Innovation & Job News

Michigan First Credit Union is looking for a few good employees, 14 right now to be exact.

The Lathrup Village-based financial institution is looking for everything from tellers to human resources professionals to add to its staff of 225 people. However, technology pros are in especially high demand for the credit union. About a third of its new positions have some sort of tech angle, such as software developer or IT professional.

The 87-year-old credit union tries quite hard not to act its nearly century-old age, employing the latest and greatest technology into its systems. A large part of its business plan is to stay ahead of tech trends to attract younger clientele who value the ease and access to their finances that such technology can provide.

"We're in the process of testing mobile debit cards," says Linda Douglas, vice president of marketing for Michigan First Credit Union. "We are always looking to stay ahead of the curve in our mobile and online banking options."

Michigan First Credit Union has 90,000 members and $640 million in assets. It adds more than 1,000 new members each month. It has also hired 70 people so far this year.

Source: Linda Douglas, vice president of marketing for Michigan First Credit Union
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Online fantasy sports (think fantasy baseball or football leagues) is a relatively new yet proven industry in the few years it has been around. A downtown Mt. Clemens-based start-up hopes to take that industry to the next level by focusing on improving the user experience.

StatClash is developing an online gaming system that provides new ways for millions of fantasy sports fans to play. For instance, they can elect to join on a daily basis mid-season instead of making a season-long commitment that includes tens of hours of work in drafts, trades, etc.

"The industry is huge but there are only a handful of players that are doing the fantasy games well," says Dan Wimpari, marketing director for StatClash. "We want to wed ourselves into them by distinguishing ourselves through user interface and a better user experience."

The daily fantasy sports site was launched a year ago by Anoop Patel and John Pelak. It now employs a team of eight people and offers fantasy league options from traditional favorites like Major League Baseball and the National Football League. It also offers some new options, such as U.S. Major League Soccer and the English Premier League.

"We see room to bring other in other sports, like NASCAR and tennis," Patel says. "We want to bring in more sports pretty soon."

Source: Anoop Patel and John Pelak, co-founders of StatClash, and Dan Wimpari, marketing director for StatClash
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

When local leaders talk about retaining talent, they probably have someone like Adam Leeb in mind.

The Metro Detroit native graduated from MIT with a degree in mechanical engineering and went to work for a private equity firm in New York City in the late 2000s. After watching a number of his colleagues lose their jobs in the economic downturn and a few other not-so-flattering things about the finance industry, he decided he wanted to move back home.

"I knew it wasn't something I wanted to make my career," Leeb says.

That was last year, roughly the same time he started working on his own company, SunDaily. The Royal Oak-based start-up is working to create a premium brand of vitamins and supplements. It's a hole in what Leeb sees as a crowded market.

"I saw a lot of different formulas and a lot of confusion on the consumers' end," Leeb says.

SunDaily and its team of four people began its soft Beta launch earlier this month and plans to go public with it this week. The new brand of vitamins offers traditional staples like a multi-vitamin, Vitamin D and a fish oil supplement. As many as a dozen different products are expected to be launched this year. Leeb plans to create some market separation with high-quality products that are easy to understand and come in aesthetically pleasing packaging.

Source: Adam Leeb, founder of SunDaily
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Expetec Technology Services' Troy office has experienced some double-digit growth in both its revenue and staff over the last year.

The IT company has nearly doubled its staff with three new hires in the last 12 months. Those new jobs were in the IT and technical fields. It is now looking to add two sales professionals to its staff of eight employees and one intern to keep up with its revenue growth. The firm experienced 20-percent growth last year and is on track for another double-digit gain in 2013.

"A lot of it has been organic, word-of-mouth advertising, taking care of clients growth," says Michael St. John, vice president of marketing & sales for Expetec Technology Services. "Our clients have also grown so we were able to grow and hire."

St. John explains it takes a "holistic approach" to handling its clients' IT needs. For instance, it tries to stop IT breakdowns before they happen instead of just responding to them. The firm also works with its customers to keep its technology as up to date as feasible. That approach has allowed it to ride the wave of improved business from automotive suppliers and other industries in recent months.

"We're looking at 40-percent growth this year as well," St. John says.

Source: Michael St. John, vice president of marketing & sales for Expetec Technology Services
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

When Swaminathan Ramesh sees people throwing away plastic he sees waste of a different kind. Wasted energy and resources. It's a big reason he started EcoFuel Technologies last year.

"I wanted to do something with waste plastics because I see them everywhere," Ramesh says. "And I have a background in the polymer chemistry."

The Troy-based start-up is working on technology that turns garbage plastic into diesel fuel. It currently has a prototype that can handle 100 pounds of plastic, turning every 10 pounds of plastic into one gallon of diesel fuel. Ramesh claims that his company's technology produces three times more energy than its competitors.

"We are unique because we can actually make money," Ramesh says.

EcoFuel Technologies and its team of five people recently landed five figures' worth of financing from the Michigan Microloan Fund Program to help push forward the development of its prototype. The company hopes to land $500,000 in seed capital this year to build a machine that can handle 2,000 pounds of plastic a day and then $1.5 million in a second round of seed capital to build a machine that handles 10,000 pounds of plastic each day.

"They (investors) want to see us perform the same way at a larger scale," Ramesh says.

Source: Swaminathan Ramesh, founder & president of EcoFuel Technologies
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Three Metro Detroit firms have landed a couple of pieces in the latest round of financing disbursed by the Michigan Microloan Fund Program.

Ann Arbor SPARK manages the Michigan Microloan Fund Program, which makes loans in the low five figures (organizers often decline to specify the size of each loan) to young start-ups looking for seed capital that are based in Michigan. That money is often used for things like prototype development or marketing. Eligible firms are often so new they are unlikely candidates for bank loans or angel investment or even steady revenues.

"These funds are reserved for pre-seed organizations," says Joe Licavoli, manager of capital programs for Ann Arbor SPARK.

The Michigan Microloan Fund Program recently made nine microloans worth $397,000. Most of those loans went to Ann Arbor-based firms because the program also has sub categories that are funded by the city of Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County to invest in local firms in their municipalities. The three Metro Detroit start-ups to receive microloans include:

- Berylline, a Rochester Hills-based company, that is commercializing a specialized, three-wheeled hybrid scooter

- ENT Biotech Solutions, based in Grosse Pointe, is developing a handheld device used to simultaneously clean cut, cauterize and remove larger adenoid tissue portions

- EcoFuel Technologies, of Troy, which is working on technology that turns garbage plastic into diesel fuel

"We'll need a lot more money but (the microloan) did give us some help," says Swaminathan Ramesh, founder & president of EcoFuel Technologies.

Source: Joe Licavoli, manager of capital programs for Ann Arbor SPARK and Swaminathan Ramesh, founder & president of EcoFuel Technologies
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Vision Computer Solutions practically doubled its staff over the last year, prompting the IT firm to move to a bigger office in downtown Northville.

The 18-year-old firm has expanded its staff to 11 employees after bringing four more people onboard in the last 12 months. Two of those hires happened this month with the addition of a marketing professional and systems engineer. They are now in the company's 3,000-square-foot office, which is three times the size of its old headquarters.

"We knew we were going to have to find a bigger spot," says Peter Marsack, vice president of consulting for Vision Computer Solutions. "The need hit us quicker than expected."

Vision Computer Solutions specializes in providing IT services for small-to-medium-size businesses, primarily in Metro Detroit. It has enjoyed 25 percent revenue growth over each of the last four years, a streak Marsack calls both "very good" and "consistent and predictable."

"We really have found our vertical in small businesses under 100 employees in southeast Michigan," Marsack says. "We have really branded ourselves as the small business technology experts."

Source: Peter Marsack, vice president of consulting for Vision Computer Solutions
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

American Hydrostatics has moved to a bigger facility in Sterling Heights, allowing the automotive supplier to continue expanding its staff at an aggressive clip.

The 30-year-old business has hired seven people in the last year with most of the hires coming in the control engineering, electrical engineering and skilled trades areas. Its staff now sits at 20 people and the company expects to double its employee base this year thanks to its new home, which is three times as big as its previous home.

"We couldn't find a space as big as ours in Troy for the price we're paying in Sterling Heights," says Sri Bramadesam, principal of American Hydrostatics.

American Hydrostatics, a minority-owned firm, provides industrial automation, maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) distribution services, controls engineering, field service, maintenance, and engineering services. It recently landed a $1 million investment from Delta Asset Advisors.

American Hydrostatics plans to work with local community colleges and technical institutes to find the 20-25 hires it expects to make this year. Bramadesam sees this expansion as an opportunity to replenish the local manufacturing talent pool that was significantly drained in the most recent economic downturn that bankrupted a lot of automotive suppliers like his.

"We navigated through it," Bramadesam says. "We emerged much stronger."

Source: Sri Bramadesam, principal of American Hydrostatics
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

L’esprit Academy, a cosmetology school, is opening a second education center in downtown Royal Oak, a move that helped the company double its workforce over the last year.

The 9-year-old business now employs 20 people after hiring 10 over the last year. It also has about half a dozen open positions now, mostly for administrative areas. It currently has six people working in downtown Royal Oak and expects to double that staff there by the end of the year.

The Livonia-based business choose downtown Royal Oak because of its location in Oakland County and because its urban setting is a nice contrast to its suburban-style headquarters. Plus, downtown Royal Oak is attractive because it has lots of energy, is a trendsetter and is home to a large concentration of creatives.

"It seemed like a natural fit on an aesthetic level," says Stacy Wells, CEO of L’esprit Academy.

L'espirit Academy has enjoyed high growth in recent years because of the staying power of the industry (hair stylist jobs can't be outsourced to India) and the flexibility it provides to its workforce (working moms can do this part-time on their schedule). Wells also points out cosmetology can be a more cost-effective career compared to getting a professional degree at a traditional university.

"People are getting four-year degrees and $150,000 in debt and still don't have a job," Wells says. "We find a lot of people who have either done a year or two of college or have graduated and can't find a job."

Source: Stacy Wells, CEO of L’esprit Academy
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

A couple of buzzwords are driving growth for RazorThreat: "insider threat."

The downtown Pontiac-based IT security firm has found the biggest need from its customers comes from combating and preventing insider threats. RazorThreat defines insider threats as credentialed employees that have gone rogue or malware that have invaded a company's network and are propagating unnoticed inside it.

"It's really now about the insider threat, whether it comes from a nation state or a rogue employee," says Greg Guidice, president & CEO of RazorThreat. "It's about protecting your high-value assets."

Guidice declines to specifically say how much the company has grown or how many hires it has made. He did say that it has grown its revenue significantly in 2012 and expects to do so again this year. The company has made a couple of new hires, expanding its staff to six employees and three interns.

He adds that there isn't a trend of specific sectors of business that is driving the demand to combat insider threats. Rather, it's businesses and organizations from across the digital spectrum.

"It's really across the board," Guidice says. "It's from the federal government to small-and medium-size businesses. Everyone has intellectual capital."

Source: Greg Guidice, president & CEO of RazorThreat
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Doeren Mayhew is one of Metro Detroit's recognized growing firms because it's expanding outside of the Great Lakes State.

The Troy-based CPA agency, founded in 1932, had become one of the largest CPA firms with its workforce centered in one location until it began expanding its footprint in recent years. It has now begun expanding into other markets, merging with Houston-based MFR, P.C. last year. It also opened an office in Florida.

"That has been a major growth strategy for us," says Taryne Spirovski, director of marketing for Doeren Mayhew. "Our clients are not standing still in Michigan. We need to grow with them."

That strategy has allowed Doeren Mayhew to achieve a ranking of 67th among the top 100 accounting, tax and business consulting firms in the United States by Accounting Today. The rankings are based on annual revenue size. Doeren Mayhew continued to grow thanks to its mergers, which increased the firm's annual revenue by 14 percent.

That has also allowed the company to expand its workforce. The recent mergers have brought 50 new people to the company's payroll. It now employs 250 people, including 200 in Troy.

Source: Taryne Spirovski, director of marketing for Doeren Mayhew
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Step one for Eric van der Meulen after his layoff from corporate America a few years ago: create his own job by starting Q'vive. Done. Step two: how best to grow beyond a one-man operation. That's one of those good problems he is still trying to figure out.

"I have been thinking about how to multiply myself," van der Meulen says. "At some point I will be bringing someone on."

The mechanical engineer launched his Wixom-based consulting business four years ago and has turned it into his full-time job and then some. The firm specializes in everything from consulting and training companies to new product development.

Q'vive has recently taken on teaching work at Schoolcraft College’s Continuing Education and Professional Development department. The company is offering, through Schoolcraft College, two new shorter courses to prepare students for the exams to get certification in Project Management Profession and Certified Associate in Project Management.

"This is a real exciting development," van der Meulen says. He adds that he expects to add his first employee later this year to deal with the increasing workload.

Source: Eric van der Meulen, president & owner of Q'vive
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

There is no silver-bullet strategy to GraphiColor Exhibits' growth. The Livonia-based company has watched its business improve thanks to a broad range of factors.

New trends of digital media become more affordable for clients, check. Better search-engine optimization work for its online brand, check. More social media to keep its name out there, check.

"It's never any one thing," says Anita Mitzel, president of GraphiColor Exhibits. "It's always a series of things."

The 29-year-old company specializes in creating trade show displays and organizing corporate events. It has enjoyed steady growth that has allowed it to expand its staff to seven employees and the occasional intern. It currently has one open position for a sales and marketing professional which will help the firm handle its larger client base.

"We have more sales inquiries than ever before," Mitzel says. "We are redesigning our website to become more effective with it."

Source: Anita Mitzel, president of GraphiColor Exhibits
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Promoshop is expanding its presence in Metro Detroit and Windsor with new hires on both sides of the Detroit River.

The Los Angeles-based company specializes in merchandising and marketing services for small and large businesses. It opened its office in Royal Oak five years ago and has grown it to five people after making three hires over the last year. It is also looking for an intern. Its Windsor office also stands at five people.

"We're in pretty strong growth phases, not only in this area but across the country," says Jennifer Lindsey Cooper, account manager for Promoshop.

Promoshop has some well-known local name brands on its client list, including the likes of Chrysler and Faygo. Lindsey Cooper expects that sort of local representation to continue to expand in 2013 as customers look to leverage the firm's expertise and other assets.

"We're also a minority-owned company," Lindsey Cooper says. "There has been a lot of strong growth in that area, too."

Source: Jennifer Lindsey Cooper, account manager for Promoshop
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Bischer Technologies is one of those relatively new companies that hit the ground running from its onset and hasn't looked back since.

The Clinton Township-based IT business has doubled its revenue each year since its founding five years ago. That has allowed it to grow from three employees to a staff of 10 people today. It's also looking at adding an intern this summer.

Bischer Technologies provides network management and systems technology integration services in the IT sector. Its business has always come from customer referrals but the company is looking to take a more proactive approach in 2013, recently hiring a business development professional.

"I want to drive and bring on additional clients that are not referral-based," says Doug Verkeyn, director of business development for Bischer Technologies.

Verkeyn expects this more aggressive growth strategy will let the firm expand faster than it has in its first few years. He also expects the firm's customer base to remain diverse. Bischer Technologies currently services a broad range of small-to-medium-sized businesses, from food manufacturers to tech firms.

Source: Doug Verkeyn, director of business development for Bischer Technologies
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.