Software Design

Royal Oak-based app firm Coil Group goes after mid-size biz

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September 13, 2012

The people at the Coil Group see a unique opportunity in the market when it comes to mobile app development. The six-month-old firm sees its niche in providing both mobile apps and traditional marketing services to mid-size businesses, which are often flush enough to pay for both services but not familiar enough with the mobile app market. The Coil Group thinks it sets itself apart from the competition because many small mobile app firms are run by people who have more expertise in technology than marketing. "It's kids who don't understand strategy but they know how to build an app," says Jonathan Pielak, co-founder and vice president of strategy for the Coil Group. The Rochester-based firm is offering both. So far it has three people and a few dozen independent contractors to draw upon. The company, which is looking to move to either Royal Oak or Detroit, is looking to hire people in software development, design and marketing strategy. The goal is to be in a permanent home with a staff of 20-25 people within the next two years. "We want to keep it small," Pielak says "We want to keep it nimble." Source: Jonathan Pielak, co-founder & vice president of strategy for the Coil Group Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Latest in Software Design

Applied Tech Solutions moves to software development, plans to raise VC

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Economic Development

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August 16, 2012

Applied Technology Solutions is working to make the jump from a service-based business to a company that offers both services and software products. The Bloomfield Township-based start-up has made its living off providing services to other firms looking for help in cloud computing, IT security and IT infrastructure. Today Applied Technology Solutions is working to add a software product to its mix. "We are working on an online personalize medicine platform," says Nikhil Kumar, president of Applied Technology Solutions. Applied Technology Solutions is currently composed of four employees and two interns. It recently added a couple of members to its board of advisors to help it launch its software platform. The online personalized medicine software allows the sharing of information between patients and pharmaceutical companies securely without publicizing the individual patient's information. That allows the patient to maximize medication and care. Kumar is so optimistic about the viability of this product that he is planning to raise a seed capital round to help launch the technology and let it gain traction within the next year. "Our goal is to mature our products," Kumar says. "We'd like to raise $5 million to $10 million in venture capital for them." Source: Nikhil Kumar, president of Applied Technology Solutions Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Biznet Internet Solutions hires 4 as it looks to raise a round of VC

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Technology and Innovation

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August 16, 2012

Biznet Internet Solutions does business in a sector that is constantly changing and evolving, so the Wixom-based digital marketing business is always "trying to be on top of things," according to Kevin Krason, CEO & ROI fanatic at Biznet Internet Solutions. That has meant working to get in early on new trends like social media and mobile. Today the 18-year-old business is revamping its business model again, introducing a performance-based marketing system called Sprout. "Our customers only pay us for the quality leads we send them," says Krason, explaining how the system will work. Biznet Internet Solutions has hired four people this year, bringing its staff to a dozen employees and a couple of interns. He expects to double that number next year as his company looks to score a seed capital investment round that will allow it to scale its business. "We're talking to venture capital and private equity firms looking to nail down a $500,000 investment by the end of this year," Krason says. Source: Kevin Krason, CEO & ROI fanatic at Biznet Internet Solutions Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Metro Detroit software developers launch firm, Ambr Detroit

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Entrepreneurship

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August 9, 2012

The entrepreneurial duo that brought you flipfrog has launched its own custom application business, Ambr Detroit. "We're a web start-up that uses web standards to create awesome things," says Anthony Montalbano, co-founder of Ambr Detroit. Montalbano and Brian Ritter started the company three months ago, creating custom mobile and Internet applications for businesses. The pair left their day jobs (software developers for Domino's) a year ago to launch flipfrog, a mobile app that allows users to share their calendars. The friends are still working on growing flipfrog but are also looking to stretch their entrepreneurial legs a bit more with Ambr Detroit. "We want to have the flexibility to do what we want," Montalbano says. "We want to be in control of what we're doing. We have very high web standards." The pair are currently working virtually from their homes in Rochester and Ann Arbor for now. Montalbano says they are currently looking to set up their first office in Detroit. Ambr Detroit has been so busy from the get-go that they are seeking a software developer now and want to grow to a staff of as many as half a dozen within its first year of operation. The partners are also open to striking up partnerships with clients who have a promising idea for a mobile or web app. "If a good idea comes along we will offer a reduced rate for equity," Montalbano says. "That has already happened once." Source: Anthony Montalbano, co-founder of Ambr Detroit Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

LinTech Global leverages new federal work for 6 new positions

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Community Development

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August 9, 2012

LinTech Global is picking up more work from the good, old USA thanks to a number of new contracts from the federal government. The Farmington Hills-based business has diversified its client base in recent years, shifting more of its workload to U.S. military contracts. LinTech Global recently landed a $9 million dollar contract with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Learning Network where it will support the planning, development, testing, fielding, and sustainment of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Learning Network. "All of the effort we put into getting federal contracts is starting to work now," says Michael Lin, president & CEO of LinTech Global. "It opens a door for us to create a speciality in our area." That sort of growth has allowed LinTech Global to grow its staff to 15 employees and it's looking to add an intern or two this year. The 5-year-old company also has six openings right now for software developers to accommodate current and expected growth. "We've been building our pipeline to where, hopefully, we can double our revenue in the next year," Lin says. Source: Michael Lin, president & CEO of LinTech Global Writer: Jon Zemke

Design Source Media creates 7 new jobs in Warren

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General

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August 9, 2012

David Lee has been passionate about building websites for years, so it isn't a giant leap to imagine the Metro Detroiter starting his own digital marketing business, Design Source Media. The 1-year-old firm specializes in creating a web presence for small-to-medium-sized businesses. It has grown so busy that it now offers other services, including marketing, social media, IT, printing and photography. It's more than enough to keep lee and his staff of seven and two interns busy. "At one point I was working two jobs (last spring when he was also working as a systems analyst for AlixPartners) and had to make a decision," says David Lee, president of Design Source Media. The Warren-based business' client base runs the gamut of local industries with a lot of customers in the automotive and manufacturing industries. Today Design Source Media takes on clients and finds the best place it can help them enhance its digital presence and goes from there. "We go into a business and act as consultants," Lee says. "We see where the pain points are and say we can help you here and here." Source: David Lee, president of Design Source Media Writer: Jon Zemke

Livio Radio adds 3 jobs, more automotive work

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General

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August 2, 2012

Livio is leveraging its growth by connecting its signature Internet radio technology with your car. The Ferndale-based tech firm is pressing forward with its Livio Connect, a software package that allows users to channel their favorite Internet radio stations through their cars. Livio Connect's technology allows the Internet radio controls to "show up on the dashboard" of the car, according to Livio founder & CEO Jake Sigal. "It lets us produce software which is nice because it's a faster turnaround than the hardware business," Sigal says. "It also lets us work with auto companies and expand into licensing." Sigal started Livio, it was Livio Radio until a few months ago, by making Internet radios so people could listen to websites like Pandora without draining their computer battery. It has steadily expanded its product lineup to include Internet radios. Western Technology Investment (a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm) invested in Livio last year along with Beringea, the largest VC in Michigan. That has allowed the 4-year-old firm to hit a growth spike as of late. It has hired three people in the last year, leaving it with a staff of 12 employees and three independent contractors. It is looking to hire a couple of software engineers right now. "We are looking to bring on more passionate people who are into tech and cars," Sigal says. Source: Jake Sigal, founder & CEO of Livio Radio Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Lakeside Software creates 30 jobs in Ann Arbor, Bloomfield Hills

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General

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August 2, 2012

Lakeside Software continues its rapid expansion, hiring about 30 people in both its Bloomfield Hills headquarters and its new Ann Arbor satellite office. The IT/software firm signed a deal with the state of Michigan to open up its research-and-development office in Ann Arbor (instead of elsewhere in the U.S., like Silicon Valley) and create 198 jobs over five years. So far the 15-year-old firm has expanded its staff to 50 people, including a dozen employees, mainly software engineers, in Ann Arbor. "We will take as many good software engineers as we can find," says Mike Schumacher, president of Lakeside Software. "Right now our biggest need is in engineering." Lakeside Software creates management software called SysTrack for the Windows operating system. Schumacher likes to call it business intelligence for IT. SysTrack monitors and analyzes applications for businesses. The company has doubled its customer base and revenues over the last year as it continues to grow in Michigan. "It has been an unbelievably good year for our business," Schumacher says. Source: Mike Schumacher, president of Lakeside Software Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Moncur Associates grows social media biz with 4 new jobs

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General

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August 2, 2012

David Moncur has noticed a shift in the social media landscape over the last year, moving away from tech and more toward strong online communities. That movement has allowed the Troy-based firm to grow in 2012. The 20-year-old company has hired four people, primarily in social media community management in the last nine months. It is looking for about a half dozen more social media professionals right now. "Our business in Michigan is growing," says David Moncur, principal & founder of Moncur Associates. "I see that as a really positive sign for our economy." Moncur expects to continue to grow his Michigan-based client base, especially in Metro Detroit. He sees an uptick in companies looking to help manage their social media presence. "Businesses are ready for it and we're ready," Moncur says. "That has been really positive for us." Source: David Moncur, principal & founder of Moncur Associates Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Camelot Ventures invests in Farmington Hills start-up

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Economic Development

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July 26, 2012

Camelot Ventures made an undisclosed investment in Want Technologies, a social media/e-commerce start-up in 2010. Since then the Farmington Hills-based company has made its software plug-in, the Want Button, a staple of more than 1,000 e-commerce websites. "We knew there was a need within the e-commerce world for retailers to have a better way to engage their browsers and turn them into browsers," says Greg Links, vice president of business development for Want Technologies. Want Technologies' the Want Button is a social media plug-in for e-commerce websites that is reminiscent of the Facebook's Like Button. Users can click on the Want Button next to a product they are interested in buying and have that page bookmarked to a universal wish list on their Facebook page. Today the Want Button is on more than 1,000 e-commerce sites, including Edible Arrangements and Sharper Image. Links expects the Want Button to be on a minimum of 2,000 sites by the end of this year and be ubiquitous on e-commerce sites in the near future. Want Technologies has a staff of 15 employees and an intern working to make that happen. Source: Greg Links, vice president of business development for Want Technologies Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.