"We see a big potential for growth," says Frank Pelosi, vice president & CMO of Avicenna Medical Solutions. "This VA contract is a big step forward for us. We see it as a big opportunity."

AviTracks helps veterans manage treatment for chronic diseases from their home. This usually includes patients who take blood thinners or need to monitor cardiac rhythms. It is designed to lessen the information burden on health-care IT systems, allowing medical professionals to maximize time with patients and employ best practices for treatment. AviTracks is being used in seven different divisions in the University of Michigan Health System.

Avicenna Medical Solutions was spun out of the University of Michigan in 2006. It has a team of four people, and hopes to add a couple more this year including software engineers and a business development manager.

Source: Frank Pelosi, vice president & CMO of Avicenna Medical Solutions
Writer: Jon Zemke

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

"Super Bowl advertising can be viewed as a sort of bellwether, Nordhielm says. "The rise in automotive advertising is a signal that the auto industry is back, and quite possibly that the economy is turning around."

Watch the video here.
News from Concentrate

Excerpt:

"This is the president's 10th visit to Michigan since taking office. He was in Michigan in October to visit GM's Orion Assembly plant with the South Korean president and spoke in Detroit on Labor Day.

It will be his second visit to speak at the University of Michigan. In May 2010, he delivered the commencement address at Michigan Stadium, where he urged students to participate in democracy and get all points of view."

Read the rest of the story here.
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“Since joining Ann Arbor SPARK, I’ve met with more than 80 business owners who are advancing our region’s economy; there’s an incredible depth of expertise in our region,” said Krutko.  “The podcast series is designed to not only highlight that expertise, but also make it available to others who could benefit from the wisdom those business leaders can share.”

The podcasts will feature successful local businesses, business owners and business leaders.  Throughout these conversations, the CEOs will share best practices, lessons learned and an “in the trenches” view of the region’s economy.

The first podcast, available now on Ann Arbor SPARK’s website, is an insightful conversation with Mary Sue Coleman, president of University of Michigan.  Coleman discusses the role of a research university in economic development and the impact of University of Michigan’s partnership with Ann Arbor SPARK on the region.

Subsequent Ann Arbor SPARK CEO Podcasts: Conversations on Economic Opportunity, will feature regional leaders, including Ken Fischer, president of the University Musical Society, Mike Miller, head of Google Ann Arbor, Jan Garfinkle, managing director of venture capital firm Arboretum Ventures, and many more.

Ann Arbor SPARK will release new podcasts on its website every two weeks through 2012.  A full schedule of podcasts is available on SPARK’s webpage.

The 40-foot buses are adding to the U-M's fleet of alternatively-powered vehicles and stand out as they've been plastered with new maize and blue graphics that advertise the buses part of U-M's Planet Blue initiative. The buses are also recognizable because of the power packs they carry on their rooftops.

"The addition of hybrid buses to our fleet is another step in our commitment to sustainability," says Keith Johnson, associate director of transportation operations. "By the end of 2012, one in six buses on campus will be a hybrid."

One hybrid diesel-electric bus went in to service last week. Three others are in are at the campus sign shop having their special graphics added. One of those will be ready to roll this week, and the the other two should be ready sometime this month, says Steve Dolen, executive director of parking and transportation services for U-M. Another three will be in service by the end of fall, he says, and a total of seven buses will be on the streets around campus by the end of the fall.

A grant from Clean Energy Coalition and the Department of Energy paid for the first of the buses, which cost $180,000-$200,000.

More alternative energy buses are sure to be bought, Dolen say, as the university has a long-term plan to continue moving away from buses as well as all university vehicles that rely solely on gasoline.

"The technology is always changing," Dolen says. "We are watching those changes so that we make the best financial decision and the best environmental decision."

Source: Steve Dolen, executive director of parking and transportation services, University of Michigan
Writer: Kim North Shine
News from Concentrate

The 40-foot buses are adding to the U-M's fleet of alternatively-powered vehicles and stand out as they've been plastered with new maize and blue graphics that advertise the buses part of U-M's Planet Blue initiative. The buses are also recognizable because of the power packs they carry on their rooftops.

"The addition of hybrid buses to our fleet is another step in our commitment to sustainability," says Keith Johnson, associate director of transportation operations. "By the end of 2012, one in six buses on campus will be a hybrid."

One hybrid diesel-electric bus went in to service last week. Three others are in are at the campus sign shop having their special graphics added. One of those will be ready to roll this week, and the the other two should be ready sometime this month, says Steve Dolen, executive director of parking and transportation services for U-M. Another three will be in service by the end of fall, he says, and a total of seven buses will be on the streets around campus by the end of the fall.

A grant from Clean Energy Coalition and the Department of Energy paid for the first of the buses, which cost $180,000-$200,000.

More alternative energy buses are sure to be bought, Dolen say, as the university has a long-term plan to continue moving away from buses as well as all university vehicles that rely solely on gasoline.

"The technology is always changing," Dolen says. "We are watching those changes so that we make the best financial decision and the best environmental decision."

Source: Steve Dolen, executive director of parking and transportation services, University of Michigan
Writer: Kim North Shine
News from Concentrate

The University of Michigan spin-out is developing an ocular diagnostic technology for metabolomic diseases. In layman's terms, that technology allows doctors to diagnose patients with diseases like diabetes by scanning their eyes. The process has the potential to be more accurate and catch a diabetes diagnosis much earlier than traditional methods.

The three-year-old start-up's eight-person team has been in clinical trials since 2008 and expects to continue testing and developing the third generation of its product next year. That will probably mean a few more hires for the fledgling firm.

"With our product team in place we will do more of our development in Michigan," says Kurt Riegger, COO of OcuSciences.

OcuSciences recently won the Life Sciences Award at the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition in Ypsilanti. The company took home a $25,000 check and some credibility with both local and out-of-state investors. "It's a good validation," Riegger says.

Source: Kurt Riegger, COO of OcuSciences
Writer: Jon Zemke

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

The 50-person firm has a team of five people in the Ann Arbor SPARK incubator in downtown Ann Arbor and is working with SPARK to find permanent offices in the city. The nine-year-old company is also looking for interns and plans to flesh out its staff soon.

“By the end of the first year, we want to have 7-8 employees,” says Ankush “Kush” Sharma, the operations manager for the Ann Arbor office of LanguageMate.

LanguageMate specializes in creating software that removes language and cultural barriers in healthcare. It was founded by Bill Z. Tan. He chose to open an office in Ann Arbor because the company has ties to the University of Michigan and his brother is a U-M graduate.

Source: Ankush “Kush” Sharma, operations manager for the Ann Arbor office of LanguageMate
Writer: Jon Zemke

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

"We recruit nationwide but some of our best employees have been coming from the University of Michigan," says Chris Kurecka, manager of Michigan engineering for Cataphora.

The nine-year-old firm employs 37 people, including one employee and two interns at the new Ann Arbor office. A number of Cataphora's executive team members also have Ann Arbor roots. The company's CEO, CTO, and Kurecka all graduated from U-M.

Cataphora plans to grow its new office to 10-20 people within the next 12-18 months. It chose the new office, with the help of Ann Arbor SPARK, at 500 E Washington because of the vibrancy and walkability of downtown, plus its close proximity to U-M's Central Campus.

"It's nice to be within walking distance of everyone," Kurecka says. "We're also trying to attract students so being within walking distance of the university is great."

Source: Chris Kurecka, manager of Michigan engineering for Cataphora
Writer: Jon Zemke

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

"We recruit nationwide but some of our best employees have been coming from the University of Michigan," says Chris Kurecka, manager of Michigan engineering for Cataphora.

The nine-year-old firm employs 37 people, including one employee and two interns at the new Ann Arbor office. A number of Cataphora's executive team members also have Ann Arbor roots. The company's CEO, CTO, and Kurecka all graduated from U-M.

Cataphora plans to grow its new office to 10-20 people within the next 12-18 months. It chose the new office, with the help of Ann Arbor SPARK, at 500 E Washington because of the vibrancy and walkability of downtown, plus its close proximity to U-M's Central Campus.

"It's nice to be within walking distance of everyone," Kurecka says. "We're also trying to attract students so being within walking distance of the university is great."

Source: Chris Kurecka, manager of Michigan engineering for Cataphora
Writer: Jon Zemke

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