Ann Arbor SPARK awarded $500,000 from the MEDC for SPARK East Incubator
Ann Arbor SPARK was recently awarded $500,000 from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s (MEDC) 21st Century Jobs Fund. The funding will support the Ann Arbor SPARK East business incubator. “MEDC support for Ann Arbor SPARK’s East incubator extends and enhances opportunities for start-ups throughout the region,” said Paul Krutko, president and CEO, Ann Arbor SPARK. “Business incubators play an important role... [Read More...]
Next wave of U-M start-ups floods TechArb incubator
A new batch of studentpreneurs is flooding into the TechArb, the University of Michigan's business incubator for student-led start-ups. The downtown-based incubator recently moved to a bigger space (50 percent larger) on West Liberty Street in the basement of the Liberty Square Building next to the Michigan Theatre. About a dozen early-stage start-ups use the space for a six-month periods, starting in November and May. This year the organizers... [Read More...]
Hygieia Secures $1.5M in Capital to Accelerate Product Commercialization
Medical device firm Hygieia recently secured $1.5 million in investment capital from Oakwood Medical Investors, a physician-managed venture fund in St. Louis, Missouri. Hygieia has developed the Diabetes Insulin Guidance System (DIGS), a handheld device that helps insulin-takers effectively manage their diabetes. DIGS adjusts insulin dosage weekly, to help patients get better. The investment comes on the heels of a study presented at the June American... [Read More...]
Boston’s Awash in Maize & Blue!
Andrew Chu, addressing the U-M Alumni Luncheon For the past three days Boston has turned maize and blue. We blanketed the area with Michigan positive message messages and it sure paid off. Recent articles in Xconomy and positive pieces by a renown technology blogger have taken our message viral. At our site selection consultant luncheon, one native Bostonian who had never been to Michigan before said, “What the deal with all this positive... [Read More...]
WriteSteps Awarded Best of Ann Arbor SPARK’S Boot Camp
Ann Arbor SPARK celebrated the conclusion of its 18th Boot Camp program with participant investor pitches and a reception last night at the SPARK Central business incubator. At the Ann Arbor SPARK Boot Camp Celebration, WriteSteps was selected as the “Best of Boot Camp” winner, based on the quality of its investor pitch and business plan and will receive $5,000 in business consulting services. L to R: Lee Gorman, WriteSteps; Jan Gensheimer,... [Read More...]
Eastern Leaders Group Summer Update
The Eastern Leaders Group just released a summer update on activities in Eastern Washtenaw County. It includes information on the SPARK East Business Incubator and profiles of businesses that have received microloan funding. Read the update. Read More →
Join us for a business pitch competition on June 4
Five innovation-based entrepreneurs will pitch their businesses for a chance to win incubator space & business acceleration services on June 4 at SPARK East. The business pitch competition, hosted in conjunction with EIC, the Eastside Innovation Campus, will run from 3:30-6:30 p.m. The competition winner, as judged by a panel of noted funding and business experts, will win prizes to support their venture, including a one year incubator lease... [Read More...]
SPARK Central incubator tenant Hygieia, Inc. receives 510(k) clearance from FDA
Hygieia, Inc., a tenant at the SPARK Central business incubator, recently received official 510(k) clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its BaseSens I Blood Glucose Monitoring System. Hygieia, Inc. is a start‐up that is developing a proprietary hybrid medical device that combines state‐of‐the‐art blood glucose monitoring capability with a physician‐initiated self‐adjusting insulin dose calculator. Of the news,... [Read More...]
SPARK Central Incubator Profile: Mobatech
SPARK Central incubator client, Mobatech, is dedicated to designing and developing cutting-edge mobile phone software focusing on creating innovative lifestyle and personal productivity applications, which integrate into customer’s everyday lives. Founded in Ann Arbor, Michigan by Greg Schwartz in April 2003, Mobatech has been at the forefront of the mobile technology boom and continues to push the envelope in its development of cutting edge... [Read More...]
Top 5 reasons the University of Michigan’s student entrepreneurial movement matters
As featured on annarbor.com December 7, 2009 by Nathan Bomey Here’s AnnArbor.com’s Top 5 reasons why the University of Michigan’s student entrepreneurial movement matters to the Ann Arbor region. 1. U-M is putting dollars behind it. The Center for Entrepreneurship recently collaborated with various partners to establish TechArb, a permanent student business incubator in the McKinley Towne Centre next to Google and Ann Arbor SPARK. 2.... [Read More...]
