Innovation News

Experienced auto hands go green with GGTElectric

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July 14, 2011

Three years ago, a handful of automotive industry veterans looked at what was happening to their business sector and decided it was time to reinvent themselves. They did it through an electric-vehicle start-up called GGTElectric."Electric automobiles are in the very edge of new and innovative," says Ray Leduc, CEO of GGTElectric. GGT stands for GreenGoTek. "We're happy to be leading that charge."The Milford-based firm now has a staff of 10 developers of a whole range of electric vehicles, ranging from sedans to passenger vans. It has found a growing demand for these vehicles overseas in Europe and Asia. In 2010 it sold 50 vehicles and expects to sell 250 this year and another 1,000 next year."We'll be at 5,000 in the next 4-5 years," Leduc says.And how can a 10-person start-up create a full lineup of electric vehicles in such a short time? Leduc credits his team's extensive experience. "It's a lot of R&D and history in the automotive field," he says.Source: Ray Leduc, CEO of GGTElectricWriter: Jon ZemkeRead more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

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Metro Airport aims to turn grass into jet bio-fuel

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Community Development

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June 30, 2011

Metro and Willow Run airports are partnering with the Michigan State University Extension Office and Warren-based The Power Alternative to grow and harvest grass and other bio-fuel crops so they can be turned into bio-fuel for jets and other airport vehicles.Metro Detroit's Aerotropolis airports have about 1,700 acres of land that is suitable for bio-energy crops, like canola and oriental mustard seed near runways. The pilot phase of this initiative is planting and harvesting bio-fuel crops on three acres of airport property. The Power Alternative will turn those crops into bio-fuel."We're trying to identify these different types of land that we can put into production to meet our renewable energy goals," says Dennis Pennington, a bio-energy educator for the Michigan State University Extension Office who is heading up the project. He pins a conservative estimate of 10,000 acres of potential bio-energy crop space in the Aerotropolis area.Metro Airport has made strides to increase its renewable energy options, including utilizing small wind turbines. Local officials see the bio-energy crops as a big opportunity to not only more sustainably supply the fuel needs of the airports, but to divert more money toward the local economy."If we could produce most of the jet fuel here by growing it instead of importing it from Libya, wouldn't that be preferable?" says Michael Conway, a spokesman for Metro Airport. "It's definitely worth exploring."Source: Dennis Pennington, bio-energy educator for the Michigan State University Extension Office and Michael Conway, spokesman for Metro AirportWriter: Jon ZemkeRead more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Vision Computer Solutions revenue jumps 60%, 5 more hires planned

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Economic Development

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June 30, 2011

Vision Computer Solutions' new business model is gaining traction on the uphill growth chart.The 16-year-old company has watched its revenue increase 60 percent over the last year and added four positions. It has one open job for an advanced network engineer. The company also just opened an office in downtown Ann Arbor to take advantage of the business opportunities in that emerging technology area. It hopes to find another 30-35 clients over the next year and add five more jobs."It's been very consistent and steady growth for us," says Peter Marsack, vice president of business development for Vision Computer Solutions. "That has allowed us to maintain a high level of growth for our clients. I see that continuing."Vision Computer Solutions has a new business model, switching from a per-item/hourly rate for IT work to a flat fee for complete support services almost three years ago. The company initially lost a few customers when it made that switch but has since found numerous others to take their place."It brings these news businesses a way to fix their IT budgets," Marsack says. "They are much more appreciative of that model."Source: Peter Marsack, vice president of business development for Vision Computer SolutionsWriter: Jon ZemkeRead more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Kiva Detroit launches with eye on microfinancing in Motown

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General

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June 30, 2011

The Michigan Corps has formed a partnership of local foundations to create Kiva Detroit, a program that enables local residents to improve their communities by making microloans to local businesses and entrepreneurs."The main opportunity we have with Kiva is scale," says Anuja Jaitly, co-founder and executive director of the Michigan Corps. "The resources we can leverage make it hard to reach a limit for making microloans."Micro-lender ACCION USA, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and Kiva.org are working together to create the fund. Kiva Detroit will be able to lend as little as $25 to local, small businesses with loan impact doubled through a one-to-one match supported by $250,000 from the Knight Foundation.Kiva Detroit is an off-shoot of San Francisco-based Kiva.org, the world's first personal micro-lending website that empowers individuals to lend to entrepreneurs across the globe, with a goal of alleviating poverty. Since 2005, Kiva.org has facilitated more 590,000 loans worth more than $219 million to 567,000 entrepreneurs in 60 countries. So far five small businesses/entrepreneurs from across Metro Detroit have received loans, including a bicycle shop and fashion start-up.Kiva Detroit is the first in a series of forthcoming Kiva City initiatives to connect Kiva's global network of micro-lenders with more U.S.-based small business owners. The Michigan Corps, a social network of local and global Michiganders committed to change in the Great Lakes State, helped spearhead the partnership with the Knight Foundation's capital and ACCION USA micro-lending expertise. "We see it as an opportunity to connect and engage Detroiters with local entrepreneurs," Jaitly says. Source: Anuja Jaitly, co-founder and executive director of the Michigan CorpsWriter: Jon ZemkeRead more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Multimedia firm Loudbaby.com adds jobs in Ferndale, diversifies clientele

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Arts and Culture

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June 30, 2011

A change of venue has worked wonders for Loudbaby.com, a website and media development company based in Ferndale.The 11-year-old company moved to the Paper Street Motors small business incubator a year ago. Since then it has watched its revenue spike by double digits thanks to an average of 2-3 new clients per month. That has allowed the firm to add two jobs, expanding its staff to four employees and two independent contractors."Things are really growing fast now," says Tommy Onyx, president of Loudbaby.com. "We have been steadily growing since the beginning. Since we moved to Paper Street Motors, things have gotten really, really busy."The move has helped facilitate the company's diversification of its customer base beyond the music world. It has added clients in non-profits, large corporations and out-of-state businesses. Loudbaby.com got its start when Boston-native Onyx moved to Detroit in the early 1990s to play with a band called Charm Farm and then as a part of Inner City, a techno-collective headed by electronic music legend Kevin Saunderson. Onyx started Loudbaby.com by developing websites, video and multimedia projects for bands. That launchpad for the company still serves as its base."About 70 percent of Loudbaby.com's client base is music industry people," Onyx says.Source: Tommy Onyx, president of Loudbaby.comWriter: Jon ZemkeRead more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

iRule app turns iPhones into universal remotes

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Arts and Culture

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June 23, 2011

Wish your remote control was as easy to find as your cell phone? Farmington Hills-based iRule solved that problem by turning smartphones into part-time remote controls for TVs and entertainment systems.Three-year-old iRule has created a smartphone app and support system that allows people to control their entertainment systems with a click of a mobile device. The idea is the creation of a couple of techies having fun with technology on the side."The whole business started as a hobby in our spare time," says Itai Bengal, CEO of iRule. "In a few months, without any marketing, we were doing more business than we ever imagined."Today the company employs four people and five independent contractors. All of its personnel growth (two employees and the independent contractors) came over the last year. The company now sells thousands of its remote control apps and support systems in 17 countries with dozens of installers who know how to bring life to the system."We're seeing a tremendous level of growth right now," Bengal says. "We're planning to expand into the Android platform, too."Source: Itai Bengal, CEO of iRuleWriter: Jon ZemkeRead more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Future Help Designs sets up shop in downtown Pontiac

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Arts and Culture

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June 23, 2011

Future Help Designs' bottom line is more creative than two basic colors, like red and black. The smartphone app start-up is moving to downtown Pontiac because its profitability is more dependent on the inspiration derived from a historic and eclectic city center than a vanilla office complex in the middle of nowhere."We operate in a very creative space," says Christian Marcillo, director of creative design at Future Help Designs. "Cubicles are not our style. They don't work for us. We found a big, open space in downtown Pontiac that works for us. It's easy to walk out and get inspiration from the other artists that are down there as well."Marcillo started the company with Glen Konopaske a little more than two years ago, after the two Mac fanatics were downsized from their corporate jobs. The pair began making iPhone apps and have since expanded into other mobile applications. The company also hosts training classes for iPhone and iPad apps.The growth has been so significant that they decided to move their fledgling business out of Dearborn Heights to downtown Pontiac, taking advantage of the Rise of the Phoenix program's free year of rent for firms that move to the city's central business district. Marcillo adds that the strong sense of community among Pontiac's downtown businesses and creative class workers also helped seal the deal.Future Help Designs hands out paychecks to 20 people, split between four traditional employees and 16 independent contractors. The company has gone through three rounds of hiring over the last year, adding 1-3 people to its staff each time. Marcillo expects his start-up to add another 10 jobs over the next year.Source: Christian Marcillo, director of creative design at Future Help DesignsWriter: Jon ZemkeRead more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Hewlett-Packard subsidiary plans to create 250 IT jobs in Pontiac

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Community Development

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June 23, 2011

HP Enterprise Services, a subsidiary of Hewlett-Packard, plans to expand its tech office in Pontiac, a move that is expected to create 250 jobs over the next year.The $4.8 million investment will expand HP Enterprise Services' significant presence in Pontiac. HP Enterprise Services, formerly EDS, already employs 1,976 people there. It has begun hiring and expects to continue as demand permits."We have more business today than we do staff," says Rick Sullivan, a vice president of application services for HP Enterprise Services. "We're actively hiring."HP Enterprise Services provides software applications, processes, consulting and support from its Pontiac office. Helping make this deal possible was a $3.5 million tax incentive from the Michigan Economic Development Corp over the next seven years. Sullivan says the company was also attracted to the region's deep talent pool of skilled tech workers and plethora of high-quality universities."Personally, my game plan is to exceed 250 hires," Sullivan says. "I see the demand coming quickly."Source: Rick Sullivan, vice president of application services for HP EnterprisesWriter: Jon ZemkeRead more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Genesis10 adds 150 jobs in Troy, plans 100 more

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Arts and Culture

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June 23, 2011

Genesis10, an onshoring IT firm, promised to open a development center in Troy last year and hire 82 people in its first 12 months. The New York-based company did all that and more, creating 150 jobs over the last year, with plans to keep hiring."In terms of growth, it's been exponential," says Ami Sarnowski, managing director – delivery center division of Genesis10. "We have added nearly 100 jobs over the last six months."Genesis10 specializes in onshoring IT jobs – think the IT-style call center jobs that have traditionally been handled in developing countries like India and Brazil. Genesis10 is taking advantage of the low overhead costs in Metro Detroit, such as inexpensive rents and skilled labor. It has been hiring a broad range of people specializing in everything from technology project management, systems administration and design system architects.Sarnowski expects Genesis10 to continue hiring to meet the demand for this work. Another 100 jobs are on deck to be created this year. Genesis10 committed to creating 296 jobs over five years as part of a tax-incentive deal with the Michigan Economic Development Corp."We have been very focused on proving the concept and its capability," Sarnowski says. "We have been very successful so far."Source: Ami Sarnowski, managing director – delivery center division of Genesis10Writer: Jon ZemkeRead more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

EPIC Translations moves to bigger office, grows staff

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Entrepreneurship

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June 23, 2011

EPIC Translations' growth curve is best summed up by looking where the translation company has called home.The Farmington Hills-based business started in Mostansar Virk's home as a part-time project focused on transcription while he worked on his full-time IT job five years ago. A few years later, Virk took the company full-time and moved to a one-room office in Novi. Today the firm has 1,200 square feet of office space for its six employees and an intern."For its first few years it was managed on a part-time basis," Virk says. "In June of 2008, I resigned from my IT job to run EPIC Translations."EPIC Translations specializes in document translations, handling paperwork in the technical, legal and medical sectors, among others. The company's revenues are up 35 percent so far this last year, allowing it to hire one person. Virk plans to add one or two more jobs later this year.Source: Mostansar Virk, EPIC TranslationsWriter: Jon ZemkeRead more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.