Software Design

Auburn Hills-based Plex Systems adds 50 people to its staff

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March 8, 2012

Plex Systems is leveraging its focus on a diverse customer base to significant growth. The Auburn Hills-based software firm has enjoyed double-digit revenue gains and added 50 people to its staff. The 17-year-old company has traditionally made software geared toward manufacturers. Over the last year it has expanded its client list by 45 companies, including firms in the electronics, aerospace and food-and-beverage industries. The food-and-beverage firms are flocking to Plex Systems so it can better comply with new regulations. These new customers have allowed Plex Systems to grow its revenue by 32 percent over the last year. That has prompted the hiring of 50 people over the last year, expanding the company to 215 people and a couple of interns. "It's something we have been executing on for a while," says Mark Symonds, CEO of Plex Systems. "To have long-term staying power we need to be diversified among a number of industries." Plex Systems provides software for a number of manufacturing sectors, including food processing, medical devices, automotive, aerospace/defense, industrial and consumer products in Europe, Asia and North America. It is aiming to continue leveraging this diverse client base for more growth, planning to hire 73 people this year and grow its revenue by at least 25 percent. "We're off to a pretty quick start so I think we could do a little bit better," Symonds says. Source: Mark Symonds, CEO of Plex Systems Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Latest in Software Design

Alcove9 creates Google-like search for lost biz files

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General

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January 26, 2012

Remember that one proposal you worked on a few years ago for one of your bigger clients? You could really use the statistics from it for a compare/contrast for the big proposal you're working on today. Can't find it? Lost somewhere on your work computer's hard drive? Alcove9 has an answer for you. The Oxford-based start-up has created software that lets you track down the years-old data lost in your computer you know you need but can't remember where you saved it. "It's Google for your organization," says Sam Abu-Hamdan, president of Alcove9. "We can be the one-stop shop for all data found in your organization." Abu-Hamdan launched Alcove9 in July and debuted the beta version of its software, a9 Hub, in October. It now has three beta customers and Abu-Hamdan is aiming to grow that list to 100 people by the end of the year. Alcove9 started with two people and now employs a staff of five people. Abu-Hamdan plans to continue to add to his staff as he works to grow his client base. Source: Sam Abu-Hamdan, president of Alcove9 Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

ePrize acquires Cellit, adds more than 100 to payroll

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Technology and Innovation

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January 26, 2012

Pleasant Ridge-based ePrize is adding clients and employees these days, and now it has added a competitor, acquiring Chicago-based mobile marketing agency Cellit. ePrize is an agency specializing in interactive, online marketing campaigns. The acquisition of Cellit will give ePrize a foothold in the mobile marketing field, allowing the company to avoid building up its own presence while still engaging mobile customers. "In the last 18 months we have moved the business into more social and mobile markets," says Matt Wise, CEO of ePrize. ePrize has been on a growth streak over the last year. Its revenue has gone from $42 million in 2010 to $50 million last year. It expects to cross the $70 million mark in 2012. A year ago, ePrize employed 257 people. That number is at 363 today, about 275 of which work at the Pleasant Ridge headquarters. It expects to reach 420 employees by the end of this year. "The drive of that growth is we have been shifting our company into higher growth areas," Wise says. He adds that ePrize hires "most of our folks from the local area" and expects to continue doing that in 2012. Source: Matt Wise, CEO of ePrize Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

My eStore App launches out of Troy, plans to expand staff

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Entrepreneurship

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January 12, 2012

My eStore App has gotten its start, launching its e-commerce software. Now the Troy-based startup is trying to take that next step, gaining traction in the market. The 6-month-old firm has about 110 users taking advantage of its free Beta offering. The company hopes to cross the 1,000 user mark within the next year, growth that would allow it to hire its first employee. "It's growing slowly, but it is growing," says Michael Mikhjian, founder of My eStore App. My eStore App's technology provides e-commerce software for businesses. Mikhjian has focused on making the software easily installable with a simple backend for its users. "It's literally plug-and-play," he says. My eStore App's e-commerce software also works directly on its client's site so customers aren't redirected to other support sites. That means that My eStore App provides hosted database, cloud data storage, cache optimization, free lifetime system upgrades, iPad compatibility, an easy frag and drop builder and zero transaction fees. "It works with your system right away," Mikhjian says. Mikhjian plans to continue upgrading and fleshing out the software this year. He expects his continued growth will allow him to add to his staff to continue the development of the software. Source: Michael Mikhjian, founder of My eStore App Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Metro Detroit start-ups turn smartphones into biz apportunities

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Technology and Innovation

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December 22, 2011

The app economy is here and growing in Metro Detroit. A broad range of start-ups and businesses are finding creative ways to boost their bottom lines by developing custom and original apps. Some are even basing their entire business plan around it and growing like crazy. Texts From Last Night: A Q&A with Ben and Phillip Bator Mobiata adds 10 jobs, moves to bigger space in Ann Arbor's Nickels Arcade Future Help Designs sets up shop in downtown Pontiac Metro Detroit start-ups dominate Accelerate Michigan Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Youngpreneurs stake claim in Metro Detroit business class

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Education

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December 22, 2011

The numbers of entrepreneurs in Metro Detroit continue to climb, but the youngpreneurs are making some of the biggest strides. DeNovo Sciences, founded by a small group of 20 somethings, won the top $500,000 prize at the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition. Are You a Human, started by recent University of Michigan graduates, rakes in seven figure seed capital round. Livio Radio, run by youngpreneur poster boy Jake Sigal, is attracting investment from Silicon Valley VCs. It all adds up to a promising future for Metro Detroit's entrepreneurial class. Silicon Valley VC invests in Ferndale's Livio Radio From Scratch: Denovo Sciences Are You a Human moves to downtown Garbage In, Energy Out: A Q&A with the Founders of ReGenerate Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

BillHighway hires 10, aims for $3B in transactions

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General

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December 15, 2011

Billhighway is moving from the millions to the billions when it comes to the transactions it processes. The Troy-based tech firm processed $500 million in transactions last year and is on track to hit $1.5 billion in 2011. Next year's goal: $3 billion. "We're growing very substantially," says Vince Thomas, CEO of Billhighway. "Our goal is to increase that number into the tens of billions of dollars a year." Billhighway's technology helps organizations allocate expenses for items such as dues or dinner costs or any other miscellaneous costs. The inspiration came from Thomas trying to divide bills between himself and his fellow roommates at Eastern Michigan University in the late 1990s. The company went from a post-college passion for Thomas 12 years ago to a 50-person company today. Billhighway has expanded its staff by 10 people since we checked in with them last February. Thomas expects his firm to pass the 70-person mark next year, creating another 25 jobs. Companies with that sort of sharp growth curve usually are funded by venture capital or private equity investors. Billhighway is completely self-funded and Thomas doesn't expect to need any outside capital to fuel 2012's projected upswing. Source: Vince Thomas, CEO of Billhighway Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Media Genesis has double-digit growth, branches into education, healthcare

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General

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December 15, 2011

The non-profit and social entrepreneur segments of the economy are turning into an important growth sector for Media Genesis. The Troy-based software firm has enjoyed 20 percent growth and made five hires over the last year. "It's a vibrant part of the current landscape of Detroit," says Antoine Dubeauclard, president of Media Genesis. "There are a lot of people who are trying to find ways to better the environment in Detroit. It's just good business." Before the market crash in 2008, Media Genesis did a lot of software work for automotive companies and larger corporations. The crash of the economy forced it to look elsewhere, such as the non-profit sector. It has also branched into healthcare and is going after clients outside of Michigan. "We're much more diverse geographically in the markets we serve," Dubeauclard says. Media Genesis enjoyed its best month ever in August of 2010 and has grown steadily since then. The 15-year-old firm notched 20 percent revenue growth in 2011 and expects to continue that trend. Dubeauclard adds that his firm has been cautious in hiring and expects to add a few more people to its 50-person staff next year. Source: Antoine Dubeauclard, president of Media Genesis Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

ImageSoft plans to add at least 5 employees by mid-2012

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General

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December 15, 2011

ImageSoft launched two new software programs this year, and the Southfield-based firm will be ramping up staffing accordingly in 2012. "We're looking at hiring at least five new staff in the first half of 2012," says Scott Bade, president of ImageSoft. "We see higher profitability which should lead to more hiring opportunities." ImageSoft released TrueFiling, a unified e-filing service originally made for Ottawa County’s courts, earlier this month. It also launched TrueCertify, which allows courts and other government agencies to authenticate and deliver certified documents electronically and enables the recipient to verify the document contents on the Internet. Bade concedes that e-filing systems aren't groundbreaking new technology, but he believes ImageSoft's new software is an improvement on what's currently on the market. "We think we have built a better mousetrap in Michigan." ImageSoft recently bought its own building, consolidating its operations in Southfield. The 15-year-old firm also underwent a rebranding this year. With that transition behind it, Bade expects some significant growth for the 50-person firm next year. Source: Scott Bade, president of ImageSoft Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

118id set to double in size with 15 new employees

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General

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December 14, 2011

118id is prepping for some big growth in 2012 when the Internet marketing firm based is set to launch its new product. The Troy-based firm, which revamped its business plan 18 months ago, has added four people to its staff since February. It now employs 15 people and an intern. 118id CEO Mark Powers expects those numbers to go up quickly. "The size of our organization will be more than doubling," he says. 118id, named for the high-performance racing fuel, focuses on helping clients maximize their online presence through a number of digital strategies, design, and software services. It is in the final stages of developing a software program that produces faster results from a wide variety of data points, giving more leads to marketers faster. "It really drives actionable insight and multiple data points," Powers says. 118id has experienced 600 percent revenue growth, according to Powers. Source: Mark Powers, CEO of 118id Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.