Entertainment Technology

GSTV hires in downtown Birmingham, looks to fill 15 spots

By Newsroom

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March 7, 2013

GSTV is fleshing out both its presence in major advertising markets across North America and its staff in downtown Birmingham. The nearly 7-year-old company has added 12 positions to its workforce, expanding its staff to 60 employees and a couple of summer interns. It has more than a dozen open jobs now for positions in sales, marketing, business development, human resources and software development. "We have gotten very busy in terms of hiring," says David Leider, CEO of GSTV. "We needed to hire a recruiter to handle it. We have 15 positions open now." GSTV, formerly Gas Station TV, is the company that puts the TVs on top of gas station pumps. The screens flash news, weather forecasts and commercials during a couple of minutes when motorists are paused in their commute and looking for something to focus on. The concept has taken off. GSTV is now in 1,900 gas stations across the nation, collecting 39 million monthly viewers. That's up from 1,300 stations. GSTV is in 36 states and every major media market in North America, doubling its presence in cities like Detroit, Los Angeles, New York City and Chicago. It expects to continue fleshing out its presence in 2013. "We continue to grow quickly," Leider says. "By April we will have 2,000 stations and 40 million monthly viewers all over the country." Source: David Leider, CEO of GSTV Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

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From Inmates To Infants: An Entrepreneur Finds His Niches

By Patrick Dunn

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General

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January 17, 2013

Ryan Santangelo is what folks in the biz call a serial entrepreneur. First he launched the firm Dynamic Media. Then Secure Media Systems. His latest effort is SafeToSleep, which is bringing infant monitoring into the new millennium. And all three businesses are thriving in Sterling Heights, a place he calls the Silicon Valley of Michigan.

Ohio couple jumps into indoor trampoline, dodgeball business in Troy

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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October 25, 2012

Holiday parties, corporate events and birthday celebrations are already booking for an indoor trampoline business that's opening this weekend in Troy. The pre-opening interest is showing the Ohio couple who left successful careers in Columbus to start AirTime Trampoline & Game Park that their idea has some major bounce. Pam and Will Wannemacher have renovated a 31,000-square-foot space at busy Rochester and 16 Mile roads as they launch what they expect to be a franchise. Two more openings are already in the planning. "It is our own creation," she says. "We're planning two more in the Detroit area…We absolutely love it here…We looked all over the country for locations: Austin, Texas, Charlotte, Philly, Miami. We decided on Detroit ." In Troy, where there is 15,000 square feet of trampolines, some interconnected so jumpers can "literally bounce off the walls," Pam Wannemacher says, the couple have hired 70 employees, 30 of them full time. "We've been absolutely thrilled with the quality of people we've hired," she says. It was Detroit's down real estate market and retail space prices that weren't as "astronomical" as other cities that brought them to Michigan. Their location near REI, Norstrom Rack and other high traffic retailers was key, she says. The anticipation of the opening comes through on AirTime's Facebook page, and the owners have decided to make Friday the sneak peak day for its Facebook fans. Saturday will be open to the public. Tuesday will be the official grand opening. Pam originally owned a commercial cleaning company and had been in public relations and marketing for AT&T and BankOne while Bill was in construction for a national restaurant group. The two decided it was time for something new. "It was a big risk, a big lifestyle change," she says. "But we weren't just spinning a wheel and hoping for good luck. Detroit has the demographics and the market for a business like ours to grow." Writer: Kim North Shine Source: Pam Wannemacher, co-owner and operator Air Time Trampoline & Game Park

GSTV Pumps Media Into the Mundane

By Patrick Dunn

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General

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October 4, 2012

Let's face it, pumping gas is a drag. Not just the price, but the physical act of standing around watching the little LCD monitor add more debt to your credit card. Well, one man's boredom is another man's business opportunity. Enter GSTV, a successful Birmingham company that wants to put a TV at every gas pump.

Growing Moonlink Studios’ opens production space in Southfield, Ann Arbor

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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August 16, 2012

Moonlink Studios, a provider of production and satellite services in Michigan, has opened two new stages in metro Detroit where live shoots can be done and productions can be recorded. The expansion of the company, which also rents recording and production equipment and staff, opens doors for metro Detroiters who have been learning production and film industry skills - even as cuts to the state's tax incentives have led to uncertainty in the industry. One of Moonlink's new stages is in Southfield and was the site of ESPN's sports analyst Jalen Rose's basketball analysis during the London Olympics. The other stage is in Ann Arbor is located at Domino's Farm office Park and has been used by CNN International and CNBC networks already. The two new stages bring the company's total number of stages to five. The other three, in Warren, Troy and Detroit, can all be used for live shots or recorded productions. Moonlink, based in Oak Park, was formed when RingSide Creative Integrated Media Studio and Jeff Moon Production Services Inc. went into partnership last year. Read the metromode story here. Through the partnership the companies became the largest single source provider of start-to-finish production and satellite services in Michigan. Moonlink rents stages, crew and equipment, including cameras and satellite trucks that cover the Midwest and Eastern half of the country. Source: Amy Weishuhn, spokesperson, Ringside Creative and Moonlink Studios Writer: Kim North Shine

Panasonic sets up R&D center – and 60 jobs – in Farmington Hills

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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April 19, 2012

A Motorola facility in Farmington Hills has been vacant since it closed four years ago. Soon, however, it will be filled with the sounds of engineers and other employees researching and developing new ways for drivers to interact with automotive sound systems. The Panasonic Automotive Systems Co. of America will hire 60 full-time employees initially, says Teri Arbenowske, economic development director for the city of Farmington Hills, and as time goes on more will be added. The Japanese electronics company has leased 90,000 square feet of space, previously used by Motorola, in a corporate park in the 12 Mile and Halstead area. Mercedes Benz and Greenpath are located in the same corporate park. It is renovating the space, where engineers will research and develop human machine interfaces, vehicle sound systems and electronics for electric/hybrid vehicles. "This will be work with advanced software, testing of vehicle sound systems. The exciting thing about this is the number of jobs and the type of jobs," Arbenowske says. The state awarded Panasonic a $500,000 Business Development Program incentive to expand its Southeast Michigan operations, according to the Michigan Economic Development Corp. It says the company is investing $8.16 million to establish the research and development center. The city is has also approved tax abatements for the project. "They're looking for high tech jobs, skilled engineers," Arbenowske says. "That's what we really need in Michigan, is to bring more engineers in to develop new products…A lot of our grads leave Michigan and we need companies that can keep that talent here." Mayor Barry Brickner shared his excitement over the company's arrival in a statement: "Farmington Hills is thrilled to welcome Panasonic Automotive Systems of America to our City. Panasonic will provide jobs and will create excitement and growth in the business community.” Source: Teri Arbenowske, economic develop director, city of Farmington Hills Writer: Kim North Shine

Gas Station TV lands $50M investment from GE, plans 40 new jobs

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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September 29, 2011

Gas Station TV, the start-up that put TVs on gas pumps, has received an investment valued at $50 million from Wayne, a General Electric subsidiary. The downtown Birmingham-based start-up launched five years ago by putting TVs broadcasting commercials and news bulletins on gas station pumps. Wayne's investment will fund the deployment of the inOvationTC media platform on these TVs and in gas stations across the U.S. It will nearly triple Gas Station TV's monthly viewership, taking it to more than 70 million. "It's going to enable us to grow really fast as a media network," says David Leider, CEO of Gas Station TV. The company has hired 17 people over the last year, bringing its staff to 61 employees, a handful of independent contractors and a few summer interns. The company plans to add another 40 employees over the next year. "They'll be a combination of sales, tech and marketing jobs," Leider says. Source: David Leider, CEO of Gas Station TV Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Livio Radio expands Internet radio into auto, federal government markets

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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July 14, 2011

Livio Radio is growing its business by taking Internet radio to new places, namely your car.The Ferndale-based company got its start when Jake Sigal turned his electronic tinkering into a hot-selling Internet radio in 2008. That attracted a venture capital investment and an expansion into the automotive realm."We've been focusing on car/Internet radio," says Nicole Yelland, brand manager for Livio Radio. "We'll be launching the Kit later this month, which allows you to manipulate the Livio car radio applications."Livio Radio has leveraged the revenues and outside investment into a significant growth spurt. The business has recently hired two new engineers, bringing its staff to 15 em[;oyees and four interns. It plans to continue hiring as it expands.Livio Radio has also been reaching out into activities indirectly tied to Internet radio. It recently host Social Media Day Detroit at Motor City Casino. It also has been able to place its products into the FCC's Open Technology Center for Employees in Washington, D.C."It allows them (federal FCC employees) to really interface with these products," Yelland says. "It's a museum for employees so they can tinker."Source: Nicole Yelland, brand manager for Livio RadioWriter: Jon ZemkeRead more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

iRule app turns iPhones into universal remotes

By Newsroom

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Arts & 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.

The Young & Entrepreneurial: Jake Sigal

By Jon Zemke

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Arts & Culture

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July 1, 2010

When someone asks why young professionals matter for Metro Detroit's future, think of people like Jake Sigal. The 28-year-old Ferndale resident took his love of music and penchant for entrepreneurship and not only helped invent the USB turntable for DJs, he started Livio Radio, a company that employs 15 people and has attracted support from Michigan's largest VC group.