Innovation & Job News

Trubiquity is experiencing significant growth by both organic and acquisition means.

The Troy-based tech business has acquired two California-based companies over the last year. That has allowed it to grow its staff by 20 people, expanding its employee count to 100, half a dozen interns and 15 independent contractors.

Trubiquity specializes in providing managed file transfer, process automation and integration solutions for 6,500 companies with 60,000 users around the world. Helping beef up those numbers is growth in the manufacturing industry, which is one of Trubiquity's top sources for clients.

"The rebound of that sector has really helped," says Stephen Koons, CEO of Trubiquity. "We have also been really successful at refining our products and bringing new products to the market."

The 17-year-old company is focusing on organic growth this year, mainly through expanded product offerings. It's also looking to expand into some new areas.

"We're also looking to break into new geographic regions," Koons says. "We have had some recent success in Scandinavian countries."

Source: Stephen Koons, CEO of Trubiquity
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Conventional wisdom dictates that business people and techies clash, often because of a lack of quality communication. Unique Solutions of Advanced Technologies is growing its business rapidly by remedying that dynamic.

The Royal Oak-based business specializes in providing IT solutions to businesses. It's niche is finding ways to bridge the communication divide between its customers (businesses) and its staff (techies).

"They don't talk to each other in the same language," says Sreedhar Kaluva, president of Unique Solutions of Advanced Technologies, who has more than 20 years experience working as an IT consultant. "I serve as the catalyst between the two entities."

That business model has allowed the 6-year-old company to double, not only its revenue but workforce, over the last year. The increases are due to a growing customer base that includes companies from a broad range of industries, including publishing, transportation and manufacturing.

Unique Solutions of Advanced Technologies now employs 10 people and is looking at adding interns this year. Kaluva expects to keep hiring this yea to make sure his company can keep up with the demand for its services.

"I am very optimistic that 2012 is going to be much more positive than even 2011," Kaluva says.

Source: Sreedhar Kaluva, president of Unique Solutions of Advanced Technologies
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Michigan doesn't lack for money. It's one of the wealthiest states in the union, but much of its investment capital ends up being deployed out of state.

"There is a lot of money in Michigan that is available for investing but it goes to the coasts mostly," says Merrill Guerra, executive director of the Michigan Venture Capital Association. "Our challenge is to get it to stay here."

The Michigan Venture Capital Association's Annual Research Report shows that dynamic is starting to shift in Michigan's favor. Capital under management by Michigan-based VCs is up 64 percent over the last five years. That $3 billion under management also has nine figures worth of dry powder, coming to nearly $370 million available for new investments, the report states.

The report adds that four Michigan venture capital firms successfully closed funds last year, raising $348 million. Ann Arbor-based Arboretum Ventures and Plymouth Venture Partners led the way. Michigan-based VCs are also trending toward raising bigger funds. The Great Lakes State now has six funds worth more than $100 million, eight more funds with a value between $50 million and $100 million and another 13 funds smaller than $50 million.

"One of the great things about putting your money into Michigan venture capital firms is the higher return on investment," Guerra says. "The companies here are more capital efficient and can be bought at a lower price but when they exit it's on a national scale."

Source: Merrill Guerra, executive director of the Michigan Venture Capital Association
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

If the best advertising for a business is a job well done, Tanner Friedman is increasingly getting its name out there.

The Farmington Hills-based public relations firm has watched both its revenue (revenue has grown each year) and staff increase. The company recently hired a former intern, bringing its office to six employees, a couple of interns and a network of independent contractors.

"I see us continuing to follow the path we're on," says Don Tanner, co-founder & partner of Tanner Friedman. "We expect to grow. This is largely a referral business."

Tanner adds that his 6-year-old firm has experienced low staff turnover. "We have been fortunate at attracting quality employees," he says. "They stick around."

Helping make that happen is a growing diversity of clients that ranges from size of the customer and the scope of work performed. When Tanner Friedman started a half dozen years ago, the industry was focused on landing larger clients on retainer. The recent recession changed that.

"The industry has changed a lot," Tanner says. "It's now all about larger retainer clients, hourly clients and project clients."

Source: Don Tanner, co-founder & partner of Tanner Friedman
Writer: Jon Zemke  

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Huntington Bank isn't shy about espousing its faith in Michigan's rebounding economy. The Columbus-based bank is also putting its money where its mouth is, announcing plans to more than double its branches in Michigan by partnering with Meijer.

"We are very bullish on Michigan," says Maureen Brown, spokesperson with Huntington Bank. "We think Michigan has the resources and the workforce to really break out of this recession. If you look at the statistics, Michigan is emerging from the recession faster than other states."

The Huntington Bank partnership with Meijer will allow the Midwestern-based bank to open in-store branches in Meijers across Michigan. The move is expected to create 500 new jobs and bump up Huntington Bank's presence in the Great Lakes State to 200 branches, representing a more than 60 percent increase.

The 10-year agreement means the dozens of in-Meijer branches will be open seven-day-a-week and serve as full-service branches. Twenty of those branches will be in Michigan-based Meijer stores. Huntington Bank is also partnering with Michigan-based Steelcase to design its new Meijer in-store branches.

Source: Maureen Brown, spokesperson with Huntington Bank
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

DTE Energy Foundation has been helping young people in the city of Detroit find jobs for several years now through its summer jobs initiative. The effort normally means several hundred quality positions, often first jobs, for young people in places where work is an uncommon commodity.

The downtown Detroit-based charitable organization is looking to spread the working wealth. The youth summer employment initiative plans to fund up to 500 jobs this summer in both Detroit and some of its economically challenged suburbs.

"We are looking to grow beyond Detroit to some other communities that are vulnerable, like Ypsialnti, Muskegeon and Pontiac," says Karla Hill, vice president of DTE Energy Foundation.

DTE Energy Foundation made a $750,000 commitment, which includes a $500,000 grant to the Grow Detroit's Young Talent program. That is the largest private donation toward its fundraising goal of $2 million. The additional $250,000 from the DTE Energy Foundation will be used to enhance Detroit's program and expand to other communities across the state.

DTE Energy Foundation plans to work with about 50 community partners to place teens and young adults in jobs. The foundation's $500,000 grant to Grow Detroit will fund nearly 350 jobs in the non-profit's Young Talent program. The summer jobs program begins in July and runs for six weeks. For information, click here.

Source: Karla Hill, vice president of DTE Energy Foundation
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

When times are good, business at ALLSTAR Transportation is good. These days the improving economy means its only getting better for the ground transportation business.

The company grew 28 percent last year, allowing it to hire 10 people. It's currently looking for chauffeurs. It expects to keep growing its limo and bus services by putting more focus on its core customers while adding new clients.

"We want to keep our core and build up the business without losing any of the core," says Bob Beutel, president of ALLSTAR Transportation.

That growth has also allowed the 18-year-old firm to move into a new headquarters. ALLSTAR traditionally rented space but decided to take advantage of the opportunities in down economy to create a platform for today and tomorrow's growth.

"We found a foreclosure that we got a great deal on," Beutel says. "We refurbished the building for what we needed and it worked out really, really good."

Source: Bob Beutel, president of ALLSTAR Transportation
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Marvel Technologies started out as a IT company in 2005. It has since shifted to a company that provides IT services but also creates software solutions for IT, a move that has turned the company into a growth gazelle, increasing revenue and adding dozens of new jobs.

The Novi-based company grew its revenue by 25 percent in its most recent quarter and has year-over-year growth of 72 percent. It has also hired 30 new people over the last year, expanding its staff to 55 employees. The company has 10 openings right now and expects to keep hiring dozens more people by the end of the year.

"I have a goal of crossing the 100 people mark this year," says Bala Rajaraman, president & CEO of Marvel Technologies. "At this rate of growth we could achieve that."

Marvel Technologies has created two new SAP products. CompEz is an compensation planning solution for use with SAP applications that provides add-on capabilities to the SAP ERP Human Capital Management application. FormsEz 1.0 provides SAP-certified integration with the SAP NetWeaver® technology platform. It helps customers go “green” by reducing the need and use of paper and enables enterprises to develop, manage and process electronic forms dynamically with speed and accuracy.

"The last couple of years have been focused on product development," Rajaraman says. "We have also expanded in development and sales."

Source: Bala Rajaraman, CEO & president of Marvel Technologies
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Ignite Social Media is hiring across the board, creating 40 jobs in the last year and looking to hire another 20 people this spring/summer.

The downtown Birmingham-based company, which also has an office in North Carolina, did a round of hiring last fall to meet the demand of its growing customer base. It now employs 77 people and four interns. The company is looking to hire another 20 in everything from creative positions (writers and designers), computer programmers, financial professionals and a human resource director.

"We have had to hire to meet the demand of our new business," says Deidre Bounds, COO of Ignite Social Media. "We are looking to staff up in pretty much every department in the agency."

Ignite Social Media spun out of Brogan & Partners, the firms share the same office building, four years ago. It has taken on new clients over the last year, including Chrysler and Carlson, a hospitality firm. Ignite Social Media has also expanded its workload with some other big-name clients, like Samsung.

The company has doubled in size every year since its inception. Bounds expects the firm to do it again this year as the economy continues to grow.

Source: Deidre Bounds, COO of Ignite Social Media
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

When the door at Tesla Motors closed for three of its employees in Metro Detroit, it opened for their own venture, ALT Powertrain Technologies.

"All of us fell in love with the electric transportation dream" says John D. Thomas, co-founder & CEO of ALTe Powertrain Technologies.

The 3-year-old company is developing range-extended plug-in electric hybrid powertrain for light commercial fleet vehicles. It has successfully installed its powertrain system in the Ford Econoline E350 van and Ford F-150 truck platforms. 

ALTe Powertrain Technologies recently signed a seven-year lease for 185,000-square-foot building Auburn Hills, which it plans to use for production and as its headquarters. The company has grown to 50 people, including a recently hired Oakland University intern. It has hired 18 people over the last year.

"If all goes well we will be launching our product by the end of the year," Thomas says.

Source: John D. Thomas, co-founder & CEO of ALTe Powertrain Technologies
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Ferndale-based ardentCause L3C has received an investment from Mission Throttle L3C and the Detroit Development Fund to help spread the use of the low profit limited liability company's (L3C) software.

Mission Throttle L3C is based in Southfield and is focused on accelerating philanthropic efforts through targeted investments. The L3C and the Detroit Development Fund, a Detroit-based social entrepreneurial loan fund, found a peer in ardentCause L3C, which specializes in helping non-profits and foundations utilize technology.

"Our missions are quite similar," says Kathleen Norton-Schock, co-founder of ardentCause L3C.

Woman-owned ardentCause L3C has developed a cloud-based software application called CauseEffectz. It is being used at more than 70 non-profit agencies during the past year, assisting them to efficiently expand their capacity and fulfill their missions.

"It's a break-through solution," Norton-Schock says. "It allows foundations and non-profits to build a capacity. It's a business intelligence tool built for non-profits."

The 3-year-old start-up has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years. The company now employs 11 people, including an intern it recently promoted to a full-time position. The firm has hired five people over the last year and expects to keep growing.

Source: Kathleen Norton-Schock, co-founder of ardentCause L3C
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Livio Radio has been expanding its workforce, expanding it product portfolio, and taking in a new award to round out a nice year of growth.

The Ferndale-based start-up has recently received the prestigious Frost & Sullivan 2012 New Product Innovation Award for its Livio Connect API. Livio Connect's technology connects apps to cars, eliminating the need for constant support and one-on-one integration between consumers' smartphone apps and hardware devices.

"We have third-party validation for what we have been saying about our product for the last three years," says Jake Sigal, CEO & founder of Livio Radio.

The 4-year-old start-up got its start making Internet radios so people could listen to websites like Pandora without draining their computer battery. It has steadily expanded its product lineup to include Internet radios and similar products for automobiles. It even took in a venture capital investment from Beringea (Michigan's biggest VC) and Western Technology Investment last year.

Livio Radio's gross margins have increased over the last year, allowing it to hire three more people. The 15-person company has one opening for an engineer today. Helping make this growth possible is Livio Radio's expansion into software for its products, which it is also licensing out to other platforms.

"It's a new revenue stream for us," Sigal says. "We don't have to deal with assembly in China. All of our software is created in Ferndale."

Source: Jake Sigal, CEO & founder of Livio Radio
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

The evolution of Vision Computer Solutions continues. A few years ago the Northville-based IT firm switched its business model from a per-item/hourly rate for IT work to a flat fee for complete support services. Today it has taken to peddling its expertise to grow its business.

"We had to become something much more than a company you call if your corporate system is not working," says Peter Marsack, vice president of business development for Vision Computer Solutions. "We're not as much as a firefighter as a high-level consultant."

Vision Computer Solutions has grown its revenue by 30 percent, allowing it to hire two people over the last year. It now employs 10 people and is interviewing another person. It is also planning to add interns. The company plans to add another 3-4 people over the next 12 months.

The company is also looking at taking on bigger offices, probably in Northville, over the next year. "We're bursting at the seams here," Marsack says.

Source: Peter Marsack, vice president of business development for Vision Computer Solutions
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Three friends are working toward their entrepreneurial dreams with their own company, Half Human Studios.

The three young men work in the property management, food-service and printing industries for their day jobs but have been growing their Royal Oak-based creative agency for the last 18 months.

"We decided to start something creative in marketing and use it to help small businesses use marketing tools," says Brandon Nalband, principal of Half Human Studios.

That usually means helping small businesses build websites or teaching them how best to utilize social media platforms. Half Human Studios has grown beyond its first few customers and has attracted enough word-of-mouth business to bring on a College of Creative Studies graphic design graduate to the team. Nalband and his co-founder aspire to turn this into their full-time jobs within the next year.

"There is a very high demand," Nalband says. "There are a lot of new companies that need websites and social media."

Source: Brandon Nalband, principal of Half Human Studios
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Two new reports from the University of Michigan and Automation Alley show a growing economic ecosystem in Oakland County.

U-M economists George Fulton and Don Grimes of the university's Institute for Research on Labor, Employment, and the Economy say Oakland County created more than 23,000 jobs last year. That's the county's second best overall job-creation performance since 1994 and its best private sector performance since 1989. The economists also predict Oakland County will add another 34,000 jobs by 2014, including another 11,000 jobs this year.

Automation Alley, the Troy-based economic development accelerator, also recently released its annual report for 2011. Among the highlights are the opening of its International Business Center. The 3,200-square-foot facility now hosts companies from Israel, Germany, Luxembourg and Canada. It is also working to train more technical talent to fill the rising need among companies for high-tech jobs.

Automation Alley has also been active in investing in local tech start-ups, including Gravikor, Reveal Design Automation and Tangent Medical Technologies. To date, Automation Alley has invested $6.35 million in 32 local technology companies.

"These programs are very valuable," says Charles DeVries, senior director of Automation Alley. "The early stages when having $250,000 and $500,000 is often the difference between having a company and not having one."

Source: University of Michigan and Charles DeVries, senior director of Automation Alley
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.