Ferndale’s ardentCause L3C nails down investment, adds to team

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.