from March to April, while 29 percent had lower sales.
ROYAL OAK -Gina Adams, Co-Founder of Buttons2Button, magnetic button covers to help people with disabilities become more self sufficient, has launched a crowdfunding campaign to expand her fledgling operations. She is getting coaching for his business from Lawrence Technological University's Centropolis Accelerator. https://soundcloud.com/mike-brennan-841872555/e171-buttons2buttons-gina-adams-on-crowd-funding-campaign
ROYAL OAK - Jarett Schlaff, CEO of Pingree Detroit, will talk about his custom leather goods business that works with veterans. Schlaff is getting coaching for his business from Lawrence Technological University's Centropolis Accelerator. https://soundcloud.com/mike-brennan-841872555/e171-pingree-detroit
